Mailing Lists and Math

As a mathematics teacher, there were times I felt isolated, with no one to discuss mathematical interests. In rural school districts, there are often only one or two mathematics teachers for an entire high school. With this limited number of professional colleagues, math teachers must turn to other avenues to increase their knowledge of their subject matter, or to remain current with trends in mathematics. Often this means paying hundreds of dollars for courses from colleges and universities. Traveling to and from classes or conferences, with some being hundreds of miles from a teacher's home. After years of this, it becomes more difficult to stay motivated. It also becomes easier to justify not taking courses, and to not attend conferences.

Enter the Internet. The Internet has literally exploded in popularity within the last five years. There are thousands of people who join the Internet wave every day. While most of these "surf" for fun, there is a growing trend of using the Internet for professional advancement. One of the most exciting aspects of this online push is that people are now able to communicate with others outside their towns, cities, states, and even countries. People with similar interests find "friends" on the Internet. It is also a method by which people can communicate with others who have the same professional interests.

Mailing lists are currently the most popular method for people with similar interests to communicate with each other. They are an excellent way to stay current about your hobbies, interests, careers. There are two different types of mailing lists: a newsgroup, and a traditional mailing list. The difference between the two is that you access a newsgroup to read what people have been saying. A mailing list brings the discussion to you via e-mail. You must subscribe in order to receive e-mail from the mailing list. When you send e-mail to a mailing list, everyone who subscribes to that list receives the message. In a newsgroup, you "post" a message to the list, and those who want to read it access the newsgroup. Most e-mail programs come with the option of accessing newgroups through newsgroup software (check your documentation or ask your Internet Service Provider). You also can read newsgroups via the Internet through websites such as DejaNews (http://www.dejanews.com). A note of caution: because mailing lists and newsgroups are so topic specific, they're ripe for spamming (numerous unwanted messages or posts).