RSS for Community of Practice Doing More with Less http://www.rawsthorne.org

Workshop Objectives Upon completion of this workshop the participants will …. be able to explain the publish and subscribe model used within blogging. be able to identify the key technology components of blogging. be able to list the key administrative options required to maintain a blog. be able to describe two different blogging services. be able to discuss the concept of aggregation as it applies to subscribing to multiple blogs.

Upon completion of this workshop the participants will ….

be able to explain the publish and subscribe model used within blogging.

be able to identify the key technology components of blogging.

be able to list the key administrative options required to maintain a blog.

be able to describe two different blogging services.

be able to discuss the concept of aggregation as it applies to subscribing to multiple blogs.

Blogging: Concepts Publishing and subscription A blogger publishes postings A blog reader subscribes to a blog Notification service A reader polls a blog to be notified of new posts

Publishing and subscription

A blogger publishes postings

A blog reader subscribes to a blog

Notification service

A reader polls a blog to be notified of new posts

Publish and Subscribe Think Reflect upon the business of magazine publishing. Think about the magazines you have subscriptions. Ink (write down answers to the following questions) What ‘high level’ tasks does a magazine publisher perform? As a subscriber what are your activities in relation to your magazines and their subscriptions? You have 3 minutes to complete this activity ?

Think

Reflect upon the business of magazine publishing.

Think about the magazines you have subscriptions.

Ink (write down answers to the following questions)

What ‘high level’ tasks does a magazine publisher perform?

As a subscriber what are your activities in relation to your magazines and their subscriptions?

You have 3 minutes to complete this activity

Tasks Publisher Subscriber Targets a subject Creates content Creates magazines Distributes magazines Generates revenue Notifies subscribers Keeps things interesting Manages data authors, dates, keywords, titles, references, etc… Seeks new publications Pays for subscriptions Reads magazines Skims magazines for interesting articles Selects magazines from assortment Cancels subscriptions Looks for related information

Targets a subject

Creates content

Creates magazines

Distributes magazines

Generates revenue

Notifies subscribers

Keeps things interesting

Manages data

authors, dates, keywords, titles, references, etc…

Seeks new publications

Pays for subscriptions

Reads magazines

Skims magazines for interesting articles

Selects magazines from assortment

Cancels subscriptions

Looks for related information

Blogs Blogger Reader Targets a subject Sets up a blog Creates content / posts Publishes posts Attracts subscribers Keeps things interesting Manages data dates, keywords, titles, references, permissions, etc… Searches for blogs Checks for new postings Reads blogs Skims blogs for interesting articles Selects postings from assortment of blogs Cancels blog subscriptions Looks for related information

Targets a subject

Sets up a blog

Creates content / posts

Publishes posts

Attracts subscribers

Keeps things interesting

Manages data

dates, keywords, titles, references, permissions, etc…

Searches for blogs

Checks for new postings

Reads blogs

Skims blogs for interesting articles

Selects postings from assortment of blogs

Cancels blog subscriptions

Looks for related information

Messaging Technology Blogs are based upon a messaging technology The messages are well formed using a standardized messaging format known as XML The standard for blogging is known as RSS

Blogs are based upon a messaging technology

The messages are well formed using a standardized messaging format known as XML

The standard for blogging is known as RSS

Messaging Technology: XML The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a general-purpose markup language that supports a wide variety of applications. <element attribute=“value”>content</element> <person> <last-name>Rawsthorne</last-name> <first-name>Peter</first-name> </person>

The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a general-purpose markup language that supports a wide variety of applications.

<element attribute=“value”>content</element>

<person>

<last-name>Rawsthorne</last-name>

<first-name>Peter</first-name>

</person>

<?xml version=&quot;1.0&quot; encoding=&quot;UTF-8&quot;?> <recipe name=&quot;bread&quot; prep_time=&quot;5 mins&quot; cook_time=&quot;3 hours&quot;> <title>Basic bread</title> <ingredient amount=&quot;3&quot; unit=&quot;cups&quot;>Flour</ingredient> <ingredient amount=&quot;0.25&quot; unit=&quot;ounce&quot;>Yeast</ingredient> <ingredient amount=&quot;1.5&quot; unit=&quot;cups&quot; state=&quot;warm&quot;>Water</ingredient> <ingredient amount=&quot;1&quot; unit=&quot;teaspoon&quot;>Salt</ingredient> <instructions> <step>Mix all ingredients together, and knead thoroughly.</step> <step>Cover with a cloth, and leave for one hour in warm room.</step> <step>Knead again, place in a tin, and then bake in the oven.</step> </instructions> </recipe>

Messaging Technology: RSS Really Simple Syndication Rich Site Summary RSS is a simple XML-based system that allows users to subscribe to their favorite websites.

Really Simple Syndication

Rich Site Summary

RSS is a simple XML-based system that allows users to subscribe to their favorite websites.

<rss version=&quot;2.0&quot;> <channel> <title>Critical Technology</title> <link>http://criticaltechnology.wordpress.com</link> <description>Another WordPress weblog</description> <pubDate>Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:23:47 +0000</pubDate> <language>en</language> <item> <title>Hello world!</title> <pubDate>Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:23:47 +0000 </pubDate> <dc:creator>criticaltechnology</dc:creator> <description>Welcome to Wordpress.com. </description> <content>This is your first post. </content> </item> </channel> </rss>

DEMO web page vs. RSS http://criticaltechnology.blogspot.com http://criticaltechnology.blogspot.com/rss.xml Add a post… http://criticaltechnology.blogspot.com http://criticaltechnology.blogspot.com/rss.xml

web page vs. RSS

http://criticaltechnology.blogspot.com

http://criticaltechnology.blogspot.com/rss.xml

Add a post…

http://criticaltechnology.blogspot.com

http://criticaltechnology.blogspot.com/rss.xml

Blogger Reader subscribe updates? updates?

Puzzle think think pair solve From what you have learned so far; Think about the structure and content of RSS Think about the publisher – subscriber relationship Pair up with someone next to you Solve the problem of how a subscribers software would determine if the blog had new postings? (hint: think about the XML elements present within an RSS file) You have 2 minutes to complete this activity ?

<rss version=&quot;2.0&quot;> <channel> <title>Critical Technology</title> <link>http://criticaltechnology.wordpress.com</link> <description>Another WordPress weblog</description> <pubDate>Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:23:47 +0000</pubDate> <language>en</language> <item> <title>Hello world!</title> <pubDate>Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:23:47 +0000 </pubDate> <dc:creator>criticaltechnology</dc:creator> <description>Welcome to Wordpress.com. </description> <content>This is your first post. </content> </item> </channel> </rss>

Internet RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS Blog Reader As a blog reader you can subscribe to many blogs. You can have your blog reading software polling many blogs for new posts. It’s like creating your own magazine.

Phew! QUESTIONS?

QUESTIONS?

Two Blogging Options

Blogger Free Easy to use Web 2.0 savvy Very Popular Owned by Google Proprietary Allows many blogs Limited flexibility “ Slow”

Free

Easy to use

Web 2.0 savvy

Very Popular

Owned by Google

Proprietary

Allows many blogs

Limited flexibility

“ Slow”

DEMO http://www.blogger.com

http://www.blogger.com

WordPress Free Intermediate to use Web 1.5 savvy Very Popular Owned by Everyone OpenSource Allows many blogs “ Unlimited” flexibility “ Quick” Can limit viewer ship to 35 people. Therefore, you can create an internet blog where only subscribed members can view the blog over the internet.

Free

Intermediate to use

Web 1.5 savvy

Very Popular

Owned by Everyone

OpenSource

Allows many blogs

“ Unlimited” flexibility

“ Quick”

DEMO http://www.wordpress.com

http://www.wordpress.com

What features do you think are most important?

Administrative Options Dashboard Posting / Writing Tagging Media Management Members / Users - Privacy - Look and Feel Options

Dashboard

Posting / Writing

Tagging

Media

Management

Members / Users - Privacy -

Look and Feel

Options

Aggregation Internet RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS RSS Blog Reader

Aggregator A news aggregator is a software application or remotely hosted service that collects syndicated content from disparate sources and provides a single consolidated view. These applications can also be commonly referred to as a feed reader, feed aggregator or simply just an aggregator. http://www.google.com/reader/

A news aggregator is a software application or remotely hosted service that collects syndicated content from disparate sources and provides a single consolidated view. These applications can also be commonly referred to as a feed reader, feed aggregator or simply just an aggregator.

DEMO

Exercises Reflect upon the structure of RSS. Find blogs of interest to you. View their aesthetics. Design your blog for Wednesdays Lab. Web 2.0 Ideas for Educators: A guide to RSS and More. http://www.teachinghacks.com/audio/100ideasWeb2educators.pdf

Reflect upon the structure of RSS.

Find blogs of interest to you. View their aesthetics.

Design your blog for Wednesdays Lab.

Web 2.0 Ideas for Educators: A guide to RSS and More.

http://www.teachinghacks.com/audio/100ideasWeb2educators.pdf

Exit Activity Write on one side of the card what you feel was well understood. Write on the other side of the card what could have been given more attention. Leave the cards at the front before you leave.

Write on one side of the card what you feel was well understood.

Write on the other side of the card what could have been given more attention.

Leave the cards at the front before you leave.

References Communities of practice, a brief introduction - Etienne Wenger http://www.ewenger.com/theory/ The Use of Blogs, Wikis and RSS in Education: A Conversation of Possibilities http://eprints.qut.edu.au/5398/1/5398.pdf RSS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_(file_format) Video: RSS in Plain English http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU Blogger http://www.blogger.com/home Wordpress http://wordpress.org/ Google Reader http://www.google.com/reader/

Communities of practice, a brief introduction - Etienne Wenger http://www.ewenger.com/theory/

The Use of Blogs, Wikis and RSS in Education: A Conversation of Possibilities http://eprints.qut.edu.au/5398/1/5398.pdf

RSS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_(file_format)

Video: RSS in Plain English http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU

Blogger http://www.blogger.com/home

Wordpress http://wordpress.org/

Google Reader http://www.google.com/reader/

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