Wikis and RSS: Chapter 4 and 5

Chapter 5: RSS: The New Killer App for Educator:

Please view the below video, RSS in Plain English by Common Craft. (In the event the below video does not play properly, please click here to view.)


I have to admit when I first heard about RSS feeds last year, I was clueless on how to use it and if it was really worth my time. But after viewing the above video, reading this chapter, setting up and utilizing the RSS Feed Reader through Google Reader, I am amazed how valuable this tool can be. Following the author’s suggestion, I (initially) subscribed to only 10 feeds - ranging from some of my favorite blogs to other topics of interests.

You will notice (if you use Google Reader) the blogs which you signed up to "Follow" for this book study, will automatically be inserted into your Google Reader. See below.


How do you use RSS feeds in the classroom? On pages 77-82, Will Richardson mentions several ways to use RSS feeds. Also, please visit the below Delicious sites on ways to used RSS in the classroom:

• RSS in the Classroom
• RSS Info

Assignments: Please Complete by18Apr09

• Please set up a RSS Feed Reader using either: Google Reader , BlogLines or another type of aggregators.
• Please note: If you use Google Reader, you will use the account (email/password) you used to set up your blog. You do not need to set up a gmail account unless you wish too.
• Please view the following SHORT YouTube Tutorials - these videos are blocked at school. (Please feel free to check out YouTube's other great tutorial videos on Google Reader- just type Google Reader in the search box.)
• Getting Started with Google Reader
• Reading Feeds with Google Reader
• What is RSS
• How to get started with Google Reader
• How to add RSS feeds to your Google Reader
• How to read your RSS feeds
• How to organize your RSS feeds
• Subscribe to feeds of interest to you.
• Bookmark your RSS Feed Reader and make a habit to visit it often.
• Add a RSS feed (Subscription Links) to your blog in the event other folks may want to follow your blog but do not use Blogger/Google Reader.
• Click here on how to do this.
• 
• Please post to your blog at least once a week and view and comment to each other's blog.(You do not need to comment to everyone's blog on a weekly basis but please post comments on a few.)
• Check back from time to time to read some of the other participant's comments to the chapter post. You may find some interesting reads.
• You may have noticed two RSS Calendars on this blog (i.e. RSS Calendar and 30 Boxes). I know a few of you were interested in utilizing RSS calendars for your class.

Optional:

• Attend the 13Apr09 workshop to set up your RSS Feed.
• Visit the links under the heading of Favorite Web Tools.
• Visit the links from Chapter 4 -which may be found on the wiki.
• Visit the links from Chapter 5:
• Chapter 5: Google Reader
• Chapter 5: BlogLines
• Chapter 5: List of other aggregators
• Chapter 5: RSS Compendium
• Chapter 5: Signal VS Noise – blocked at school
• Chapter 5: Blogsearch
• Chapter 5: Technorati.com
• Chapter 5: Google Alert
• Chapter 5: Google Groups – blocked at school
• Chapter 5: Moreover.com
• Chapter 5: Syndic8.com
• Chapter 5: Pageflakes
• Chapter 5: Netvibes
• Chapter 5: Weather via RSS
• Chapter 5: Techbargins
• Chapter 5: Word of Day
• Chapter 5: Ebay - blocked at school
• Chapter 5: Earthquake Notification