We had a chat on RSS and Bloglines today. Unfortunatelly, I did not record it. So, I will try to summarize what we said.
What is RSS? It is an acronym that stand for Rich Site Summary or Real Simple Sindication. An RSS "feed" is a type of electronic file written in the XML formatting language (similar to HMTL, but with user-defined parameters), which contains information about content on a website or weblog.
Weblogs and news sites are the most common use of RSS feeds. When new content is added to a blog or website, that contect is automatically updated to every subscriber of that RSS feed.
Advantages?
1-Most aggresgator programs are free and can be easily obtained on the Internet. Example: Bloglines , Google Reader, Mozilla Thunderbird
2-RSS is one of the most timely and cost-effective forms of professional development.
3- It is time saving. You can track more information in a short period of time.
4- If you are subscribed to different parts of the news world , you will be able to compare and contrast it.
5- Teachers can share some information with other colleagues.
6- Teachers can follow his/her students blog.
Further reading: Writing Matrix Wiki
I got a comment by Elizabeth Hanson-Smith ( a Webhead) about how she uses RSS:
Long ago found I just didn't get around to visiting a place likeBloglines to read RSS feeds, so instead I use <http://Feedblitz. com>which emails me any time there is new material on a blog, Web page,wiki, etc. So the feed comes to me, rather than my having to gosomewhere to find it.I have a FeedBlitz "button" on my Firefox browser for quick and easylinking, and FeedBlitz tells you immediately if you have anRSS-addressable link. The only inconvenience is that sometimes I haveto "View Page Source" to find the RSS address, and copy and paste itinto FeedBliz.Cheers----Elizabeth
Comments
Your post about RSS sounds like a brilliant summary about the chat session on this subject. Congratulations!
I discovered RSS feeds three years ago and I was immediately fascinated by this powerful technology. First, I started using an offline Reader which I had installed in my computer at home. Then I got acquainted with Bloglines and used both. Sometime later I fell in love with Google Reader which is the only RSS reader I am using today, apart from some feeds I have in my Pageflakes' page.
Honestly, I don't use the RSS agregator as much as I probably should but when there is something I really am interested in following, I don't hesitate tracking it with Google Reader.
Joao
Like you listed in your post, RSS is really helpful. I use them all the time. It is a way of saving time and being updated on stuff you like to follow.
I use them,but I admit I am not an expert on them. I would really like to know how to create, program them. I gues that is another story.
Hugs
JA
A good summary that made me feel as if I was there!RSS, specifically Bloglines, helped me a lot when I worked with my students on creating their own blogs.Google Reader/ I failed to use, so I am sticking to the one which I am stratified with, my Bloglines
Sorry for the late response:-(
Hala