Announcements (News) FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Announcements Tool and why would I use it?

The Announcements (formerly, News) Tool is a widget on the Course Homepage that provides an easy way for you to communicate announcements, updates, changes and new information to your students. It’s a great way to communicate to your students as it is one of the first things they see when they log in to the course.

If I post an announcement, how can I be sure that students will see it?

If you decide to use the tool to communicate announcements and information to your students, tell them to subscribe to notifications. The Notifications feature sends a message to students preferred external email address when a new news item is posted or an item has changed.

Can students add new items?

No, only instructors have the ability to add Announcement items.

Do you have any tips for writing a good news item?

Yes, there are a few things you should keep in mind. You should keep your News items brief and to the point. If you have a longer news item, you may want to send it via email or post it in the discussion forum. You should also keep your news items current by updating or removing outdated items.