RSS+feeds

Of the many feeds I receive through my Google Reader, I would like my students to have quick access during our class period to the following feeds. I will refer to different postings as the topic seems to be appropriate to course material for that specific day.

rss url="http://www.christnotes.org/syndicate.php?content=dbv&type=rss2.0&ver=nlt" link="true" number="1"

rss url="http://feeds.feedburner.com/freetech4teachers/cGEY" link="true" number="5"

rss url="http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/feed/" link="true" number="5"

rss url="http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/node/feed" link="true" number="5"


 * READING RSS FEEDS IN GOOGLE READER**


 * RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Feeds**

1. Finding data by merely going directly to a website or a blog is perfectly acceptable.

2. But there is an even more efficient method: having the information come to us.

3. Let's watch this video:

RSS in Plain English (produced by Common Craft) http://www.commoncraft.com/rss_plain_english


 * GOOGLE READER**


 * What is Google Reader?**

1. Let's watch together this Google Reader help video: http://www.youtube.com/GoogleReaderHelp#p/u/1/o1d-b8wzzMY

2. Set up a Google Reader account: www.google.com/reader

3. Keep open in one window your Google Reader. We will work with it in a few minutes.


 * Add a subscription to your Google Reader**

If RSS and Google Reader are new to you, let's look at what is available already on our APU website.

1. Go to the bottom left of the APU home page. http://www.apu.edu/

Click on the RSS link

You get the following page: http://www.apu.edu/utilities/rss/

2. Right click (select "open in a new tab") on the link "Learn more about RSS readers and subscriptions." It will take you to the page entitled "Using RSS." Skim the material on the page. http://www.apu.edu/utilities/rss/about/

3. Now return to http://www.apu.edu/utilities/rss/

4. Let's put a subscription into our Google Reader using one item on this list, say "APU Athletics—All Sports" (You could pick any of the others—the principle is the same.) Click on the link. You get the following page. http://www.apu.edu/utilities/rss/feeds/athletics_all_sports.rss

5. Here is how to put this particular subscription into your Google Reader:

Copy the URL at the top of this web page. Paste it into the block on your Google Reader that says ADD SUBSCRIPTIONS. In a few seconds the APU link will appear.

6. You can now read the most recent feed. You can also easily cycle back to past feeds.

7. Unsubscribe If you want to get rid of a feed, here is how to "unsubscribe"

8. The Google Reader Help screens are excellent.


 * HOW TO FIND INTERESTING RSS SUBSCRIPTIONS**

Here are some ways you can determine what blogs/websites you might want to subscribe to:

http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en
 * 1. Google Blog Search**

Use some of the following search terms:

Elementary school teacher First grade teacher Second grade teacher Sixth grade teacher Social Work High school English teacher Athletic Training

http://www.google.com/
 * 2. Regular Google Search**

Use some of the following search terms:

Top blogs by category Top fitness blogs Top football blogs Top wedding blogs First grade teacher blog [etc.] High school English teacher blogs High school math teacher blogs High school U.S. History teacher blogs


 * Here are some results that came from those search terms**

ESPN (Los Angeles). Thank you, Aaron Valle, for this tip. http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/

Social Work Blogs (Note the advertisement from APU at top left of the page) http://www.socialworkblogs.info/

Teaching English with Technology http://www.tewt.org/englishteachersites.html Click on the section entitled "English teacher sites, blogs, and wikis"

Top 15 music education blogs http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-15-music-education-blogs/

Top 25 blogs for math in the classroom http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-25-blogs-for-math-in-the-classroom/

25 Best math blogs for students in the classroom http://www.onlinedegrees.org/25-best-math-blogs-for-college-students/

Top 25 world languages blogs http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-25-world-languages-blogs/

Top 20 art blogs for educators http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-20-art-blogs-for-educators/

Top 25 creative writing blogs for students http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-25-creative-writing-blogs-for-students/

25 Best Chemistry blogs for college students http://www.onlinedegrees.org/25-best-chemistry-blogs-for-college-students/

Top Ten Graduate Student Blogs http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-10-graduate-student-blogs/

Accounting Blogs http://www.fins.com/Finance/Articles/SB126478193098537183/The-Top-Five-Tax-Accounting-Blogs http://goldenmarketing.typepad.com/weblog/accountingbloglist.html

Nursing Blogs http://msndegree.net/2010/top-25-pediatric-nursing-blogs/

When you have a few good blogs you like, work your way through the Blog Roll of what that person selects.
 * 3. Blog Rolls**

Let's use Larry Ferlazzo's blog as an example of this process: http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/ Go to his Blogroll

As a further example, click on his first item: A Teacher's Life http://www.lucygray.org/weblog/#tp Notice her blog roll


 * 4. Websites**

Go to the website itself. Look for the **RSS/XML thingy**. Click on it. Copy the URL on the page that opens. Paste that URL into the ADD SUBSCRIPTIONS box in Google Reader.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ Scroll to the middle of the page to "Ways You Can Get Us" Click on RSS
 * Let's use a few examples from the Washington Post**:

a. Washington Post main RSS Listing http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/rss/index.html#what Go to the Sports section (scroll down about 75% of the way) Select feeds that might interest you.

b. On Faith webpage: http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/ On Faith RSS feed page http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/atom.xml

c. On Leadership webpage http://views.washingtonpost.com/leadership/ On Leadership RSS feed page http://views.washingtonpost.com/leadership/atom.xml

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/rss/index
 * Now let's try ESPN**. Check out their RSS Feed Index: