Figure 6.8: Message Center

The ALEKS Message Center is where messages can be sent from instructor to student and to ALEKS Customer Support (Fig. 6.8). This is also where you will find messages sent to you by your students. The message center can be accessed by clicking on the envelope icon next to the search box, or by selecting Message Center from the instructor account drop-down menu.

The Message Center resembles an email program in most of its features, although the exchange of messages takes place within the ALEKS system. Also, the Message Center is equipped with special symbols and tools appropriate to communication about subject matter used in ALEKS.

The Message Center contains a full range of tools for using mathematical symbolism, constructions, and expressions in your messages. The tools are like those used in ALEKS itself in the Answer Editor. Moreover, students sending you messages in the Message Center can attach a graphic representation of the problem they are currently working on, to facilitate discussion of mathematical questions.

To compose a new message, click on the Compose button. After clicking on the appropriate "To:," "Cc:," or "Bcc:" button, use the expandable folder list to select the recipient(s) of the message. As with traditional email programs, messages can be saved as drafts for later editing, they can be marked as urgent, and attachments can be included (up to 2 MB in size).

To check for new messages received while the ALEKS Message Center is open, you can click on the Check Inbox button to refresh the inbox.