How to Set up My Profile
How can I show my picture and other personal
information when I post a message in Discussions?
My Profile
The discussion tool allows you to set several account preferences under My Profile, a link at the top menu of Discussions & Private Messages. Most of these choices can also be made under Account (top right corner of Etudes, after you log on).
Setting Your Profile Preferences
To set your profile preferences, click on My Profile.
Some things to remember:
- You set your preferences once, and your profile settings are visible in all sites where you are a participant or facilitator.
- If users have not set any preference in their profile, only their name will be listed and a link to Private Messages.
- Setting profile preferences is optional.
- Preferences users choose to complete will appear under their profile link by their posts
- Discussion list members can view others' profiles by clicking on a user's name and under Member Listing.
- The first, last name, and email address of users is retrieved from the system. It cannot be changed in My Profile.
When clicking on a user's name anywhere in the discussion tool, or on the Profile icon in a user's post, site participants will see a snapshot with user preferences:
Information from My Profile is used to display some basic information by a user's post:
Additionally, site members can see the total number of topics a user has posted.
Default User Account Information
First, you will see your "Account Information." You cannot change your email address from My Profile in Discussions. Your email address can only be changed by you under Account (up top right corner of Etudes). The changed email address will be reflected here as well.
Next, you can set "General Information about yourself."
General Information About Yourself
This is optional, but if you set it, this information will appear by your posts. Try it. If you don't like what is displayed to other site participants, you can come back and change your profile. Your changes will update all references of your profile in all sites where you are a member and have posted topics and messages.
Note that you can complete as many or as few fields as you want to be viewable by other members of the site. Users can add their IM, Facebook and Twitter accounts in their profile and much more.
Class members can view others' profile by either going to Member Listing or clicking on Profile on a member's post.
Setting Your Preferences
Go through the list, and set your preferences. Again, remember that these settings are global. They define how the discussion tool will handle email notifications, show signature, show email address, etc., in every discussion forum that you are a member of - in all your course sites.
For example, if you want to be notified via email every time someone posts a new topic, you can select 'yes' in the preferences.
Foreign Language Support
The discussion tool supports 12 different foreign languages. If you choose one from the pop-down menu, the labels of the menus change to that language. You can always switch back by re-entering My Profile.
Including Avatars
Finally, you can upload or link to an image that you'd like to use as an avatar. This image will appear next to your post. Before uploading an image, please resize it so that it an appropriate size. 130 X 130 pixels or smaller is recommended. You can always return and remove an avatar or replace it with a new one.
When you are finished, click on "Submit" at the bottom.
You can update your Profile at any time. The changes will be reflected globally in all sites where you are a member of a discussion tool. If you have posted messages in forums, your adjustments to your profile will be updated in your your posts, member listing information, etc. in all the sites.