FOR A WORLD OF HELP, 

TRY A LISTSERV!

It's global mentoring delivered right to your email box.

By Brenda A. Dyck

Some would have thought I was nuts. I wondered myself, as I drove through that unfamiliar neighborhood, looking for the little grocery store that supposedly had $138 for me from a teacher in California. I had never met this woman, but she was wiring me money to pay for some unique technology fabric I had written about on a teacher bulletin board. This fabric, covered with bold, fluorescent computers, was only available in my city. I'm not sure what was more astounding for me, the fact that she wanted this fabric to sew an outfit to wear as a technology integration specialist-or that she would send that amount of money to a complete stranger!

This was my first taste of "global mentoring": one teacher helping another teacher via the Internet. I was in the process of discovering the most powerful tool available to me on the World Wide Web: the listserv, also known as a mailing list, discussion group, mail ring, or bulletin board.

You're Not Alone Anymore

For 20th century educators, the notion that there is strength in community was a breakthrough. The individual classroom teacher doing her own thing is a dinosaur from the past. Gone are the days when teachers relied exclusively on their own expertise and ingenuity to deliver curriculum. Teaming, collaboration, mentoring and networking are the hallmarks of the cutting-edge classroom, and nothing has promoted this breakthrough more than the Internet. A very distinct camaraderie develops among those teachers who collaborate via the Net. I have been encouraged, taught, challenged and even gently rebuked by educators I will never meet. Responding to philosophical questions has helped me clarify in my mind what I actually believe about teaching practices.

How Does It Work?

To take advantage of this long-distance collaboration, you locate a listserv (see suggestions below) that focuses on your grade level or subject area. Once you have registered, emails containing daily questions and comment strands will be sent to you individually or in a digest form. You pick and choose which ones you'd like to respond to. Your level of participation will determine how much you benefit.

This is a place where teachers will ask practical questions like:

  • "What is your favorite classroom management tip?"
  • "My students never stop talking. What would you do?"
  • "I have cancer and have to undergo chemotherapy. How should I tell my class?"
  • "What does your dream school look like?"

Within hours, teachers from all over the world will email their advice, wisdom, and encouragement. I have been the recipient of all three and it has made me realize that I have a gold mine of mentoring, right at my fingertips.

Where to Start

Here are a few of my favorite listservs for you to check out:

Originally Published in 2001 on Microsoft's Classroom Teacher Network