ICT in Foreign Language Teaching

Tutorial 4 covers the following

What are mailing lists/discussion groups
Technical considerations
Pedagogical considerations
Limitations
Resources
References

Instructions
All instructions which you should carry out on your own computer look like this example,

» Open a new Word document

i.e. placed in a light green box with a dark green border, and in bold font, with an orange arrow.

Throughout the tutorials you will be asked to 'mouse over' some parts of images to see further explanations and get more tips. These will appear in light yellow boxes with a black border, like this one.

'Click', as used here, always means click once with the left mouse button.

'Double click', as used here, always means double click with the left mouse button. To double-click, point to an icon or file name and click twice rapidly, without moving the mouse.

'Right click', as used here, always means click once with the right mouse button.

'Mouseover', as used here, always means placing the mouse cursor over something.

'Mouseout', as used here, always means moving the mouse cursor away from something.

If you have found any inaccuracies or any of the instructions confusing, please contact support@ictlt.teachereducation.org.uk.
so that we improve on our tutorials, the site, and serve you better.

Any other comments are welcome too.

Tutorial 4: Mailing Lists

Definitions
Mailing lists or discussion groups as a service that allows you to bring together people through a web site and email group. They offer a convenient way to connect with others who share the same interests and ideas.

What is a group?
One email address and web site that allows you to share files and photos, to plan events, send a newsletter, discuss issues, create polls and databases, organize your work using a calendar, and more... And Yahoo! offers these all integrated into one system that is very flexible, reliable, and above all, FREE. There's more - it provides you with an instant messenger to create conferences online with the capability of audio and video sessions!

Technical considerations
This is how to create your own e-group at !Yahoogroups:

Log on to the !Yahoogroups URL http://groups.yahoo.com
Create your !Yahoo ID [follow the wizard after you click on 'Register']
Then click on 'Create a new group' and follow the steps

You will be asked to choose the type of e-group you'd like to create. Some tips here: Categorize your mailing list/discussion group according to the topics available [business, Internet, music, etc.] and give your group a name [Grade 8 - Literature, Clas 12 English, or something to match your specific needs].
  A private list is one which will be accessible to its members only.
  A public list will be accessible by anyone who comes across your list's email.
  A restricted list is the one that will accept new members if the owner or moderator approves the new members.
  A moderated list needs the moderator's / administrator's approval of postings to be dispatched.
  An unmoderated list dispatches the postings automatically.

Now you're ready to Invite or Subscribe members. Invite means the recipients will have to reply to your invitation in order to become members. Subscribe means that your recipients MUST NOT reply the welcome message since their e-mails are added to the members list automatically.

Your list's members will now receive mesages from the list and will be able to communicate with the group. However, they will not be able to make use of the online service of the group unless they have a Yahoo! ID. Get them create a Yahoo ID in order to be able to use the Files, Bookmarks, Poll, Calendar and the other features of your group.