Assignment # 8: RSS

Explanation:

We have learned how to do some really cool Web 2.0 “stuff” so far.  RSS is yet another Web 2.0 concept that will allow you to pull together (aggregate) all the content you have produced and all the content available on the web.

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication.  There is really no reason you should know what it stands for  though.

While it may not be important to know what RSS means, it is useful to understand how it works.  RSS allows you to “subscribe” to content on the web such as:

  • Websites
  • Calendars
  • Blogs
  • Videos
  • Facebook
  • Photo sharing sites (like Flickr)
  • Google Docs
  • Delicious accounts (I subscribe to all my students’ Delicious accounts so I can see what they are bookmarking
  • Podcasts).
  • TV shows
  • Email
  • ETC… videos

RSS’ only limit is your creativity.

You need a feed reader or feed aggregator to pull it all together. In other words, you can set up one place (Feedly and Netvibes are popular) and subscribe to most of your favorite content so that it lives all in one place.  No more browsing from page to page.  How cool is that?

See my public page on NetVibes for an example.

My personal one is loaded with much more though.  You can see a screenshot here. Notice all the tabs I use.

For more information and more explanation,  check out these resources:

Assignment:

  1. Read/watch the websites above that discuss how and why to use RSS.
  2. Sign up for a RSS feed aggregator.  I suggest you use Netvibes or Feedly.   You are free to use another one if you wish though.
    1. Netvibes help
    2. Feedly help
  3. Add at least 15 RSS feeds to your aggregator.  Be sure to separate them in tabs too.
  4. In your online response box:
    1. Post a link to your aggregator  or post a screenshot of your aggregator
      1. Screenshot help for Macs
      2. Screenshot help for PC’s
    2. In 250 words or more reflect on the benefits and/or drawbacks of using RSS in the classroom.
      1. How can RSS and RSS aggregators help you in the classroom?
      2. How could/should students use RSS?
      3. Is this something you can see yourself using in the future?  Why or why not?

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