RSS

Watch the Video “RSS in Plain English”

RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” and is a file format for delivering regularly updated information over the web. Think about the websites and news information sources you visit every day. It takes time to visit those sites and scour the ad-filled and image-heavy pages for just the text you want to read, doesn’t it? Now imagine if you could visit all those information sources and web pages in just one place and all at the same time… without being bombarded with advertising… without having to search for new information on the page you’d already seen or read before… and without having to consume a lot of time visiting each site individually.

RSS is not only revolutionizing the way news, media, and content creators share information, but it also is swiftly changing the way everyday users are consuming information.

This week’s discovery exercises focus on learning about RSS feeds and using Google Reader (a free online newsreader) to bring your feeds together. If there is another online reader that you are more comfortable with (such as Bloglines) please feel free to use it. As a compliment to your RSS feeds, a unique Web 2.0 service called Findory allows you to get your own homepage that shows you what you’re interested in from the blogs and news sources you choose to subscribe to. Check it out if you have some spare time!

Discovery Activity #2:

Download a printable version of the discovery activity! RSS

1. Use your Google login name and password to sign into Google Reader. Once you login, you should be directed to the “welcome” screen (view screen shot).
   • Click on “add subscription” to bring up a search box (view screen shot).
   • In this box you can:
     1. search by keywords for feeds, or
     2. you can copy and paste the URL of the RSS feed into it, to add it to your feed list.
   • Try searching for a RSS feed using a keyword first. I searched for the term “perogies” and came up with several hits (view screen shot). To add a feed to your subscription list, click the “subscribe” button (view screen shot). Once you have a feed added it will appear in your subscription list (view screen shot).
   • Now try adding a RSS feed by using a URL. You can do this by going to the Learning 2.0 @ SIAST blog feed. Notice the orange RSS button? (view screen shot) Click the “entries RSS” link. Then copy and past the URL from this page into the Google Reader “add subscription” box (view screen shot). Again, you should now see the feed in your subscription list.
2. Subscribe to at least 5 other RSS feeds in your reader. You can search Google Reader by topic, find your own, or use some of the feed links below:
   • CBC’s list of blog feeds
   • Check out your co-workers blogs by going to the Participants page to find feeds on their pages (watch for the part that reads “Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)” usually it’s at the very top or bottom of the blog)
   • Technorati is a popular blog finding tool that lets you search through blogs. Since RSS feeds are inherent to most blogging tools, Technorati Blog Search can help you find RSS feeds for topic specific blogs you may be interested in. You can also check out the Technorati Tutorial on finding and adding your blog to its search. Another blog search engine to try is Google Blog Search.
3. Now comes the fun part - sharing your feeds with others! Pick one feed to browse and read by clicking on its title in your subscription list (view screen shot).
   • Find a posting that you find interesting and add it to your shared items list (view screen shot).
   • Now click on “your shared items” (view screen shot). This will give you a list of all of the items you are currently sharing and you will also be provided with a URL and even a link to an RSS feed. You can share your URLs and RSS feeds with your friends so they can see what you find interesting. For more advanced users, you can even add a clip of your shared items to your blog.
4. Create a post in your blog about this exercise and provide the URL address to your Google Reader shared items (here is link to Robin’s public Google Reader account so you can check out her shared info: http://www.google.com/reader/shared/14868557223594001182). Be sure to add your link as part of your post to demonstrate your completion of this activity.
   • Don’t know what to blog about? Think about these questions:
     • What do you like about RSS and newsreaders? What do you dislike about them?
     • How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your work or personal life?
5. Optional: Most Blogger templates incorporate a RSS feed already on your page for you and say something like “Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)”, if not and you are feeling comfortable with RSS and want to add a feed to your own site here is a good tutorial (this is also a good tutorial if you want to add a blog feed somewhere else on your page, such as in a side bar):
   • How to Add a RSS Feed on Blogger

PS: Once you tackle this discovery activity, you’ve tackled the most difficult one of the whole bunch!

If you run into problems or would like more information about RSS and using Google Reader here are some good resources:

• Feed Me: A Gentle Introduction to Internet Feeds - a good tutorial from Palinet, a library cooperative
• A Quick Tour of Google Reader - a brief overview of Google Reader
• Adding Feeds to Google Reader - a short video, includes some advanced subscription features
• Your peers - tap into their knowledge or work through your discovery process together

Check out these SIAST Libraries’ titles for even more information:

Ebooks

• Secrets of RSS by Steven Holzner

Videos

• Cool Tools: Blogs, Wikis, RSS, Podcasting (DVD)