User Mentions support communication across discussions in ManageBac+ by allowing users to type @ and select an available user from a dropdown menu. Once a user is mentioned, they receive a notification with the author’s name, location, and a preview of the message.

This feature is enabled school-wide by default and includes settings for student and parent access. The sections below outline the available permissions, supported locations, notification behaviour, and recommended usage guidance.

Overview

User Mentions allow users to mention and notify other users within designated contexts in ManageBac+.

By default, User Mentions are enabled school-wide for all user roles. Admins can manage access for students and parents, while User Mentions remain enabled for teachers and admins.

• Students can mention other students, teachers, and admins in supported discussion areas.
• Parents can mention teachers and admins in Parents Association discussions, if this area is unlocked for parents.
• Mentioned users receive a notification shortly after being mentioned.

Key Concepts

How User Mentions work

When a user types @ in a supported discussion field, a dropdown menu displays the users who are available to be mentioned in that context. Users can only mention eligible, non-archived users who already belong to the relevant class, year group, or group.

Where User Mentions can be used

• Class, Year Group, and Group discussions, including comments and replies
• Task, Deadline, Event, Online Lesson, and IA discussions, including comments and replies

Notification behaviour

Users always receive web notifications for User Mentions. Email and mobile push notifications are enabled by default, but each user can switch these off from their notification preferences.

Notification examples

Step-by-Step Navigation

Configure User Mention permissions

Navigation:Settings > School Settings > User Mentions

1. Open Settings.
2. Select School Settings.
3. Open User Mentions.
4. Enable or disable User Mentions for students and parents as required.
5. Save your changes.

Mention users in supported discussions

Navigation: Classes > Discussions, Year Groups > Discussions, or Groups > Discussions

For Tasks, Deadlines, Events, Online Lessons, and IAs, open the relevant item and use the Discussions section.

1. Open the relevant discussion area or item.
2. Start a new post, comment, or reply.
3. Type @ in the discussion field.
4. Select an available user from the dropdown menu.
5. Post the discussion message.

Manage User Mention notification preferences

Navigation:Profile > Notification Preferences > User Mentions

1. Open your Profile.
2. Open Notification Preferences.
3. Locate the User Mentions section.
4. Review the available web, email, and mobile push notification settings.
5. Disable email or mobile push notifications if needed.

Tips & Best Practices

• Use User Mentions when you need to draw a specific user’s attention to a discussion post, comment, or reply.
• Check that the person you want to mention is a member of the relevant class, year group, or group.
• Use private discussions only when appropriate, as private visibility affects who can be mentioned.
• Review notification preferences if you want to reduce email or mobile push notifications while still keeping web notifications enabled.

Warnings & Important Notes

• User Mentions are enabled by default school-wide.
• User Mentions are always enabled for teachers and admins.
• Students can only mention users in supported discussion contexts, and only where those users are already members of the relevant class, year group, or group.
• Parents can mention teachers and admins only within Parents Association discussions, if this area has been unlocked for parents.
• Archived users cannot be mentioned.
• If a discussion is marked as private, only the discussion author or teachers and admins can be mentioned in class, year group, and group discussions.
• In task, deadline, event, online lesson, and IA discussions marked as private, only teachers or the author of the discussion can be mentioned.
• Web notifications are always sent for User Mentions. Email and mobile push notifications can be disabled by the user.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can use User Mentions?

User Mentions are enabled by default for all user roles. Admins can enable or disable this feature for students and parents, but it remains enabled for teachers and admins.

Where can User Mentions be used?

User Mentions can be used in Class, Year Group, and Group discussions, as well as in the Discussions section for Tasks, Deadlines, Events, Online Lessons, and IAs. This includes comments and replies.

Can users mention anyone in the system?

No. Users can only mention eligible, non-archived users who already belong to the relevant class, year group, group, or supported discussion context.

What happens when a user is mentioned?

The mentioned user receives a notification shortly afterwards. The notification includes the author’s name, the location, and a preview of the message, and it links directly to the message where the mention was made.

Can users disable User Mention notifications?

Users will always receive web notifications for User Mentions. However, they can disable email and mobile push notifications from their Notification Preferences.

In Summary

• User Mentions allow users to notify others directly within supported discussion areas.
• Admins can manage access for students and parents from Settings > School Settings > User Mentions.
• Web notifications are always sent, while email and mobile push notifications can be managed by each user.

User Mentions help keep communication clear and targeted across ManageBac+ discussion workflows.