RSS

== = = == =What is RSS?=

RSS stands for "Rich Site Summary" or "Real Simple Syndication."  RSS makes it possible for people to keep up with their favorite web sites in an automated manner that can be collected and managed by a special programs or filtered displays.

RSS feeds are generated in code, and it takes a reader or aggregator to collect the feeds and make them useful to you by publishing them in one place.
 * What is an aggregator or reader?**

Here's a short movie that helps to explain RSS: media type="custom" key="3084842"

== =How do I find RSS feeds?= One of the most common symbols for an RSS feed is an orange icon that looks like this: You can often find this next to the URL in the location box on your browser or in one of the sidebars on a web page. Most often if you click on that icon, you'll get directions for subscribing. You may also see something like this:

Many web pages have RSS feeds available. So do most electronic journals, online databases, e-newsletters, newspapers, photosharing sites, wikis, social bookmarking tools, podcasts, online calendars and task management tools, online communities and threaded-discussions. Most blogs have an RSS feed. .

You can also search for RSS feeds with [|Technorati]. You can create a feed for any search that you do at Technorati often, so the updated results will come to you automatically.

Sometimes organizations have many different feeds to which you can subscribe, for example, the //New York Times// has [|dozens of feeds]. That way you can subscribe to just the education section, movie news, travel news, health news, or home & garden news. Many feeds have sub-categories. For example, you can subscribe to world news or more specifically to news from Africa, Asia, etc.

http://www.google.com/ig

=Aggregators and Readers=

Here are some popular RSS aggregators (feed readers) in each category.
 * [|Bloglines]
 * [|Google Reader]
 * See [|[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSPZ2Uu_X3Y|Google Reader in Plain English]]] (video)
 * [|FastLadder]
 * [|NewsGator Online]
 * [|Rojo]

=Let's Learn!=

Simply watch these videos in THIS order!

media type="custom" key="3084900"

== =Learn More!=


 * [|25 Tools: Google Reader] Activities designed to acquaint you with this popular aggregator.
 * [|Bloglines & Google Reader] A TeacherTube screencast introduction to these two online tools from an education professor for his class.
 * [|Bloglines Tutorials on YouTube] (videos)
 * [|Firefox and RSS Feeds] If you use the Firefox browser and have an RSS reader, this TeacherTube video shows you how to save time and make them work together.
 * [|Getting Started with RSS: A Fifteen Minute Tutorial] Another short tutorial for Bloglines from Karen Schneider, a librarian, with great information and step-by-step instructions.
 * [|Google Reader for Beginners]
 * [|Google Reader Tutorials on YouTube] (videos)
 * [|iGoogle Tutorials on YouTube] (videos)
 * [|Integrating RSS into Your Website] A slideshow by an internet librarian.
 * [|NetNewsWire Tutorials on YouTube] (videos)
 *  [|RSS: A Quick Start Guide for Educators] (PDF) A nice overview of RSS and aggregators/readers from education blogger, Will Richardson.
 * [|Using NetVibes for RSS Aggregation] A follow-up to David Warlick's presentation on RSS using a "personalized front page" generator as an RSS reader.
 * [|Using PageFlakes] A video introduction to using a different personalized page generator as a feed reader.
 * [|Using RSS] An online slideshow with emphasis on how to use Google Reader
 * [|Using RSS Feeds] Another TeacherTube video**;** a how to for educators on getting started with RSS feeds. Walks you through the process of setting up your first RSS Feed Reader.

= = == =More Info!= For more about RSS, news feeds, readers and aggregators see:
 *  [|Blogging and RSS: Powerful New Tools for Education] Blogger Will Richardson looks at these tools in an article from //MultiMedia and Internet @ Schools//.
 * [|Don't Underestimate the Importance of the Aggregator] from Doug Johnson's //Blue Skung Blog//
 * [|Feed the Mind with RSS] A presentation by Cathy Nelson of South Carolina.
 * [|Feed the Need for Feeds?] A CNet video explaining RSS and how they can be used.
 * [|Feed Your Head: Keeping Up by Using RSS] An article from //Library Journal// by Roy Tennant
 * [|Personalize Your Overload: RSS and Blog Aggregators] An excellent article featuring ideas for using RSS with students and with teachers as well as on your school library media website
 * The Top Ten Things You Should Know about RSS Feed Aggregators from Doug Johnson's //Blue Skunk Blog:// follow these 10 steps to using Google Reader
 * [|What Is RSS and Why Should I Care About It?] Andy Carvin explains RSS in simple terms and suggests some readers you may want to try.
 * [|Why Personal Learning Networks Are Important] RSS can be a major contributor to your own personal learning network.