(1) Email Tutorial: We have been asked to undertake this tutorial in preparation for the first task which I have done.
Task:
What information about a user’s email, the origin of a message, and the path it took, can you glean from an email message?
The information that is obtained from an email message includes the user’s domain, their username and account details; who the email was originally intended for; a reply address; bcc and cc email addresses (if applicable), and the subject of the email and content of the body of the email.
(2) Task:
In what cases would you find it useful to use the ‘cc’, ‘bcc’ and ‘reply all functions of email?
(a)CC: “carbon copy”. This particular email option is useful for sending an email to one person, and wanting another person to have a copy of that same email.
Example: You are arranging for a meeting and need to inform several people. Instead of emailing the same message more than once, inserting other recipients names into the “cc” will ensure that all receipients will receive the same email
(b)BCC: “Blind Carbon Copy”
Example: Each week, I send out a newsletter from my website to all the subscribers, but don’t want to list each subscriber’s email list to all recipients. By utilising the “bcc”, the same email is sent to everyone without revealing all receipients addresses and prevents possible spam
(c)”Reply To All”
Example: A friend forwards to you, for example, a chain letter which turns out to be a “hoax” email. By utilising the “reply to all” button, you are able to respond to both the sender and the other recipients of the original email to notify them all at the same time that the email should be ignored as it is false.
(d)Task:
In what ways can you ensure that an attachment you send will be easily opened by the receiver?
Example: When sending an attachment to an email, ensure that the attachment can be viewed, ie., if you are sending a word attachment, make certain the recipient has the necessary software to open and view it.
If you are not certain of the particular software the recipient is using, then send an ASCII, or plain text, document which will ensure they can read it.
The inclusion of the attachment name in your document ensures the recipient knows what is contained within it.
(e)Task:
What sorts of filters or rules do you have set up, and for what purpose?
Example: Filters or message rules can be used to sift through mail and route messages to appropriate mailboxes automatically. The filter or rule scans mail for keywords and names that you specify. I have filters set up for certain types of “spam” or “junk” mail from getting through to my email inbox. I achieve this by blocking email addresses that contain spam or malicious documents. RSS Feeds that I subscribe to I have filtered through to the folder “RSS Feeds” so as not to be included in my inbox for other email.
(f)Task:
How have you organised the folder structure of your email and why?
Example: Creating a basic filing cabinet system in your email program, makes it simple to store and organize e-mail messages you want to retain. In my email, I have allocated folder names in alphabetic index so I can move, read, forward or delete messages from within these folders without having to look for the particular folder.
(g)Task:
What are the pros and cons of email lists versus discussion boards? Are there certain kinds of communication or purposes more suited to one or the other?
EMAIL LISTS:
Email allows you to send a message directly to another person, or a group, of people. Messages can range from short to long and may include quotes or attached files
Advantages:
Speedy responses.
You want or need regularly updated information about a particular topic.
You want to receive information from a group of people interested in the same topic.
A great method of keeping up to date with current events.
A good sounding board for other peoples ideas and opinions.
Disadvantages:
An easy way to waste time
Disputes of a personal nature can escalate.
There is a possibility of confusion arising from a personal opinion or viewpoint
DISCUSSION BOARDS:
Most discussion boards are kept on a single server maintained by the owner or originator of the forum or discussion board.
Advantages:
You don’t need an immediate answer
You want to participate in a community that is discussing a particular topic
You want to communicate with a group of people interested in the same topic
You need or want to provide extensive information about that topic.
Disadvantages:
Discussion threads can become complicated and go off topic from the original posting.
They can also become tedious as one general thought often splits into many thoughts (posts)
These then need to be responded to separately.
This is where some participants will begin to feel the threads become more argumentative instead of collaborative.
(h)Task:
Arrange with other students in the unit to meet up for a chat record observations from this chat in your learning log.You may want to think about and reflect upon what you enjoyed or didn’t enjoy about that chat method and what problems or benefits you think that method offers for internet communication.
(i)Task:
Follow your chosen newsgroup for a couple of days, and then post a message to the group. Cut and paste a copy of the entire message, including the header information.
Information:
This task proved to be problematic for me. Despite joining a newsgroup through Yahoo groups, I did post a message but never received a confirmation message from the moderator. After several attempts to gain access to my message, I was unsuccessful. At this time, I am looking for another group so I can complete this task. Please watch this space for further updates.
(j)Task:
Arrange with other students in the unit to meet up for a chat – record observations frm the chat in your learning log. You may want to think about and reflect upon what you enjoyed or didn’t enjoy about that chat method, and what problems or benefits you think that method offers for internet communication.
Information:
I chatted to (2) other students through ICQ, and found it to be very frustrating at times. Messages often do not reach the recipient, and chats can stagnate because of this. Unless you authorise the other person, chatting is very difficult and time consuming. Given other methods of chat, ie., yahoo and msn messenger, I would not recommend ICQ as an efficient method for chatting.
