Large-Group E-mail Communication: Management Nightmare and the Listserv Solution

THE existence of the Internet has brought about widespread use of electronic communication, especially of electronic mail, or e-mail. Indeed, e-mail seems to be so efficient, particularly when compared with aggravating rounds of tag, that users have begun to rely on the asynchronous communication of e-mail more than realtime phone connections. Many colleges and universities currently provide e-mail accounts to students and instructors who quickly learn to appreciate the ease of electronics for one-on-one communication and for information dissemination and discourse among groups with common interests. Unfortunately, the use of e-mail for the latter can quickly become a time-consuming management nightmare. An alternative exists, however. In an effort to shorten the learning curve of those readers who are interested in, or beginning to use, electronic communication, I would like to share my frustrations with using e-mail mailing lists for mass communication with groups of students, and my subsequent use of listserv.