Email lists

What is a list?
Email lists provide a way for mathematis teachers to talk with each other about mutual concerns, issues and problems. The basic idea is that a virtual bulletin board is set up to which people can send information. All subscribers to the list receive an email of whatever other subscribers send to the list. All of this is handled by a list server somewhere to which postings are sent and which in turn distributes these to the subscribers.

What is the use of this?
Email lists serve a number of useful purposes, including, but not limited to

Discussion of common problems. Eg, how can you teach students about multiplying two negative numbers? What's the best way of introducing complex numbers? How can I draw a pair of box plots on my TI-80 graphics calculator?

Dissemination of information. Eg, forthcoming conferences, TV shows, new or updated web sites

Alerting people to good resources. Eg, a new website with free Java applets [But most lists are reluctant to allow advertising material, so care is needed here.]

Job advertisements, at least those alerting people to where to go (eg a website) to get detailed information about positions vacant

General requests for help, advice or information relevant to the main purposes of the list

What restrictions are placed on lists?
This depends to an extent on the list. However, most professional lists:

are reluctant to allow direct commercial advertising

do not permit lists to be used for private purposes, such as conversations between a pair of friend

do not accept attachments (since that will clutter up everyone's inboxes and use up bandwidth)

expect social conventions of language, dignified and legal conduct, etc to be upheld

restrict communications to the main purpose of the list

Some lists are 'moderated', which means that someone looks at everything before it is made public. List subscribers get justifiably annoyed if these restrictions are flouted, even accidentally, as lists are essentially online communities of professionals in the same field.

What's wrong with lists?
Sensibly used, not much. But there are some pitfalls for the unwary:

They can be a source of irritation if subscribers do not use them in accord with mutually agreed conventions, noted above.

Most lists deal with things from time to time that you don't care about (but others do). The easiest solution is to just delete those postings, but if there are very many of them, it can be irritating. If a list never deals with things that interest you, the best thing to do is to unsubscribe, of course.

Some lists and subscribers are more parochial and local than others, which can be a source of irritation

It's a good idea to apply filters to your emails if you are subscribed to a list, so that your inbox does not become too cluttered, especially if you are on vacation for a spell. Some lists generate lots of entries every day.

Beware of using 'Reply' facilities of your email software, until you know whether the reply goes to an individual or to the whole list. The potential for embarrassment, or even legal problems such as defamation suits, is there, so it is wise to know well how the list works and to think before you write and act in a professional way. A good rule of thumb is to assume anything you write in any email can be made public, including in a court of law, and write accordingly.

Some examples
Lists come and go to an extent, and wax and wane a bit with time. They can also vary as the calendar year changes (although international lists are less prone to this, as academic years are different). The following are worth a try, in my view. To subscribe to a list, you usually just need to send a single-line email indicating that you want to subscribe. It's a good idea to remove your signature file from the email when subscribing. Details of how to interract with a list, including how to unsubscribe (yes, it is a word...), will be sent to you on successful subscription. There is no charge for subscription to these lists, but the flow of traffic may incur a charge, depending on the nature of your internet service contract.

AAMT list (Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers)
The AAMT-L is the AAMT's email community. It operates as a list-serv (i.e., all members receive all messages sent to the list), of more than 450 members. This group has developed from a slow start into a mature professional forum, used by its members on an 'as needed' basis. The list enables members to share information and discuss issues -- ranging from teaching tips and teaching resources through to lengthy, thoughtful discussions of important matters of pedagogy and educational politics. The list is described in more detail at the AAMT List page. To join the list, send an email with a blank subject line to lyris@edna.edu.au and include only subscribe aamt-l in the body of the email.

MAWA list (Mathematical Association of Western Australia)
This list is of major interest to mathematics teachers in Western Australia, as its name suggests. To subscribe, send an email to majordomo@edna.edu.au with nothing in the subject line and no signature. In the body of the email, just write subscribe mawa-l. There is further information about the MAWA list at the MAWA Communications page.

math-learn list
This is a recent list, founded by Rex Boggs in Queensland, but with an international membership and interests. The list is for anyone interested in improving the teaching and learning of mathematics. By subscribing to this list, you are agreeing to show courtesy towards other members of the group. Vigorous debate is desired, but it is expected that it will be conducted in a professional manner. The list is moderated, and lengthy debate on topics that are regional, and hence of little interest to the membership as a whole, will be discouraged. To subscribe just send a blank email with no subject line or signature to math-learn-subscribe@yahoogroups.com . Further information about this list is available at the math-learn website.

ap-stats list (Advanced Placement Statistics)
This list has been operating very successfully for some time as a major source of support, help and deabte about the Advanced Placement Statistics programme in the USA. Much of the debate is of direct concern with the course itself, and thus not of much interest outside those teaching the course, but there are also many worthwhile discussions about teaching statistics generally. This list continues to be one of the best examples of what is possible when professionals collaborate well. To subscribe, send a blank email to join-ap-stat@lyris.collegeboard.com or see the details at About ap-stat website

Fathom
This list is concerned with the lovely statistics software, Fathom, published by Key Curriculum Press. The purpose of this list is to foster communication within the Fathom user community, not directly to sell the software. Topics for discussion include how to use Fathom effectively in teaching statistics and mathematics, problems (both technical and pedagogical) in using Fathom and ideas about the evolving nature of a dynamic statistics environment. Members of the Fathom development team are subscribed to this list, and particpate regularly. To find out more, go to the Fathom list website or to subscribe, send an email to majordomo@mathforum.org with only the phrase subscribe fathom in the body of the message.

Others
There are many other lists hosted at the Math Forum in the USA. Visit the public discussions page at the Math Forum for lots more information about this, and many archived versions of lists.

I'd be grateful for comments, advice, additions, corrections and deletions for this page. Please send an email.