Message-ID: <13164695.1182532583178.JavaMail.joeescobar@joe-escobars-computer.local>
Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 00:29:20 -0800 (PST)
From: moodleadmin
Reply-To: Online
Subject: Re: Moodle mail issues
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> It doesn't eliminate all confusion.  If a user profile has a bad email=20
> address, or the email address is set to disabled, they won't get this ema=
il=20
> either.  I'm sure QuickMail does not bypass those settings, right? =20

Correct that disabled email or entering a bad address blocks email.  The bl=
ame for that, I think, is reasonably placed on a student's shoulders: as lo=
ng as we enable email by default and we make it clear to them that they're =
responsible for having a valid email address, we've done everything that ca=
n be reasonably expected of us.  Most of the confusion that I've encountere=
d with faculty and students isn't due to bad or disabled addresses, though;=
 it's due to how Moodle determines whether IMs get forwarded as email or no=
t.  If the student is logged in but closes her browser window and a message=
 is sent ten minutes later, she's not going to get an email.  And if he or =
she turns off email forwarding in Messages > Settings, email is no longer f=
orwarded (granted, the student has to take the initiative to do that, but s=
ometimes they forget they did--and finding the place to change it back isn'=
t obvious, since there isn't a direct link from the Profile editor unless t=
he student has some messages pending). =20

In short: there are enough factors that complicate how this works that I th=
ink QuickMail is a better way of handling it.

> Quickmail simply replicates what a post to the Announcement forum does,=
=20
> albeit with the ability to select certain individuals instead of everyone=
.

Perhaps so.  But I think that the ease of sending messages--having a compos=
e link right out there in the QuickMail block--is an important consideratio=
n.  People are frustrated with the steps required to send messages, and I t=
end to agree that it's kind of onerous.  If we have an easier interface for=
 doing it, then I think everyone wins.  I agree it's unfortunate that your =
target audience doesn't get a readily available copy of the message in anot=
her place (in case his email doesn't work).  On the other hand, it's nice t=
o have finer-grained control (to send more targeted email).

> Moodle messaging will keep a history of my communications with the=20
> individual students.   Quickmail will not.

It's nice to have a history of received messages as well as sent ones, I ag=
ree.

David


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David Walton
Moodle System Administrator
Lane Community College
For enrollment, course creation, logging in, or general server issues, emai=
l moodleadmin@lanecc.edu
For faculty assistance using Moodle, email online@lanecc.edu
Voice: 463-3367
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