You’ve heard of RSS? You’ve seen those small funny tags on websites?
You’ve heard co-workers and acquaintances swear by it, but still have no idea what RSS is? Well don’t worry, according to this survey you’re still in the majority, but this is changing rapidly. In the information world, RSS is not only revolutionizing the way news, media and content creators share information, but it also is swiftly changing the way everyday users are consuming information.
RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” and is a file format for delivering regularly updated information over the web. Just think about the websites and news information sources you visit everyday.
It takes time to visit those sites and scour the ad-filled and image-heavy pages for just the text you want to read, doesn’t it?
Now imagine if you could visit all those information sources and web pages in just one place and all at the same time … without being bombarded with advertising… without having to search for new information on the page you’d already seen or read before… and without having to consume a lot of time visiting each site individually. Would that be valuable to you?
Well, it’s available now through a newsreader and RSS. This week’s discovery exercises focus on learning about RSS news feeds and what free tools you can use to do this.
Task:
1. Watch RSS in Plain English at http://www.commoncraft.com/rss_plain_english
2. Read a bit more about Google Reader at the Google Reader Tour. If you would like a bit more info on how to set up Google Reader, you can watch this:
2. Read a bit more about Google Reader at the Google Reader Tour. If you would like a bit more info on how to set up Google Reader, you can watch this:
Google Reader Tutorial from Robert Rozema on Vimeo.
A short tutorial on using Google Reader, an excellent web-based feed reader (RSS aggregator), particularly when used in conjunction with Google News.
Using your Google account you have already created, visit Google Reader and subscribe to at least 5 newsfeeds to your reader. Heck, you can even subscribe to another of the 23 Things participants blogs in your reader.
3. Create a post in your blog about this exercise.
Don’t know what to blog about? Think about these questions:
Don’t know what to blog about? Think about these questions:
- What do you like about RSS and newsreaders?
- How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your school or personal life?
- How can educators use RSS or take advantage of this technology with their students?
Here are some newsfeeds you might want to add to your reader:
Mlive.com Newsfeeds of your local newspaper, and breaking news http://www.mlive.com/rss/
US Dept of Education - http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml
NPR Education
Teacher Leaders Network
US Dept of Education - http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml
NPR Education
Teacher Leaders Network
