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COMMENTS & MESSAGES

Two communication methods allow classmates to connect with each other: profile comments and private messages.  A comment added to a member’s profile is public, visible to all who are logged-in.  A private message, on the other hand, is personal communication between you and another classmate.  A private message is different from ordinary e-mail, as is explained later.

COMMENTS

Classmate profiles contain two sections were comments may be added, edited, and deleted: Profile Questions (Q&A) and Latest Interactions.  The menu option What's New also allows commenting.

PROFILE QUESTION

The upper portion of a profile page contains the Questions, asked in Step 2 of Signing Up, along with the classmate’s Answers.  Q&A is hidden if you have visited the profile previously.  Click on the Show [classmate name] Profile Questions and Answers link to display Q&A again.

In this section, you can add comments in response to most questions answered by a classmate.  Look for the speech-bubble icon Comment or speech-bubble icon All comments links.  Click on the former to display a comment input box with the prompt Add a comment ...; the latter input box is always displayed as there are previous comments.  Simply type your comment into the input field and press [Enter].

At the bottom of the Q&A section, whether or not it is visible, is another input box.  Here, the box title, input prompt, and action differs depending on the profile viewed.  Simply type your comment/message into the input field and press [Enter] or click on the Post Comment button when ready.  You can add a photo or video to the posting by clicking on the Add Photo / Video link.

  1. When viewing your own profile
  • Title - POST A COMMENT on your Profile.
  • Prompt - Share your thoughts with the Classmates…

Enter a message directed to the entire class.  Messages enter here appear under the title [classmate’s name] posted a message in the Latest Interactions portion of your profile.  

The entry triggers the e-mailing of a Notify Me message (Subject: New message posted to the class) to all who have opted for A Classmate posts a message to the class.

  1. When viewing another classmate’s profile
  • Title - POST A COMMENT on [classmate’s name] Profile.
  • Prompt - Share your thoughts with [classmate’s name] (all Classmates can read)…

Enter a comment/message directed to the classmate.  Comments/messages entered here appear in the Latest Interactions portion of your profile and on the profile of the classmate to whom the comment/message is directed under the title [classmate’s name] posted a message on [classmate’s name] Profile.  

The entry triggers the e-mailing of a Notify Me messsage (Subject: New comment) to the classmate to whom the comment/message is directed, if they have opted for Someone leaves a comment on my profile and a Notify Me message (Subject: Profile Update) to classmate’s who are subscribed to the recipient classmate and opted for A profile I'm subscribed to is updated.

You have the option whether to allow classmates to add comments to your profile.  Click on the Edit Profile button at the top of your profile page or click on the Edit Profile link under the head & shoulder icon.  Check or uncheck Profile Comments:.  When a classmate does not permit comments, no comment input boxes appear on their profile page.  Previously entered comments/messages are not lost if you uncheck this option and then re-check it at a later time.
 
LATEST INTERACTIONS

The lower portion of a profile contains a chronologically ordered record of profile activity, e.g., comments added by the classmate on another classmate’s profile, posted messages made by another classmate to that classmate, additions or changes to images/videos on the classmate’s profile, profile updates, and more.

Look for the speech-bubble icon Comment or speech-bubble icon All comments links.  Each input box is always visible.  Here you can add a comment on the entry or comment on a previous comment. 

An entry you make here works the same as if you entered it on the classmate's profile.  Each added comment triggers an e-mailing of a Notify Me message (Subject: New comment or Profile Update) to the classmate to whom the comment is directed, if they have opted for Someone comments on a photo or video I posted or Someone comments on an item I have previously commented on notices.

WHAT’S NEW

What’s New contains a chronologically ordered record of all classmate profile activities.  Add comments here just as you would in the Latest Interactions section of a classmate’s profile.

PRIVATE MESSAGES

Two methods allow classmates to send a private message to another classmate or classmates: from the classmate’s profile or through your Message Center (envelope icon) and found under head & shoulder icon.

Private messages are not the same as ordinary e-mail.  Instead of receiving an e-mail in your private e-mail account, your message goes to the recipient’s Message Center Inbox on our site. 

Sending the message triggers an e-mailing of a Notify Me message to the recipient (Subject: New message from [classmate’s name]), if the recipient has opted for I receive a new personal message notices.  If they have opted Never to receive these notices, no e-mail notice is sent but the private message remains in the recipients Inbox.  In this case, the recipient must check for messages each time they log in.  A notice appears in the upper right-hand corner (envelope icon) of the home page alerting them that You have: # new message(s).

This indirect delivery method for private communication protects the privacy of your e-mail address because it is not exposed within the communication.  If you wish to share your e-mail address or other personal information within a message written on our site, the site will not block you from doing so.

Any e-mail notices, queued for delivery, may be delayed if the Class Creator e-mail server experiences a heavy load or is down.

SEND FROM A CLASSMATES PROFILE

To send a private message to one classmate:

  • Pick his or her name from the Classmate Profiles list to access their profile page.
  • At the upper left-hand area of the page, under the profile photos, look for an envelope icon with a text-link Send [classmate’s name] a private message.
  • Click on the link to open a popup form.  
  • Enter a Subject and Message in the appropriate input boxes and click on the Send Private Message button when ready.

The recipient receives a New message from [classmate’s name] e-mail notice, if permit by their Notify Me preferences.

SEND FROM YOUR MESSAGE CENTER

To send a private message to one or more classmate at the same time, use the Message Center (envelope icon) or found under head & shoulder icon.

  • Click on the Compose Message button.  
  • The Enter a First or Last Name: input box displays a list of names that match the text you enter.
    • Enter two or more characters.  
    • It may be easier to use the Display all Classmates button. 
  • From the list of names, pick to whom to send the message. 
    • To send the message to more than one person
      • Pick the button again and select another name.
      • Repeat as necessary. 
  • Enter a Subject and your message.  
  • Click on the Send Message button when ready.

The recipient(s) receive(s) a New message from [classmate’s name] e-mail notice, if permit by their Notify Me preferences.

A request to enter a 5-digit number to continue may appear.  The design of the Class Creator system triggers this "captcha" requirement if it looks like someone has set up a system to spam classmates in any sort of automated fashion.  It requires manual interaction in order to assure that the sender is human.  The patterns, which trigger this response, are ever evolving in order to keep up with the tools and tricks used by spammers.

Select the Outbox to display all messages sent to classmates.

Latest Update: 06-13-16