Conferencing via Mailing Lists
Across computer networking systems there are millions of electronic conferences
or virtual communities, collections of email on selected topics.
But there are two major designs for computer conferencing commonly found
on the Internet: mailing lists and newsgroups. The terms mailing
list and LISTSERV will be used synonymously. This page focuses on mailing lists, also called LISTSERVs or electronic mailing lists,
which by themselves contain a huge number of conferences on a very large range
of subjects. This page provides rationale for their development and access to
ways for searching databases of these mailing lists.
Mailing Lists
Rationale: Why email conferences
Why read and participate in an email conference? Here are some major reasons:
an active conference is a place to look for the latest in breaking news
and insights on a conference topic; an active conference provides a place
to ask your still unanswered questions (SUP) [example];
it is a place to write your solutions and thoughts to the questions of
others and stimulate others to action; a conference is a place to let others
assess your ideas and reflections; a conference is a place to report where
on the net you have placed your work, your contribution to the interests
of the group. Email conferences are most valuable as places
to let others assess your ideas, trial balloons and brainstorms and share their reactions.
What is a mailing list or LISTSERV email conference system?
There is one clear sign of a mailing list. There is always the @ symbol in the
name of the list.
A listserv is a system for sending email to everybody on a list of email
addresses that are interested in a particular topic, a collection
of email that can also be widely duplicated on newsgroup servers around the
world. The email will be sent to your email account, which
is the opposite of the design of newsgroups.
Two Internet addresses are in operation with LISTSERVs. To join a mailing
list, your first email
goes to the listprocessor which adds your name to the list of the group you have
requested joining.
That is, one computer operation automatically puts your name on the list
that you choose (the process of subscribing). A second computer operation
manages the sending and receiving of email. All of your following email messages
go to the email address of the list itself. That is, the LISTSERV system takes any message sent
to name of the list and sends it to everyone on the list. It is much easier
to create a listserv than a newsgroup.
To create a public or restricted mailing list or LISTSERV within the
institution or organization of which you are a part, contact your computer
network administrator and ask what steps you must take in order to have the
administrator set it up for you. To set up such lists independently, see these
indexes to a variety of virtual communities:
Yahoo's index ;
Google's index.
Other reference information is also available.
Example LISTSERVs
Topic Area
|
Subscribe Address
to send Subscribe email message |
LISTSERV address
for email contribution to discussion |
Web site Related to email discussion
|
| The Schoolyard Habitats Program |
syh-exchange-subscribe@igc.topica.com |
syh-exchange@igc.topica.com |
http://www.nwf.org/habitats/schoolyard |
| Discussion of open-source physics education materials |
openphys-subscribe@topica.com |
openphys@topica.com |
http://www.lightandmatter.com/openphys |
| Bilingual education |
majordomo@ied.edu.hk
in the body of the message, put subscribe bilingual |
BILINGUAL@ied.edu.hk |
none |
| Educational resources on the Internet |
listserv@LISTSERV.UNB.CA
In the body of the message: subscribe |
edres-l@LISTSERV.UNB.CA |
|
Search
Access to Existing Mailing Lists
L-Soft. Provides a database robot that collects listservs, and allows searching
by name or description of the listserv conference.
Tile.Net/Lists The reference for listservs: Alphabetical listing by description, by name,
by subject; Grouped by host country; Grouped by sponsoring organization.
WebScout Lists Email newsletters
and discussion lists.
DiscussionLists.com Email communities
grouped by general topic. Submission form for new listing suggestion.
Directory of Scholarly and Professional
E-Conferences
This directory contains descriptions of electronic conferences (e-conferences)
on topics of interest to scholars and professionals for use in their scholarly,
pedagological and professional activities. E-conference is the umbrella
term that includes discussion lists, Internet interest groups, , Usenet
newsgroups, forums,etc. Since the 9th revision we have begun including
text based virtual reality systems known as MUDS, MOO'S, Muck's, Mushes,
etc. that are primarily for scholarly, pedagogical or professional activities.
Futher Resources
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[Updated September 16, 2007 | Pageauthor Houghton]