Web 2.0 and Emerging Learning Technologies/Yahoo! Groups

In ''Yahoo! Groups'' people with shared interests meet, get to know each other, and stay informed. By being member of a group, you have access to: shared message archives, photos and photo albums, group event calendars and shared links. It’s free, spam-protected and privacy-protected. Members can choose whether to post group messages, to read by e-mail or on the Group homepage. The yahoo groups service provides additional functions on the website, such as voting and calendar systems and file uploading. The basic mailing list is available to any e-mail address, but a Yahoo ID is needed to access to other features.

Feature List

Web Tools selectable for Off, Admin, Members, Public (not all tools).


 * BBS: Post by form or member email account. Distributed by selectable option to the members, and archived in the group archive. No edit function except delete.
 * Photo album (100MB): Organized into album/thumbnail structure.
 * File storage (100MB): Capable of storing any file format.
 * Link directory: Options for folders, text labels for each link.
 * Poll: Members can create multiple-choice polls, including various options for ID display.
 * Database: is a collection of data that is organized so that its contents can easily be accessed, managed, and updated.
 * Member list: Scroll of registered member profiles, and the basics of the information they provide.
 * Calendar: Scheduling system for clubs with regular events.
 * Promote: HTML box for website display (to join a group).

Administration Owner/Managers (who can do post approval)


 * Invite: to invite more members by email.
 * Management of members (approve new members, delete members).
 * Options: Edit of the group homepage display text etc.
 * Post/Picture approval: It is possible to switch to strict moderation if required.
 * Web tools management: Options are Off, Public, Members, and Administrators.

Teaching and learning possibilities

Members-The teacher and the students can use this feature to get to know each other if it’s a distance learning course. Students can fill in their profile and attach their photo.

Files - This is where the teacher may upload some lecture notes for students to download. Students can use this feature to share their assignments with their classmates – The teacher can ask students to reflect on the activity or presentation made by the class. The pedagogical aims could be: reinforcing a grammar point, memorizing vocabulary, practising a skill (such as writing, reading, etc), pair/group correction. For example, the teacher explains the present simple, uploads a list with verbs in the present simple tense, students can use this list to describe routines of their own life and then, they can reflect and comment on the activity.

Database – The teacher can use database to compile students' data, including their contact numbers and sometimes their grades.

Photos – This feature can be used to share a photo which a member found interesting (people, animals, landscapes). Students can agree or disagree about a point, they can look for similarities and differences, compare and contrast pictures, develop thinking and writing skills The photos can also be used in oral activities if the computer is brought into the class. For example, the teacher or some students can share photos of their daily routines. Pedagogical aims: description of routines. They can try to improve the other person´s writing or speaking.

Links - They function as class resources. Students can share any interesting website with each other.

Examples/Links

Brazil_Teachers
 * http://br.groups.yahoo.com/group/Interchange_Brazil-Teachers/?v=1&t=search&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=group&slk=10

This site provides help with the English or Portuguese languages, daily vocabulary tips from dictionaries and specialized books, tips and activities for our daily classes at school, images, music, and much more! It’s a place for having a nice day, relaxing and exchanging life experiences and knowledge about the language through pictures, stories, comics, funny cartoons, jokes, proverbs, video clips etc, either from one’s country or from abroad.


 * http://groups.yahoo.com/group/resources5fl/?v=1&t=search&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=group&slk=1

This is the site I am carrying out the project about: The virtual community as a support for the EFL learning process. This is a blended-learning experience since the learners are having their English lessons and participating in the virtual community.


 * http://groups.yahoo.com/group/english10e12/?v=1&t=search&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=group&slk=10

This is a course designed to improve the English language skills that students need to improve or practise. It consists of a task which students accomplish by exercising the basic communication skills, namely, listening, speaking, reading, writing and critical thinking. The approach to learning and teaching is task-based, where content and language are integrated to culminate in the production of specific and authentic language projects.


 * http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thebridgealc/?v=1&t=search&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=group&slk=12

The Bridge is the student magazine of the American Language Centre - Meknes, Morocco. It is created by students for students and it is a good example of collaboration and cooperation. It contains many interesting topics, poems, interviews and book reviews. Student’s practise reading and writing in English. They also learn different skills, such as time and project management, research techniques, as well as interpersonal and negotiation skills. The goal of the ALC-Meknes is to help students become fluent in the English language. Communication in this group should be in English.


 * http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/instructional_tech/

The aim of this group is to learn English and Portuguese through a modality of learning called Tandem learning. The group is composed of students from the Federal University of São João del-Rei, in Brazil (UFSJ), coordinated by Liliane Assis Sade (English teacher), and students from the University of North Florida, in the United States, coordinated by Fernando de Sousa Rocha (Portuguese teacher). The aim of the project is to discuss issues related to language and culture of both countries and through this discussion, develop foreign language skills. The interactions will be held both in Portuguese (used by American students) and English (used by Brazilian students).