Instructors may add links to site activities (i.e. Assignments, Forums, Test & Quizzes) on Lessons pages.

Note: These links will automatically update to maintain links to published activities if you copy your course content to a new site, as long as you do not change the name of the activity. However, you will need to publish your activities in the new site for the links to become active.

Some institutions display a Lessons tool by default in the tool list on the left. If the Lessons tool is not listed in the tool panel on the left, you will need to first add the Lessons tool to the tool list.

Instructors can create a new Lessons page or multiple Lessons pages.

Instructors can add an embedded video at any point in a Lessons page. The embedded video described here is a video uploaded from the instructor's computer to the Lessons page. (See How do I embed a YouTube Video in a Lessons page? for directions on embedding a YouTube video.)

The Messages tool offers a convenient way to send and receive private messages to other members enrolled in the course site. Each course site has its own Messages tool. For example, if you are enrolled in two course sites (Site 1 & Site 2) you will have two separate inboxes, one in each site. When in Site 1 you may send and receive messages to and from members of Site 1. When in Site 2 you may send and receive message to and from members of Site 2.

The Messages tool is like email in some respects but the two have fundamental differences. The Messages tool does not use external email addresses. Instead, you simply select the person you wish to write from the list of enrolled site participants. Also, messages do not leave the system. They are not carried over the Internet like email is; therefore, they remain self-contained with the course or project site.