Send messages while on-the-go.

With the Blackboard Communications HQ app you have access to the same message creating capabilities and features that currently exist on the web interface. Send messages to any of your students, the entire class, all your classes, or just to parents.

Send a message

If you want to create your own message instead of sending a pre-made message, you can type your own content in Send Message page. You can then select to send it as an email, text/SMS message, or if set by your district, as a phone message.

  1. From the Blackboard Communications HQ app, select New Message.
  2. Select the delivery method. By default, email is selected.
    • Email: Type your text and add any images. To remove the email option, close out the tab from the upper right hand corner.
    • Text/SMS: Content needs to be less than 120 characters. To copy content from the email message, select the Copy Content icon. To remove the text/SMS option, close out the tab from the upper right hand corner.
    • Phone message: Update the text, record audio, or select Text to speech. To remove the phone call option, close out the tab from the upper right hand corner.
  3. Select Recipients and select the class, user group, or individuals you want to message. Select Done.
  4. Type your message subject and content. Select Done.
  5. Optionally, select the Camera icon to add a photo to the message.
  6. Optionally, select the languages you want to send the message in and set when to you want to deliver it.
  7. Select Send.

Send a phone message

By default, teachers can't send phone messages unless the feature is turned on by your district. If it is available, a phone icon is displayed on the Send Message screen. You can record audio to attach to your message or type text that will translate to speech.

  1. From Send Message, select the Phone delivery method.
  2. Select Recipients and select the class, user group, or individuals you want to message. Select Done.
  3. Add your message content.
    • Type your message text.
    • Select the Copy Content From icon to copy the content from your email message.
    • Select Record audio to use record an audio message. You must give the app permission to use your device microphone to record audio.
    • Select Text to speech to convert your text to audio.
  4. Select Send.

Send a saved message

Pre-made and saved messages allow you to quickly send standard, student-type messages to students in your classes or specific user groups you created.

  1. From the Blackboard Communications HQ app, select Saved Messages.
  2. Find the message you want to send and select it.
  3. Change any of the message details.
    • Edit the message.
    • Choose recipients.
    • Translate to different languages.
    • Select delivery time.
    • Change the delivery method types.
  4. Select Send when ready.

Message tracking

The Blackboard Communications HQ app allows you to see the delivery status of messages and the priority levels.

  1. From the Blackboard Communications HQ app, select Message Tracking.
  2. Review statuses.
  3. Select a message to view a summary.
    • Who sent the message
    • Percentage of delivery attempts and successes
    • Date and time
    • Priority level
    • Category for the message
    • Delivery methods chosen

Cancel messages

You can't cancel a message if it is currently being delivered or has been delivered, but you can cancel the message up to 5 minutes before the delivery.

Once a message starts being built and sent, the cancel feature does not guarantee to stop cancelation immediately.

  1. From the Blackboard Communications HQ app, select Message Tracking.
  2. Select the message you want to cancel.
  3. Select Cancel.