Dear Artists,
VSAM has created
online community through Yahoo!Groups to serve VSAM resident artists.
Below you can find an outline of how to join the online community
and a quick reference of how to use the different tools in Yahoo!Groups.
The online community can be used to share stories, pose questions,
reflect, document experiences, and list resources; this virtual community
serves as the primary means for supporting each other on a day-to-day
basis. Additionally, VSA staff will use the site to post useful links
and to send out important information. We
look forward to your contributions!
Joining the Community
of Practice at Yahoo! Groups
1. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vsamcop/
2. Click on the blue button
"Join This Group!"
3. You will be directed
to a sign-in page asking for a Yahoo!ID and password. If you already
have a Yahoo!ID you can simply type in your information and go ahead
to step 5.
4. If you do not have a
Yahoo! ID you will need to create one by clicking on the "Sign
Up" button at the corner of the page. This will direct you to
a page instructing you how to create a Yahoo!ID. Once you have completed
making your Yahoo!ID you will be able to join the Community of Practice.
Return to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vsamcop/ and click "Join
This Group!"
5. Join this Group Page:
Fill out the specified information on this page
Step 1 : Contact Info -
Here you will see your Yahoo!ID and email address. You may add the
email address you use most often by clicking the "add new email
address" button. Messages posted to the group will be sent to
the email address you select.
Step 2 : Message delivery
- Choose either the Daily Digest or Individual Email option.
Step 3 Message Performance - Select a display for the messages you
receive.
Click - "Join"
You are now a member of
the Community of Practice Yahoo! Groups!
Using Yahoo! Groups
with the Community of Practice!
Anytime you would like
to see what is new with VSAM artists or share your own work visit
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vsamcop/
or follow the link from the VSAM COP page http://vsamass.org/communityofpractice.htm
to the Yahoo! Group.
On the Left side of the
VSAM COP page you will see a blue box containing the words: Messages,
Post, Files, Photos, Links, Database, Polls, Members, and Calendar.
You can click on any of these buttons to see what other members have
posted or to add your own post.
Adding/Viewing Messages:
Click on "Message" to view all messages that other artists
have posted. To add a message click on "Post" then fill
out the message and click "send." This message will be sent
to the entire Community of Practice.
Adding/Viewing Files:
Click on "Files" to view all files posted by VSAM COP members.
To add a file, click "add file." You will then be able to
upload a word document, pdf, etc for all members to access. Be sure
to include a clear description and a date if it is pertinent before
clicking "Upload File."
Adding/Viewing Photos:
Click on "Photos" to view all albums that have been posted
by VSAM COP members. To add photos you will need to create an album
by clicking "create album." Create an "Album Name"
that will be useful such as the name of the school and year. Be sure
to include a description of the project captured in the photographs.
After naming the album you can begin to upload digital images from
your computer. These photos will be available for the entire Community
of Practice.
Adding/Viewing Links:
Click on "Links" to view all of the posted websites. To
add a link you find useful, click "add link," then enter
the title of the site, a short description, and the URL. This section
will be extremely useful in sharing information and resources available
via the internet. You will see we have already posted the new VSAM
website!
Databases: This
section can be used to organize information like recipes, contact
information, etc. We do not recommend adding information such as phone
numbers to this list because it is available to all subscribers and
others on Yahoo!
Polls: If you would
like to ask the group a question and receive feedback using a poll,
simply click "create polls" and then create your questions
to the group. The feedback will be given to the entire Community of
Practice.
Members: This is
a list of the members in the VSAM Community of Practice, here you
will find the email address of each member. If you would like to send
a member a message, click "send message" under their Yahoo!
ID.
Calendar: We will
be posting events on the calendar such as meetings for the Community
of Practice and Special events. Please feel free to add events you
feel would be exciting to the community such as concerts, gallery
openings, or community events.
If you need help
accessing information on Yahoo! Groups please contact Nicole Agois,
nicoleagois@vsamass.org or Kati Blair, kati@vsamass.org or call (617)350-
7713.
