LiteracyNet
The Web Site of the Western/Pacific Literacy Network
(this is the text-only version; for the version with images,
please click here)
Online Discussion Forums
The discussion forums listed below (also referred to as listservs or mailing
lists) are organized around specific topics of interest to different areas of
the literacy community. In each forum, a member posts a message by sending an
e-mail to the mailing list address. That message is then distributed to all
subscribers of that mailing list. In this way, anyone with an e-mail account
can participate in these discussions.
There are many Internet literacy and adult education listserv discussion groups
you can subscribe to. You may subscribe to as many listservs as meet your needs.
On this page we have provided links to some of the more popular ones.
To access one of these mailing lists, you must subscribe to it. To join a National
Institute for Literacy listserv, click on the link marked "subscribe to
this list" below the name of the listserv you would like to join. To subscribe
to one of the forums listed under "Additional Literacy
Forums," follow the instructions that are provided.
A Note on Netiquette
Some suggestions for getting the most out of online discussion forums
General Tips:
- At the end of each message,
please include your name, e-mail address and your program or affiliation.
Including this information will allow others to respond to your message.
- Be concise. Long messages
are difficult for some participants to read. Consider that everyone is busy,
and short messages are always appreciated.
- When attaching a document
let the reader know (in the body of the e-mail) what format the document is
(for example, Word for Windows 98).
- Never assume your email
messages are private nor that they can be read by only yourself or the recipient.
Never send something that you would mind seeing on the evening news.
- It is considered extremely
rude to forward personal email to mailing lists or to someone else without
the original author's permission.
- Never send chain letters
to the listserv. Be careful about sending unfounded rumors or urban myths.
- E-mail messages typed in
ALL CAPITALS are considered shouting, so please be considerate and type like
you would normally write a letter. If you need to make a stronger point, use
*asterisks* or _underscores_.
Tips on replying to messages you receive:
- If you think your reply
will be of interest to most or all list members, then send it to the list;
if not, be careful to reply only to the message originator. It might save
you from being embarrassed and save the list members from getting useless
email.
- Quote the part of the message
(but not the whole message) that you are replying to. This method helps place
your comments in context.
- Reply if you have something
to add. Nobody likes reading a long message in quotes for the third or fourth
time, only to be followed by a one line response: "Yeah, me too."
Sarcasm and humor:
Be cautious in using sarcasm on the Internet, as it is easy to be misunderstood.
Comments made in jest may not always appear that way to other readers. Sarcastic
or humorous messages can be marked with what are called "emoticons." Some examples
are:
- :-) Smiling, happy face;
don't take me too seriously
- :-( Sad or angry face
- ;-) Winking happy face
(something said tongue-in-cheek)
- :-P Tongue stuck out
- <:-) Dumb questions
National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) Listservs
Additional Literacy Forums
To join one of the following listservs, use the following procedure:
- Send an e-mail message to the list by clicking "subscribe to this list"
below the name of the list you want to join. Be sure to send the message from
the e-mail address that you would like to use to receive the listserv messages.
- Leave the subject line blank.
- Type "subscribe (name of listserv) (your full name)" in the message area.
- You will receive instructions back by e-mail.
Here is an example of how to subscribe to the LEARNER list:
To: majordomo@world.std.com
Subject:
Message:
subscribe LEARNER John Doe
- LEARNER
LEARNER is a moderated literacy discussion group for adult learners to practice
their newly learned reading and writing skills by posting messages to the
list which can be read by other new learners.
subscribe to this list
- LITERACY
LITERACY is a moderated general discussion group for those individuals concerned
with the issues of Literacy. The primary focus of the list is the fostering
of literacy in those adults for whom English is the native language.
subscribe to this list
- NWAC-L
This Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy at Penn State discussion forum
focuses on issues related to workplace literacy and training in small to midsize
businesses.
subscribe to this list
- NUMERACY
NUMERACY is an electronic mailing list for members of the Adult Numeracy Practitioner's
Network (ANPN) and others interested in discussing educational issues related
to adult mathematical literacy.
subscribe to this list
- PRISON-L
PRISON-L promotes information exchange and discussion between people who presently
teach or have taught in prisons.
subscribe to this list
- TECHED-L
TECHED-L is devoted to employment, training, and literacy issues in technical
education.
subscribe to this list
- TESL-L
Teachers of English as a Second Language focuses on classroom issues related
to the English language education of non-native English speakers around the
world.
subscribe to this list
- TESLCA-L
TESLCA-L is a sublist of TESL-L. You must subscribe to TESL-L before subscribing
to this list.
subscribe to this list
- VOCNET
VOCNET is a discussion group focusing on vocational education managed by the
Dissemination Program of the National Center for Research on Vocational Education.
subscribe to this list
- WEC-L
A discussion forum about new and innovative ways to implement workplace literacy
and training programs.
subscribe to this list
Table of Contents: About Us | What's
New | Explore the Network
Literacy Resources and Training Materials | Discussion
Forums | Search the Site | Contact
Us