Is it ok for me to use Yahoo Groups for my classes that I teach?

Question

I teach at a Community College. I usually teach about 5 classes a semester. Is it ok for me to use Yahoo Groups for class discussions about current events, book reviews and class related topics? Any and all input/suggestions greatly appreciated. Thank You.

Answer 1

I own a music school and teach courses using the yahoo groups. When you create the group it will ask you if you want to allow it as an open group or private group. Click private so that it is not open to the internet. They work awesome and there is plenty of space for uploading handouts and assignments. They work very similar to the WebCT's I use for the courses I work with at the university.

Answer 2

You could...Blackboard is better, if your college has bought it. I used nicenet last fall for my community college class (free!), even though it was orginally designed for K-12 education. It was good to have the syllabus and assignment details online, and a new class discussion created each week. Once I forgot to create a new discussion, and one of my students created it for me!

I used it to e-mail all my students or one of them personally. I also kept a library of interesting and useful links (like citation machine). When the class was over, my students asked me if I was going to continue to maintain the interesting links.

Answer 3

Hi. I received my Master's at LaSalle University in Phila. and the instructors used Yahoo! groups, and the alumni dept. even keeps in touch with alumni using Yahoo! Groups. It's safe, and I used it quite a bit.