Using the announcements feature

[mgraff]

I have a few questions about using announcements.  

Using Canvas to make announcements,

Do the announcements come through as an email or just an announcements posted in our canvas course? 

Are we able to email through canvas?

Will it email the parents directly or only the students school issued email? 

Can we add a second email to students accounts?

Can parents receive notifications on their phones if they have downloaded the canvas app? Telling them there is an announcement.

Are they able to email me back through canvas? or to talk to me privately through canvas?

Would this be able to replay the instant contact made through something like th Remind app?

[kmeeusen · Accepted solution]

Hi  @mgraff  Welcome to the Canvas Community!

Wow, that's a list, so let's get started.......................

• "Do the announcements come through as an email or just an announcements posted in our canvas course?" if the users in a course have set their Notification Preferences, then they will get an email of an announcement. See  How do I set my Canvas notification preferences as a student? and also How do I manage notifications for a single course as a student? 
• "Are we able to email through canvas?" Canvas does not have email. Canvas can send notices to a users email, or as text messages to a mobile device. I would suggest reviewing the Inbox Chapter of both the Student and Instructor Guides.
• "Will it email the parents directly or only the students school issued email?" Again, Canvas does not have email; however, certain notifications will go out to parents if they are listed as Observers for a student, and have set up their Notifications. See How do I set my Canvas notification preferences as an observer?  and also How do I manage notifications for a single course as an observer? 
• "Can we add a second email to students accounts?" As an admin, this is not possible, because Canvas verifies the additional email addresses, and you would not be able to receive and authenticate the verification notice. However, the users can add their own additional email addresses. See How do I add an additional email address as a contact method in Canvas as a student? 
• "Can parents receive notifications on their phones if they have downloaded the canvas app? Telling them there is an announcement." Yes, if they have added the contact method and set their notifications for that method. How do I add contact methods to receive Canvas notifications as an observer? 
• "Are they able to email me back through canvas? or to talk to me privately through canvas?" I do not believe Observers have access to the Canvas Inbox, so you will need to distribute your school email address to the parents.

I hope this is helpful,

Kelley