ONLINE NETWORKS
ONLINE FORUMS
What is an Online Forum?
Online Forums or Discussion Boards are websites you can post messages on. They are generally open to all (read only) and member based for those wanting to post messages - you are required to login and enter a password.
Online forums differ from mailing lists, mailing groups or listservs in that you don't use your email program to view messages and are not sent messages to your email program. To see if someone has responded to your message you have to open your browser (Internet Explorer), login and find your message.
How do I join and Can anyone Join?
Most Online Forums are open to everyone - you just need to register in order to post. Most also have a members area or a profile section where you can read the profiles of other members.
LISTSERVS
What is a Listserv?
Listservs or mailing lists are email discussion groups that are formed around a particular interest or topic. The are used a lot in education and research to foster discussion between people with similar interests from all around the world.
How do they Work?
To join a listserv you must first subscribe. Once you have subscribed, all messages sent to the list come to your mailbox. The difference between normal email and a listserv is that whenever an email is sent to the listserv, the listserv e-mails a copy to each subscriber. Likewise if you reply to a message from the list it not only goes to the person you are replying to, but it goes to all subscribers.
This is a great way of keeping everyone involved and generating discussion.
How do I join and Can anyone Join?
You subscribe by sending mail to the list's administrative address. Most lists are open to all, but some are restricted to those the list owner accepts. Many lists have a digest option so that you only get a compiled set of messages once a day or so, instead of receiving each message separately.
The address you send subscriptions and cancellations to is never the same address as the one you send messages to.