Reading Feeds
A news reader allows you to read everything that’s happening on a Web site without ever viewing it. Without my newsreader, there is no way I’ll be able to see what you all are posting to your blogs for this class. You’re all teachers. Could you imagine visiting all 20-something of your student’s blogs every day to see if they posted or not?
Again, I’m going to look to the commoncraft guys for a description of RSS. Enjoy this introduction, then click to see the remainder of the post.
There are a number of newsreaders you could use. I initially started out using Bloglines, but lately have been using Google Reader. Here’s google’s tour of their newsreader.
A newsreader isn’t the only option, for subscribing, though. You could also use something like your iGoogle page to track RSS, or Netvibes, which is the same sort of portal idea, but open to more than just the googlesphere. Alternately, you could use live bookmarks in Firefox, or browser in the Safari, or Flock browsers. Mac’s Mail application even allows you to subscribe so that your email and news is all in the same place.
Prompt
If you’re new to RSS, try using Google Reader to track new articles on our class blog. Click on the banner of our blog to subscribe to the comments feed, too.
If you’ve got a newsreader you like, I’m not going to force you onto Google Reader. Stick with what works for you. But I’d like you to try subscribing to our comments and posts with whatever you use. You won’t have to tell us what it’s like to subscribe, instead tell us why you like what you use.
Since I subscribe to this site’s comments, I don’t care if you complete this assignment this week or next, but for this you’ll have to post 2 comments. The first is quick. Just tell me if you’re using Google reader, or if you’re using something else, what that is. Again, extremely brief. Just an FYI for me, really.
Then, I want you to spend a week or more with a newsreader, then share your thoughts on how it works in a follow-up post. (You aren’t required to like it… especially at first, but please try following class for a week.) Then rant or rave about what it was like in the comments below.
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I signed up for the google reader back when we were taking EDTEC 572 with Terri Linman. But, honestly, I haven’t used the reader since. I’ve been visiting my favorite sites the old-fashioned way. In a strange way, I find that faster, even though I know it’s not. Maybe this task will set me straight.
When I figured out that there would be posts throughout the week requiring a response, I added the RSS feed to this blog in my Firefox toolbar. It might not be the most efficient way to monitor the posts, but it seems to work for me. I like not having to visit any other site to find what I need .
I also signed up for google reader with Terri Linman, and I also have never used it since. I don’t really have time to add much to my schedule, so just about all that I check is foxnews.com and cutewithchris.com, the first once a day or three and the latter once a week. so at this point i will go to my google reader and unsubscribe to everything i signed up for with Terri with the best of intentions and sign up for this blog!
I have google reader also from Terri’s class. I will continue using this for our 700 blog… and I will subscribe to more so I can get the whole experience.
I currently use a few “readers” that I check every day or so. Why more than one? Cox mail RSS feed for general sites that interest me (non art or educational sites) and an iGoogle page for education feeds and one for Art & Photography feeds. Also google alerts tracks news and blogs on digital art and secondary educational technology. I know ideally one reader saves time, but this way I can skim what I’m interested in at the moment without getting sidetracked by that new recipe or really cool photo show in Calgary or Frankfort that I won’t attend anyway.
I am another person who signed up for Google Reader due to Terri’s class. I don’t use it at all. When I want to look for information, I just cruise for what I want. There is no place that I try to stay in contact with consistently. Since I am setting up a blog and a wiki for my geography class, I assume that this is going to have to change
I use my igoogle page. Come to think of it, I’m pretty much always signed in to my page. If there is something easier/nicer/more convenient, I’ll give it a try.
I subscribed to google reader but do not use it. I will go in and update and use more often to complete this post and as part of this class. I just find I am really crunched for time with all that is going on in my life..
In Terri’s class I didn’t do the google reader thing, instead I added the feeds to my igoogle page. I created a tab for edtec stuff, one for NBA feeds (it was nice during the season to have that widget with the standings and schedule right there on my home page), and tabs for other stuff too. I used it just about every day.
I use Google Reader.
I use Google Reader. I “discovered” it just before I started with 572, and have slowly begun adding some of my blogs and sites to it. I like how it has allowed me to keep up on several sites that I otherwise wouldn’t check as often.
I got m’ google reader on m’ igoogle page! I’m also fixin’ t’get m’ flock set up too! Yee haw!
I guess I have a Google Reader account because when I clicked on it I already had an account, probably from Terri’s class. I will be using that.
I thought I was using google reader to because on my igoogle page I have two gadgets that show blog postings for two particular blogs. I don’t remember how I even added them. So I added google reader as a gadget as well. I am really liking it so far since I visit so many blogs now.
I have a few RSS feeds on the iGoogle page I created for Terri’s class. I just added our class blog to my iGoogle page. I did add Google Reader as well though, and added my blogger account blog to it.
I’m not really sure of the difference between it showing up on my iGoogle page or by using Google Reader.
Also with google. I noticed I was automatically subscribed to the U.S. Dept. of Ed. and found several entries from you, Karl. Does being published on a government site count as being published in the academic world? Great job Karl!
I’ve avoided signing up for too many RSS feeds for the exact reason that I know it could be addicting and I don’t want to spend too much time online. I’ll let you know what I think next week.
Like others in the class I also set up a Google Reader page in 572. I do not use it all the time at this point. I still have my favorite across the top of my browser and navigate to my site through it .
I signed up for Google Reader for a different EDTEC class. Honestly, I do not use it. I don’t read much news on the internet, and when I do, it’s the headlines on my iGoogle page.
I have a Google Reader account as well, but I tried out subscribing to this feed in Flock. I haven’t been using it though b/c I am so used to opening firefox as my browser. So I’ll have to get used to opening Flock first.
Me too. I have a Google Reader account, however, I think I will be more likely to add the RSS feeds to my iGoogle homepage. I have a few feeds that I read there already, and I added EDTEC 700 to it now. Which, I hope, will keep me on task with class.
I noticed that Flock has the RSS feeds, links to social networks, media sharing, webmail, and online favorites on a sidebar and I can see how that would be totally useful. I am not ready to switch over to the Flock side right now.
Misty
Like everyone else, I also have a Google Reader account that I never use. I also set up a iGoogle page with some RSS feeds, but I am usually too busy to read through everything. I also have a .mac email account that has RSS built in, but have not set it up. I think that is what I will eventually do. I have 5 different email addresses and need to consolidate to just 3 – one for students, one work address, and one for online stuff. Since the .mac, or mobileme, email has the ability to get your email and feeds all in the same place I may try that. For now, I have been using the Firefox toolbar and actually prefer it. I like that I can click and see a drop down list to see if I want to read anything.
I signed up with GoogleReader.
I thought I’d be able to see responses to blogs in my email, but it’s not quite that easy. I will say, however, that I’m liking Flock. A big seller is that it’s so easy to post a blog with my google blog (not my edublog) and I love how easy it is to upload photos and view them in my media bar. I also love how easy it is to send face book friends a message. Thanks for introducing me to Flock!
I signed up with google reader.
FOLLOW UP:
After over a week, I have no interest whatsoever in a news reader– at least at this point in my life. Is it great for some people? Undoubtedly. Can I even muster the motivation to check it regularly? Not really. Again, I only have about 3 websites I visit semi-regularly, so I prefer to check them directly so I can navigate to any part of the site I want.
I am still using my igoogle rss reader to read on a daily basis. I currently have nine different feeds that I enjoy reading. I’m always looking for more, but I don’t add them right away. Only if they give me some good info will they make the final cut.
Like many of the others students in this class, I signed up for Google Reader last year. My intention was to use it on a regular basis. Unfortunately my extended contract and year-round position in my district doesn’t allow much down time. It is everything I can do just to get my homework done on time and sometimes that doesn’t happen.
I believe that if I found a wiki or podcast that would help me in my day-to-day world of education, then of course I would probably be better about using it. BUT, that will only work if God decides to add and additional 12 hours to each day!
Up until now when I needed information I would just cruise until I found what I wanted. BUT, since I am finally realizing the importance of in “just-in-time”, “relevant” information, I will probably learn to rely more heavily on feeds to link me to the 21st century!
For my 2nd response after checking out some newsreaders/RSS feeds.
On my iGoogle page I have RSS feeds for the EDTEC 700 blog, and other Business news. I can check these out every time I log in, as my homepage is iGoogle. I am able to see the new class blogs and either open them up there to read, or link to the class blog site where I am then able to leave a comment. As for the business news feeds, I am able to click on the headline of an article to get a brief review or read the beginning. Then if it is something I am interested in, I can click on the link and go directly to finish reading the entire article.
These RSS feeds are a great way to put information you are interested in one place and see bits and pieces and then be able to choose those you would like to see later. I don’t use these often, but if I got into the regular habit (as many business people who are on-line all day every day) do, it could be very useful and efficient.
Google reader I linked to my blogger account. I liked how it brought up my individual blogs in a nice tab format for me to read. Otherwise I could click on the link and go directly to my Blogger account. Again, this could be very useful once you are trained to keep checking!!
Entry #2: Well I’ve been using Google Reader for awhile and also Flock Feed Reader — they both seem to work about the same. The Google Reader sometimes won’t have the most current feeds, but if I refresh (which I don’t always remember to do) they come up eventually. I like using Flock and having everything right there. I also like being able to read a little of the feeds without having to open them. I think the key is to know what you want to have come to you. Cute with Chris (referred by TBrent) is hilarious and I look forward to seeing those. I’m still a newspaper guy…oh well. I also subscribed to Commoncraft (as you know, I’m a big fan). There were just some great photos of China and a funny story about line-cutting. There is so much stuff out there you can subscribe to and then spend your whole life in front of the computer! It’s tempting to do…