My last post explored the educational potential of the social media site called Experience Project. Today, let us take a look at Yahoo Groups. This site hosts forum groups on a variety of topics including Computers and Internet, Business and Finance, Schools and Education, Government and Politics, and Health and Wellness. It also includes lighter topics like Romance and Relationships, Entertainment and Arts, Recreation and Sports, and Hobbies and Crafts.
Some groups are open to public comments while others are restricted. You can register with Yahoo Groups to start your own group or join an existing group at http://groups.yahoo.com/neo
Here is an interesting example of a public forum based on the book “The Learning Revolution”, about the “best ways to learn anything”, including accelerated learning, mind-mapping, NLP, hypnosis, learning and teaching games, and distance learning:
“The Learning Web”
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/learning_web/info
Here is a useful public forum about emerging technologies for online learning:
“Developers of Online Learning”
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/online-learning/info
This is a restricted forum on Language Learning Technology (You must join to comment).
“IATEFL Learning Technologies SIG”
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/LearningTechnologiesSIG/info
Lastly, because teachers have different teaching approaches and learners have different learning styles, here is a public forum on Higher Power Technology:
"Esoteric Technology"
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Esoteric_Technologies/info
Yahoo Groups is not only for discussion forums. You can use it to teach just about anything. I have used a Yahoo Group to teach voice work, including how to narrate documentaries and educational materials, as well as how to do voice-overs for commercials, anime and video games. I also gave tips on finding agents and getting gigs. Granted, part of this course was “live” in-studio practice, but techniques, practice scripts, Q&A, and more, can be shared in a forum.
Virtually (literally) any subject is possible to teach in a Yahoo Group. What would you like to teach?
What a great way of using Yahoo Groups! Especially for teaching. This might be the medium of the future!
ReplyDeleteLili,
ReplyDeleteI never really thought of Yahoo Groups as social media, but you're right! I belong to a dozen different groups relating to my hobbies, ham radio and show dogs. Especially my radio groups are tailored to my specific equipment and interests and I learn from amateur "experts" every day.
I will have to give this medium more thought as to how it can be used as a social media technology for teaching. Thanks for the idea!