If you want to send an message only to specific students, sections or groups, you can do so using the Inbox feature. Recipients of Messages will receive notifications of the message, and can assess messages in their own Canvas inbox.

Announcements are always sent to all users in a course, including any teachers. Messaging members of a group is useful to avoid sending too many notifications to all the staff on a course.

To Compose a message, click on the Inbox in the global navigation menu.
Look for the Compose Icon in the top toolbar:
In the compose pop-up, select the course from which your message relates to. This will help you find recipients and groups, and associate your message with the course.
Find recipients and groups by opening the 'contacts' menu icon on the right hand side of the 'To' field.
Add a subject, compose your message, and add any attachments using the icon at the bottom of the pop up box. Once you are ready click 'Send' to send your message to the recipients.
Recipients will receive a notification of your message, and can reply using the inbox if necessary.

Note: There are some accessibility limitations with this feature just now. Text style formatting and lists etc. are not available. URL links can be included (these will turn into a link when you send the message, however changing the link text is not possible just now. To send information in a fully accessible format, announcements can be used.

For help with this or any other Learning Technology issues, please email us at LTHelp@gsa.ac.uk