Webboard Tutorial

Webboard is a web-based discussion and chat forum used in some of UMass Lowell's online courses. The discussion forum allows students and instructor to post messages at any time for everyone in the class to read and respond to. The Webboard chat provides real-time synchronous communication.

Note: Not all of UMass Lowell's instructors use Webboard as their discussion and/or chat tool. Most online instructors use the chat and discussion tools available within the Blackboard online course system.

1. To access Webboard discussion forum:

• log into your online course
• click on the link to the class discussion from the course home page
• enter your online course username and password and click "login"

2. To read postings:

• click on the + sign next to the course name to expand the list of posted messages
• click on the message subject (it is an underlined link) you wish to read

3. To reply to the existing posting:

• click on the message subject that you wish to reply to
• click "reply" or "quote/reply" link on the right side of the screen at the top of the message ("quote/reply" option quotes the original message in the body of your message)
• type the message into the text box provided and click "post"
• you will see a preview of your message before it is posted, click "post" again and the message will be posted

4. To post a new discussion topic:

• click on any message subject in the course conference
• click "post" link on the right side of the screen at the top of the message
• type the subject and message in the text box provided and click "post"
• you will see a preview of your message before it is posted, click "post" again and the message will be posted