Publications

DR-ED: An Electronic Discussion Group for Medical Educators

DR-ED was started in 1996; over 600 subscribers joined the list in the first 12 months of operation. This virtual community of medical educators has continued to grow, reaching 1,000 subscribers in 1999 and achieving more than 2,000 subscribers in 2013. As of June 2018, DR-ED has grown to more than 2,800 subscribers worldwide, representing over 30 countries. DR-ED is supported by the Office of Medical Education Research and Development (OMERAD) at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Please take a moment to review the information below to get the most from your DR-ED subscription.

A. SUBSCRIBING TO DR-ED:

1. address an e-mail message to: listserv@list.msu.edu
2. leave the subject line blank
3. the only text in the message should read: subscribe dr-ed firstname lastname substituting your own first and last names
4. send the e-mail; you will receive an automated confirmation if successful, as well as additional instructions if necessary.
5. NOTE: Subscription requests will be processed manually 1-2 times per week.
6. once you have subscribed, you can post notes to DR-ED by addressing them to: dr-ed@list.msu.edu

B. UN-SUBSCRIBING TO DR-ED:

1. address an e-mail message to: listserv@list.msu.edu
2. leave the subject line blank
3. the only text in the message should read: UNSUBSCRIBE DR-ED
4. send the e-mail; you will receive an automated confirmation if successful

C. POSTING MESSAGES TO THE DR-ED LIST:

1. address an e-mail message to: dr-ed@list.msu.edu
2. add a brief descriptive title to the subject line
3. type your message: DO NOT use attachments
4. send the e-mail; you will receive an automated confirmation if successful

Only registered subscribers can post messages to DR-ED. The software used to operate DR-ED recognizes subscribers on the basis of e-mail addresses. Only messages that originate from registered e-mail addresses will be accepted for posting to DR-ED.

In almost all cases, if you get a message indicating that you are not authorized to post messages to DR-ED you are probably sending the message from an e-mail address not included in the subscriber database. This can occur even if you are still receiving messages posted to DR-ED.

The most frequent cause is changes your subscribers’ e-mail addresses at their home institutions; sometimes the changes have been made in a way not transparent to the users.

First, try to unsubscribe yourself from the list using your old e-mail address. Failing that, send a message to DR-ED-Request@list.msu.edu and note you are unable to post messages to the list. Tell the list manager what email address you are currently using. It is helpful if you can also tell him any other addresses you might have used when you were subscribed so he can delete them (you should be able to determine this from the messages you are getting). If the other e-mail addresses are not deleted, you might get multiple copies of every posting until the old address can be unsubscribed.

If you change your email address (e.g., your campus switches to simpler addresses or to a new server that you have to specify), please write the list owner and let her know your new address so she can change your subscription. Better yet, unsubscribe from the old address yourself.

D. REVIEWING THE SETTINGS FOR YOUR DR-ED SUBSCRIPTION:

1. address an e-mail message to: listserv@list.msu.edu
2. leave the subject line blank
3. the only text in the message should read: query dr-ed

The reply will tell you if you are being sent individual postings as they are received, if you are receiving a copy of your own postings (this is the default), and if you will be sent an acknowledgement of successfully processed postings that you submit (this is the default).

E. CHANGING THE SETTINGS FOR YOUR DR-ED SUBSCRIPTION:

It is possible to change these settings, if you desire to do so, through the use of LISTSERV commands. To change your settings, address a message to listserv@list.msu.edu, you can leave the subject line blank, and in the text of your message, put in one or more of these SET commands:

F. FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK OUT THE DR-ED FAQ SITE

Click on DR-ED-FAQ

Compiled by Brian Mavis
August 2004

DR-ED Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Why was DR-ED created?
Q2. What kinds of messages can be posted to DR-ED?
Q3. How can I subscribe to DR-ED?
Q4. How can I temporarily suspend mail from DR-ED?
Q5. How can I permanently sign off DR-ED?
Q6. How can I receive DR-ED in digest form (only one message per day)?
Q7. Is there a web-based interface for managing my DR-ED subscription?
Q8. My e-mail address is changing… how can I stay on the list?
Q9. Is there a way I can search old messages posted to the listserv?
Q10. Can I post attachments to the list?
Q11. What can I do to make the list function more effectively?
Q12. How can I avoid embarrassing myself on DR-ED?
Q13. Why is the default on DR-ED to send replies to the whole list rather than the original author?
Q14. Who subscribes to DR-ED?

Q1. Why was DR-ED created?

A1. DR-ED was created in 1996 as a forum for discussion and as an information source for those interested in scholarly activity related to research and faculty development in medical education. Specifically, DR-ED was developed to:

• promote discussion of issues and concerns relevant to medical educators;
• facilitate networking among colleagues who share common interests or expertise;
• provide an electronic forum for disseminating information about funding and other resources related to medical education development and research.

Return to FAQ List

Q2. What kinds of messages can be posted to DR-ED?

A2. Messages consistent with the mission of DR-ED are welcome. This includes:

• queries at other medical schools about practices across the continuum of medical education or related to faculty development,
• support services related to professional education, such as admissions, student services, etc.,
• strategies for curriculum evaluation or student assessment,
• conceptual issues underlying the implementation of education and training programs,
• announcements for positions in educational institutions,
• announcements for funding opportunities or conferences likely to be of interest to medical educators.

DO NOT POST ADVERTISEMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS OR
MESSAGES SEEKING MEDICAL ADVICE OR CONSULTATION.

If in doubt, contact the listowner for consultation.

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Q3. How can I subscribe to DR-ED?

A3. Address an e-mail message to: listserv@list.msu.edu and leave the subject line blank. The only text in the message should read subscribe dr-ed firstname lastname substituting your own first and last names. Send the e-mail and you will receive an automated confirmation if successful (as well as additional instructions if necessary). Note: Subscription requests are manually approved 1-2 times per week. Once you have subscribed, you can post notes to DR-ED by addressing them to: dr-ed@list.msu.edu

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Q4. How can I temporarily suspend mail from DR-ED?

A4. If you are going to be away from your e-mail for a period of time, set your DR-ED subscription to NOMAIL. This will reduce the likelihood of your mailbox filling up, causing DR-ED and other e-mail to be returned as undeliverable.

Address an e-mail to listserv@list.msu.edu and leave the subject line blank. The text of the message should read: set dr-ed nomail

To resume regular service, send the message: set dr-ed mail

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Q5. How can I permanently sign off DR-ED?

A5. Address an e-mail message to listserv@list.msu.edu and leave the subject line blank. The only text in the message should read: UNSUBSCRIBE DR-ED. Send the e-mail and you will receive an automated confirmation if successful (as well as additional instructions if necessary).

Return to FAQ List

Q6. How can I receive DR-ED in digest form (only one message per day)?

A6. To receive DR-ED messages once a day in a single mailing, send an e-mail to listserv@list.msu.edu with the message: set dr-ed html digest

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Q7. Is there a web-based interface for managing my DR-ED subscription?

A7. To join or leave DR-ED, you can use the web interface located at: http://list.msu.edu/archives/dr-ed.html. This link also can be used to manage your subscription.

Click on "Join or leave the list (or change settings)." Fill in the form and then click on the button "Join the list" at the bottom of the page.

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Q8. My e-mail address is changing… how can I stay on the list?

A8. Please remember to remove your old address after subscribing under your new e-mail address. You can update the e-mail address associated with your subscription by using the web-based interface, described in Q7.

Alternatively, you can e-mail the listowner and request being resubscribed at your new address. Please provide both your old and new addresses. This message must originate from either the old or new address for verification purposes.

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Q9. Is there a way I can search old messages posted to the listserv?

A9. This list has been in operation since 1996 and since that time over 10,000 messages have been posted, all of which have been saved in the archives. You can look up old postings in the archive. The archive can be searched by date, content, subject line or author.

Only DR-ED subscribers are allowed to search the DR-ED archives. You must set up a password to do so... instructions for this are below.

Go to http://list.msu.edu/archives/dr-ed.html to reach the archives:

1. Select "Search the Archives" from the options menu
2. Use the search form to enter the search term(s) and other parameters such as date/time limits, subscriber name, etc.
3. Click on "Start the Search" to initiate the search
4. Since only DR-ED subscribers are allowed, you will be required to login with your e-mail address and a password. This password is whatever you designate: the first time you search the archives you will need to set up a password. Select the "Get a New Listserv Password" option from the login screen, and follow the instructions. Once your password has been confirmed via e-mail you can use it to access the searchable archives.

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Q10. Can I post attachments to the list?

A10. Please DO NOT send attachments to the list.

Attachments often exceed the maximum message size allowed by some e-mail servers. In addition, not all users might have access to the software required to open a specific attachment. It is also possible that virus detection software will block attachments with certain characteristics, such as macros in Word files. For users who receive DR-ED in digest mode, attachments are not sent separately and they sometimes appear as unreadable computer code within the text message.

With few exceptions, it is possible to place all of the information from the attachment directly into the body of the e-mail message. For those rare circumstances when this is not possible, consider uploading the file to a web server and posting the web address to the listserv. Interested members can download the information themselves.

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Q11. What can I do to make the list function more effectively?

A11. Where to start…

• don't send "ME TOO" messages to the whole list… if someone is offering something that interests you, e-mail them directly to obtain it.
• avoid embarrassment; keep private conversations off DR-ED (check the TO: line to confirm where the message is headed).
• edit your reply to a note by removing unnecessary text from the original, or omit the original note completely: this will help reduce the length of messages posted to the system.
• Don’t send private replies to the list... send them directly to the subscriber by changing the "TO:" address manually, otherwise it will be sent to all subscribers.
• If you have posted a note seeking advice or resources, you might consider posting a summary note to the list as a service to other subscribers, briefly summarizing the responses that you received from your request.

Return to FAQ List

Q12. How can I avoid embarrassing myself on DR-ED?

A12. There are no guarantees since messages posted to the list are not edited for content or accuracy. However, the most common problem is when users send a personal reply to a message posted on the list and do not change the default TO: address. Then their personal comments are sent to all subscribers and there is no way of taking it all back. Double-check the intended recipient of the message before sending it. Also, see Q11 above for more helpful hints.

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Q13. Why is the default on DR-ED to send replies to the whole list rather than the original author?

A13. The intention of the list is to foster discussion and resource sharing. The easiest (and I believe the best) way of doing this is to have all messages accessible to everyone. While this occasionally has its down side (see Q11 & Q12), this distribution method has fostered a virtual community of medical educators.

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Q14. Who subscribes to DR-ED?

A14. There are over 2,500 subscribers to DR-ED, representing over 30 countries. Most are involved in medical education, although there are members from other health-related professions. Historically, subscribers have been fairly evenly split with PhD/EdD and MD/DO each making up about 40% of the membership. The last evaluation of the list was published in the Journal of Educational Computing Research, 1998; 19(1): 53-65.

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Compiled by Brian Mavis
August 2014

Sponsored by The Office of Medical Education Research and Development
College of Human Medicine - Michigan State University

DR-ED is a listserv system maintained by OMERAD as a means of information and resource sharing for medical education. It was developed to: 

• Promote discussion and problem solving of issues related to medical education
• Facilitate networking among colleagues who share common interests or expertise related to medical education
• Provide an electronic forum for disseminating information about resources related to medical education development and research interests.

 DR-ED is open to anyone involved in medical education. Messages posted to DR-ED should be limited to discussions and information related to medical education. DR-ED is not intended for messages related to basic and applied biomedical research, nor is it intended as a resource for medical advice or case consultation.

To join the list, send an e-mail message to listserv@list.msu.edu
Leave the subject line blank, and in the body of the message type:

       SUBSCRIBE DR-ED firstname lastname

Replace firstname lastname with your own first and last names.
You will receive an automated response confirming your subscription.
The confirmation may include additional instructions.

NOTE: Subscriptions will be manually processed 1-2 times per week. Please be paitent with us!

To remove your name from DR-ED, follow the same procedure described above, but in the body of the message type:

       UNSUBSCRIBE DR-ED

View the DR-ED FAQ

View DR-ED list instructions

Questions or comments about DR-ED can be addressed to Stacey Pylman, Ph.D., at pylmanst@msu.edu