Some school districts have begun using the courseware developed for
delivering online courses for this purpose. Courseware like Blackboard and
WebCT have discussion forums as one of the functions. The annual cost is not
cheap but affordable by many school districts. They also use the courseware
to offer a selection of online courses for their students. The advantage of
discussion forums over a listserv is that the messages can be accessed on
the web from any computer and do not appear in email. Also, forums can be
set up so the messages are threaded by subject making the information more
easily accessible. Too often in unmonitored listservs (other than LM_NET)
people just reply to messages without changing the subject line. When that
happens it is very difficult to trace back to older messages that contain
specific information because the information at that point does not relate
to the subject line. The Teaching and Learning Committee (AASL) members
discovered that pitfall while trying to plan a preconference a couple of
summers ago.
Another possible solution (and perhaps a less expensive one) might be to
start a blog. Software for creating blogs offers a variety of features
including the posting of graphics and photographs. It is important to
remember however that a typical blog is open to all on the web, so privacy
might be an issue. However, I think a blog can be set up so it is private.
That might take some effort when including all families for a school
community but worth considering. Blogs would allow "conversations" in a way
that could develop an exciting sense of community.
Both of these options would require people to access these thru a web site.
From my point of view that is an advantage over listservs because those
messages are not dropped into email. Email can become very cluttered with
listserv messages and quickly fill up mailbox server space. If you use
listserv software then I suggest you provide instructions for parents to use
the folder system in Outlook to store those listserv messages.
Marjorie
Marjorie L. Pappas
Danville, KY
mlpappas@adelphia.net
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of NHS Webmaster
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 9:45 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: TARGET->Creating a listserv or other options for communicating with
parents
My assistant principal wants to expand ways of communicating with parents.
We were discussing options that would allow us to automatically send notices
such as parent newsletters, activity calendars, report card distribution
notices, etc. We know that at the high school level anything we send via
paper via student rarely arrives home. Mailing everything is very expensive.
We want some way for parents to "opt in" to this rather than getting there
e-mail addresses and creating groups. That is too time-consuming and subject
to change as e-mail addresses change.
One option we discussed was setting up a listserv. Have you done this?
Does it work. How did you do it?
Thanks in advance.
Adam
Adam Janowski
Library Media Specialist
Naples High School
1100 Golden Eagle Circle
Naples, FL 34102
E-mail: NHSWebmaster@collier.k12.fl.us
Phone: 239-430-6644 Ext. 390
Fax: 239-430-6673
Library web site: http://collier.k12.fl.us/nhs/lmc/ School web site:
http://collier.k12.fl.us/nhs/
--------------------------------------------------------------------
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the
message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home