THE KIDCAFE DIALOG AND MAILING LISTS
The emphasis in KIDCAFE is on continuing dialog. Kids who send messages to KIDCAFE are expected to answer kids who write back to them in KIDCAFE and not by private mail.
There are four mailing lists for youth participating in KIDCAFE;
KIDCAFE-INDIVIDUAL is a list for individual keypal exchange. Mail from all unregistered participants are moderated to make sure that mail is appropriate.
KIDCAFE-SCHOOL is a list for school organized keypal exchange. To this list you can send batches of mail between classes but also individual messages between kids participating from your school. This list is only supervised by the schools that use it. Registration is required.
KIDCAFE-TOPICS is a list for open discussion. Youth can participate individually or as school participants. Mail from unregistered participants is moderated.
KIDCAFE-QUERY is a list for young researchers. To this list you can send questions and organize polls. It is important that participants subscribe to the list for a long time otherwise the query's will have no answers. Mail from unregistered participants is moderated.
THE KIDCAFE-COORD MAILING LIST
From October 23rd 1995 registered schools and individuals will not be moderated. This means that schools will have to supervise their own pupils. Cultures differ in opinion about what is proper to discuss and how you may discuss it. Therefore it's important that KIDCAFE has a place for teachers and coordinators to meet and discuss KIDCAFE activities. There is a list reserved for such discussions. This list is called KIDCAFE-COORD.
MAKE LOOKING FOR MAIL EASY
The subject lines of the messages can be considered to be like the addresses on regular letters. If you mail a letter without an address or with an address in the wrong form, it probably will not get to the person. If you are looking for a keypal make sure that your name (and schoolcode if your school has one) is in the subject line:
Ex.
Subject: Martin Persson (6b, Svenshog) wants keypal
If your sending a reply you may use the "reply" command on your computer.
Make sure that you have written the name of the recipient in the subject line:
Ex.
Subject: To Lisa Sergel (7c, Varbo)
If you are participating in a topic discussion or doing research state
the topic in the subject line:
Ex.
Subject: Smoking is bad.
Subject: Should teachers be required to wear a uniform?
To continue the debate just use the "reply" function and the topic will be copied into the subject line.
KIDCAFE IS AN OPEN MAILING LIST
The KIDCAFE exchange is designed to promote individual friendships among the participants. The messages are public so that kids can get to know more people than just the few that they are writing to. Kids are encouraged to read the messages between other kids and to write to the authors of those they find interesting. When kids reach the point where their messages are personal, they should switch to private email. When the messages are sent to the KIDCAFE mailing lists they *must* include the full name of the person to whom the message is being sent in the subject line and the full name of the sender in the body of the text. Without this, there is no way for people to find their messages and to reply.
GETTING A KEYPAL
Many people try to get keypals through KIDCAFE. When you write to KIDCAFE seeking a keypal it's important to include something about what kind of a person you are. It's also important that you write something about the kind of keypal being sought--interests, age, location, etc. Ask yourself what kind of a mail that would interest you. You shouldn't ask for keypals in a certain country unless you know that there are kids from that country active in KIDCAFE.
It's not uncommon that students who seek keypals don't get an answer. Another approach may often work better. A good idea if you want to get keypals is to look for messages from kids asking for keypals. In KIDCAFE it's not considered unpolite to butt in. If you see somebody engaged in a mailexchange you are free to ask if he or she wants to be your keypal too.
Kids who send messages asking for keypals (or their teachers) are expected to watch KIDCAFE for answers for at least a month after the message is sent. A reply should be sent to every answer received. If someone receives more answers than they can manage, they can have other kids in their class answer them.
Batches of similar keypal-wanted messages from a single site are not generally very effective and shouldn't be used in the individual list. In the school list this may however be a way to make it easier to keep track of the messages. A group of kids in a class can pair themselves with a group in another class trying to exchange messages in a more organised form. Another way is for pairs of students or even small groups to write collective messages. Then they must sign the message with all of their full names. They should designate one student to serve as recipient of the answers so that only one name has to fit in the subject line.
KIDCAFE-TOPICS
Messages in the KIDCAFE-TOPICS can be about any topic. The subject line must contain a descriptive phrase identifying the topic. When the topic changes, a new subject line must be used to give the new topic.
Ex.
Subject: Help the starving children in Africa
Subject: Should school be for life
Subject: Do girls make better computer users
Some of the messages in the list might be an answer to a specific person's message on the topic, but it should still be taken as a comment to the whole group. Anyone can step in with the next message on the topic.
When an answer is on the same topic, the "reply" command can be used so that the message will appear with "Re:" in front of the previous subject line. If you are answering a message by changing the topic, you cannot use the "reply" command, you have to send a new message with a new topic description.
All messages must be signed in the message with the full name (first and last) of the author. The author's name must not be put in the subject line. Pairs or even small groups of students can send messages, but everyone's full name must be included.
KIDCAFE-QUERY (Asking questions and doing surveys)
Ex.
Subject: Survey of concerns about the environment
Subject: Results from Survey of concerns about the environment
Subject: Information wanted about hot springs in Iceland
A lot of kids have used KIDCAFE-QUERY to get information about the subjects they are studying in school. These have taken two forms. Some kids have sent questionnaires to find out what other kids think. Others have sent requests for specific information, usually about other countries. Both kinds of inquiries are appropriate.
Replies to KIDCAFE-QUERY-messages can be sent either to KIDCAFE-QUERY or by private email. It's important however that Kids who send surveys should report back what they've found. This way the ones who've answered surveys and other interested can see the result.
Queries that are general and say things like "I'm doing a report on Iceland-- tell me about it" are not very effective. It is much better to have kids read something first and then ask direct questions that kids would be able to answer. For instance: "I read about the hot springs in Iceland and I want to know more about what they are like."
The KIDCAFE-QUERY list can be used by individuals, small groups, or whole classes. When classes participate, the messages must be written by students; the teacher cannot write messages for the class.
Messages from individuals must be signed with the full name of the author. Groups can either include all the full names or they can have one person sign it (with that person's full name) for the group. For instance, if Mr. Trumbol's class decides on some questions to ask, the student most responsible for writing them down could send the message and sign it: "Karla Konnig for Mr. Trumbol's third level history class."
Teachers can make classroom use of KIDCAFE-QUERY-messages much more successful by coordinating their questions with other teachers in KIDCAFE-COORD. Many more answers will be received when other teachers encourage their students to reply. But don't ask other teachers to help unless you are willing to help them.
KIDCAFE-QUERY is dependant on it's readers. It is not uncommon that participants in mailing lists subscribe for a short period to get what they want. Needless to say KIDCAFE-QUERY can't work without a steady audience. There must be somebody that answers the questions and questionnaires. Therefore when you use KIDCAFE-QUERY please subscribe through the whole term.
CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS
The official KIDLINK POLICIES say: 'In all KIDLINK activities, kids are free to honestly express their own views. Foul language or offensive manners are not allowed.' What this means for KIDCAFE is that kids can express any views they honestly hold, but they must remember that KIDCAFE is a classroom activity in many schools. Messages in KIDCAFE must not use language that would be inappropriate in a classroom.
It is also important to remember that in many places email is expensive in either money or time. If you quote a previous message, quote only the part necessary to make your point. A good guideline is that the part quoted from the previous message should not be longer than the part you write. Long "signature" files at the end of each message also are a burden for some people to receive.
The KIDCAFE Moderator Team (CAFETEAM) reviews all messages from unregistered participants to KIDCAFE before they are posted. Keypal messages will be rejected if (1) they come from children over 15 years old (2) the writer is using a language not suitable for classroom activities (3) the writer is being cruel or rude to other participants.
SHORT EXPLANATION OF THE FOUR KIDLINK QUESTIONS
These are the questions that must be answered by each student before participating in KIDCAFE:
Question #1: Who Am I?
In English:
What is your full name? How old are you? Are you a boy or a girl? Where do you live (city, country)? What is the name of your school?
The rest in English, or in your native language:
Say a little more about yourself. What are some of your interests, your hobbies, your concerns? What else do you want others to know about yourself?
Question #2: What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?
Share your vision of what you want to be when you grow up in terms of work, education, and in general.
Question #3: How Do I Want The World To Be Better When I Grow Up?
How would you like to improve the way we treat each other and the environment we share?
Question #4: What Can I Do Now To Make This Happen?
What steps can you take now to realize your personal goals and your vision of the world?
Send the responses by electronic mail to the Internet address:
RESPONSE@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU
REGISTRATION FORM
You can register for KIDCAFE-SCHOOL from the web.
 |
KIDS-XX, the KIDLINK name and associated logo are service marks of the KIDLINK Society. Maintained by : CAFETEAM,CAFETEAM@GLOBAL.KIDLINK.ORG Updated March 30, 1997 |