by derrickwillard on February 16, 2010 at 3:04 pm · Filed under Google Tools and tagged: RSS, student work, teachers
In my last post, I mentioned the value I have found in utilizing a RSS Reader for gathering the most current happenings in science and education (that are online). Assuming you are new to the tool, let me give another practical use for the classroom teacher-tracking student work. Now that have students doing regular work on class blogs or wikis (links to examples are a section to the right of this column), I have to stay on top of their posts and comments. Instead of visiting 3 different projects on a daily basis, I just check my RSS Reader. If you click and enlarge the image below, you can see I have subscribed to posts and comments in the left hand column of my RSS Reader:
Click to Enlarge
In the main viewer window of my RSS Reader, you can see the latest post by one of my students in my 8th period APES class. What an easy way to keep my “papers” organized…eh? Work smarter, not harder.
by derrickwillard on February 11, 2010 at 2:10 pm · Filed under Google Tools, professional development and tagged: RSS, social media, teachers
One of my favorite things about dabbling in social media this past year is the ease with which I can now keep up with current trends in education and current events in my field (science). Last year I was introduced to Google Reader by Will Richardson. If you are not familiar, it is a RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Reader. If you are not familiar with the concept, check out this short (3 minute) Common Craft video tutorial on RSS Readers. Oh, did I mention it is FREE?
My RSS Reader has become the primary means by which I stay abreast of current happenings. I no longer spend hours searching/reading the newspaper, science organization magazines, or major news organization web sites–I let targeted news come to me. When you look in the next column to the right, you get a glimpse into my Google Reader. Those are items I choose to share with the public.
I think the ability to manage subscriptions in an RSS Reader has to become an essential skill for the professional development of the 21st Century educator. Do you?
*Note: If you are new to all this and have just acquired an RSS Reader, note you can subscribe to blog entries using the link in the far right column…
