E-Mail Systems

Secure and monitored e-mail technologies for mentor and mentee communication

Mentors and mentees in the E-Mentoring Program have two communication technologies: one-to-one e-mail or a group listserv. One-to-one e-mail is used by the mentor and mentee pairs for conversation. The listserv system allows groups of mentees and mentors to hold a virtual conversation involving all parties. Gaggle.net © is the e-mail system that is used by one-to-one mentor/mentee pairs and the group listserv. This system allows the teacher and program instructor to monitor all e-mail communication between mentors and mentees.

What is Gaggle.net©?

• Gaggle is a secure, monitored e-mail system.
• Users can log onto the Gaggle website using any computer with Internet access.
• Gaggle does not allow spam.
• No downloads or uploads are needed to use Gaggle on your computer.

Why use Gaggle.net©?

• Program instructors have access to special monitoring and control sections within Gaggle and can:
  • Review any message which users have sent or received
  • Suspend user accounts
  • Change user passwords and screen names
• Gaggle has a built in monitoring system to watch for suspicious or questionable e-mail. These e-mails are sent to the program instructor.
• Any user e-mail that looks questionable will be sent to the program instructor's "Blocked" folder.
• E-mail messages are monitored for inappropriate words or phrases. The addresses of the sender/receiver are monitored and screened for safety.
• An advertisement-free version of Gaggle.net© is available for a reasonable yearly fee.

How do I use Gaggle.net©?

• When you arrive at the Gaggle website, enter your name and password to access your account.
  • Users see the Inbox screen first. This screen shows all of your mail folders and their contents.
  • Click on a message to open the selected e-mail.
  • After reading the message, you can:
    • reply.
    • view the next message.
    • start a new message.
• Program instructors receive a master account with the Gaggle Network and can send and receive e-mail just like other users.

Additional features of Gaggle.net©

• Spell check
• Speech-to-voice text reading
• Address books
• Ability to attach files
• E-mail folders