Launch Your Email Client

The obvious first step in using email is to launch your regular email client. If you are using a webmail client, you may need to enter the username and password that has been assigned to you (or that you selected...) when you set up the account. Your password is what keeps others from accessing your account so you will want to be careful with that and change it from time to time.

See these sites for some suggestions on selecting secure and strong (even more secure...) passwords. The links will open in a new browser window or tab. Scan the article and close the window or tab to return to this page when you are finished.

How to Choose a Secure Password

Locate the Help Files

Before we do anything else, let's stop right here and take a quick look at the most important item on the screen. This is usually found up near the top right corner of the menu bar or the webmail screen is all too often totally overlooked by the user.

The Help files for your webmail email client will offer very specific information on all of the features that we will be introducing and practicing in the activities that follow. Spend a few minutes exploring the Help files. You may want to print a copy of the Help files for future reference.

Exploring the User Interface

Systematically scan the screen and notice the navigate links and navigation buttons. Click on each of the navigation links visible on the page to see what happens. Clicking the back button will safely return you to your first screen. If a new web browser window opens when you click a navigation link you can close that by clicking the close button on the new window.

If you are using a stand-alone email client, click on each of the menu bar drop-down menus to see what is available. Click each of the navigation icons to see what happens.

Log Out / Log In

While it is possible to just just exit the web browser if you are using a webmail email client, it is more secure to click on the Log Out link when you are finished using the webmail client. If you do not log out, it may be possible for someone else to open, read and send email messages using your account.

Click the Log Out link and notice what happens. Log in and out several times until you are comfortable with the process.

Next: Retrieve and Read Your Email Messages