Too Hot To Handle: Using Yahoo Groups

Create a news group for your class in Yahoo Groups. It would be handy to print these directions, then click the Yahoo Groups link above.

You will be asked to name the group and make some other choices. Be sure to opt for closed membership (only those you enroll will be able to read and post). Also, be sure to select "Moderated" under moderation type. This will give you, the moderator, a chance to read student messages before they are posted. You get to be the gatekeeper and can intercept anything inappropriate.

Post the questions found on the conclusion page. Add any other questions you deem important.

Direct students to the Yahoo Groups home page. Have them type the name of your group in the box that says "Join A Group". They will need to scroll down the page in order to see the link for your group. Have them click this link, then find and click the link that says "join this group".

Students will now have to select some preferences. Under "Message Delivery", have them select "No Email". This choice will require students to log onto Yahoo Groups in order to read what others have posted. It prevents students from getting an email each time someone posts (too awkward). Leave the other options set as they are.

Have students scroll to the bottom of this page and click "Join". The next time the student goes to the Yahoo Groups page and signs in with his/her email address, he/she will see a convenient link to your group. Once they click that link, they will be at the group's home page. They will see links to all the questions you posted. They can click on a question link, read it, and then click "reply" to respond. They will see a simple email-like box where they will type their response. Make sure that they hit the "Send" button at the bottom of the page.

In order to see their response added to the group, students will have to hit the reload button on their browser.