Overview:

In this lab, you will learn about RSS feeds and technologies called readers or aggregators that use these feeds to collect information.

Objectives:

1. To explain what RSS feeds are including how they differ from html coding.
2. To identify the variety of options available for a person to monitor RSS feeds.
3. To understand the utility and the drawbacks of RSS.
4. To demonstrate your ability to subscribe to RSS feeds using a reader of your choice.

The More You Know:

RSS Defined

The word RSS is an acronym that stands for Really Simple Syndication
(or sometimes referred to as Rich Site Summary).  For a nice brief
introduction to RSS, check out these three resources:

1. 7 Things You Should Know About RSS – from Educause
2. Tech Teacher: Cut Through the Web Noise – from Edutopia
3. RSS in Plain English – Video from The Common Craft Show

Readers or Aggregators

After reading and viewing the resources above, you should have a fairly
good idea what RSS feeds are, how to look for them on blogs and web
pages.  Now let’s turn our attention to some of the options one
has for RSS readers or Aggregators. You should note the affordances and
constraints of each to better be able to choose the reader that might
work best for your personal style.

Email Readers:

One option that a person might choose is to use an email client to
monitor RSS feeds. Three popular tools are Mozilla’s Thunderbird, Apple’s Mail, and MS’s Outlook.

1. Subscribing to RSS using Thunderbird
2. Apple Mail
3. Subscribing with Outlook 2007
4. NewsGator for Outlook 2000 or 2003

Some of the affordances of using email clients for managing RSS feeds
is that it integrates nicely into a common activity for most
people.  You can check email and your feeds at the same
time.  A potential drawback, however, is that because these
applications run locally, you would not be able to access your feeds
from another computer without using a remote desktop.

Browser Options:

Most web browsers have now added RSS
subscription ability directly within them.  Just like with the
email clients, integrating a feed reader into the browsers allows
people to check their feeds while doing something they already usually
do.  However, the same constraints apply; the feeds are still only
available if the individual is using their computer.

1. Firefox’s Live Bookmarking
2. Internet Explorer 7′s Feed Button
3. Safari’s Bookmarks

Web Readers:

In contrast to the
email and browser options, a web-based reader allows you to manage your
feeds and access them from any Internet-connected computer.  Like
other web 2.0 apps, you establish an account where you can read and
manage your subscriptions.  Most of these, such as Google Reader
also allow you to share favorite rss feeds with others, providing
another source for finding interesting blogs in your field. Some
popular examples of web readers or aggregators are:

1. Google Reader
   1. Newbie’s Guide – from Webware
2. Bloglines
   1. Teacher Training Videos – Bloglines

Mashup Readers:

Finally, in the spirit of one-stop-shopping, mashup readers have
become quite popular.  Like web-readers, users establish accounts
and can access their resources from any Internet-connected
computer.  In addition, these sites allow for tabbed organization
and mashing resources together.  Some examples include:

1. 1. 1. iGoogle
         1. Mini-product Tour
   1. 1. PageFlakes
         1. FAQ
   1. 1. Netvibes
         1. Tour

As you can see, there is quite a variety of ways to monitor
RSS feeds.  The key is to find one that you can easily incorporate
into your daily regiments.

Your Performance Tasks:

For this lab, please complete the following tasks:

1. Explore each of the different options listed above.
2. Create a RSS page that you share with your instructor. Feel free to share it with your group members as well.
3. Add the following feeds to your page:
   • Technology and Learning (http://www.techlearning.com/)
   • NPR Topics: Education (http://www.npr.org/rss/)
   • Weblogg-ed (http://www.weblogg-ed.com/)
   • ISTE Connects (http://www.isteconnects.org/)
   • EduTech Today (http://newsletter.edutech.msu.edu)
4. With this same reader, subscribe to at least 4 new feeds (at least one needs to be a blog) that appear to have frequent useful content updates related to a subject you teach (for example, http://www.physicstoday.org/, or http://blogs.everettsd.org/cgaub/). You will need to get crafty with your Googling! Try searching for “your subject” and “blog” or “current events”.
5. Check your feeds on a regular basis.
6. Post a comment to the blog you are following. To add a comment to a posting click on the comment link below the posting.