Course Orientation

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Course Orientation

• Discussion and Private Messages Tool

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There are a variety of discussion tools available
in Laulima (Discussions, Discussions and Private
Messages, and Forums), this orientation focuses
on the default tool for Discussions and Private
Messages. If the instructor has kept this tool
as the main form of managing course discussions,
click on the link in the Course Menu for
Discussion and Private Messages.
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Within Discussions and Private messages you can
add an Avatar which is an image of yourself or a
picture that represents you. Once added this
image will be attached to each of your postings
and replies.
To set up your image, click on My Profile.
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My Profile allows you to add textual information
about you as well, only enter what you want
others to view.
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To add your image, click on the Browse button.
Note you need to already have a small image
saved to your computer desktop at this time.
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Click on the image file once to select and choose
the Open button.
To complete the upload process click Submit.
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Your image is now in place and ready to use.
The next time you respond or post a message
this image will be attached to your response.
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This tool is broken into Categories and Forums.
Categories are groups of Forum(s) where a
discussion can take place. Your instructor can
add categories and forums that are specific to
course topics or activities.
In the orientation this area contains a Main and
Other category and consists of Introductions,
Module Activities, General Questions and a
Student Lounge forum.
To enter a forum, click on the forum title.
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Once inside a forum, check for posted messages,
to view a message click on the message title OR
click on the button for New topic to submit a
new message.
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All unread messages have a pinkish
background. One way to reply to a message is to
click on the Post Reply button.
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Type a reply directly into the editor. If the
reply is more than a few sentences it may be best
to type the response in a word application and
copy/paste text into the editor window. Click
Submit when done.
The posted message will be located under the last
message in the forum.
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The second way to reply to a message is to click
on the Quote button.
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Click and type your response ABOVE or BELOW the
quotexxxxxx area and click Submit when done.
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Submitting a response using the Quote option
will place the message UNDER the original quoted
message instead of at the bottom of the message
list.
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To help manage your discussions so you can keep
track of messages that have been read, AFTER
reviewing a message click on the Mark Topic as
Read text link which can be found at the TOP or
BOTTOM of the messages list.
Marking a topic as read will change the pinkish
background of the message to white and zero out
the unread message counter located in the main
discussions area.
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End of

• Discussions and Private Messages Tool