RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and Rich Site Summary. It allows users to subscribe to feeds from websites, blogs, news sites and more to get automatic updates without having to visit each site individually. Some popular RSS readers include Google Reader, FeedReader and NetNewsWire which allow users to organize feeds and access updated content in one place from any device. Using RSS in education can help students stay up to date on topics, share resources and ideas through blogs and collaborative tagging of sites.

1. © CORE Education Ltd. RSS Jedd Bartlett CORE Education

2. RSS RSS is the acronym for several things: Rich Site Summary Really Simple Syndication RSS enables subscription RSS is the syndicated content from a web site

3. RSS RSS saves you time by bringing updates to you when they are available. It puts you in control, collecting for you the information you choose to follow.

4. RSS uses a programming language to create a text file which syndicates the contents of a website in a form which can by read by a computer. Using computer software called a newsreader, news aggregator or feed reader, this is translated into a format which we can read. RSS includes headlines, summaries, abstracts - any updates which have been currently made to a website, wiki or blog.

5. First step: you set up an account with a newsreader, news aggregator or feed reader. These are available in three different ways: Web-based Desktop applications installed on your commuter Plug-ins for your internet browser

6. Second step: Subscribing to RSS Feeds Click on the RSS feed button or link Follow the instructions Many RSS feed icons look like the following:

7. Advantages Subscribe to the RSS feeds of the websites you like and the content comes to you Access multiple sites without visiting each one Use a news aggregator to read the headlines and contents of websites in one place

8. Advantages You do not need to give out your email address to websites to get updates sent to you RSS keeps your readers current Website content, news and headlines can be literally distributed to millions of readers

9. The choice of RSS reader will be dependent on what browser you use, and how accessible you would like your RSS list to be. PC/windows, Mac, desktop computer, laptop, or school intranet Browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari

10. Over 140 available, but most popular include; Bloglines Google Reader My Yahoo news IE7 favourite centre FeedReader NetNewsWire NewsGator (desktop)

11. Bloglines Works with any Web browser and OS Easy to use Imports and exports feed lists http://www.bloglines.com/

12. Google Reader Available with a Google account, and works with your Gmail account so you can send items to friends. As it learns more about you based on your subscriptions it will suggest other feeds you may be interested in. http://www.google.com/reader/

13. Feedreader Feedreader is a free lightweight aggregator with podcast support included. Browser: Windows 98 and later versions. Powerful, simple, and lightweight. http://www.feedreader.com

14. IE7 Favourite Centre Internet Explorer 7 has an RSS reader built-in to the browser. http://www. microsoft . com/windows/rss/default . mspx

15. NetNewsWire Free desktop reader, but readable offline. Desktop integration with Address Book, iCal, iPhoto, Twitterrific and more. Automatic download of podcasts and transfer to iTunes

16. NewsGator Free online, browser based news reader. NewsGator automatically recommends feeds for you. Also NewsGator Desktop, and NewsGator Mobile: http://m.newsgator.com

17. Track any news event Follow national issues in the classroom Collect the latest sports news for your team Get the local news from where your family lives

18. http://twit.tv/twit Be notified when new podcasts are available

19. Keep in touch with the family Collect images on topics you follow http://www.flickr.com

20. Benefits In a class that uses blogs, RSS can make the exchange of ideas and knowledge that makes blogs a worthwhile pedagogical tool in the first place more efficient. Students can subscribe to the blogs of their classmates and easily see when they’ve been updated.

21. Benefits Students can subscribe to topic-specific sites, allowing them to stay aware of recent developments. Feeds can help them with research (both finding topics and finding further information). Students can contribute to the collection of feeds by seeking out relevant sites on the web and sharing these feeds with the class.

22. Benefits Reading students’ blogs: In a blogging classroom, RSS eliminates the need to go to each individual student blog; instead, they come to you. You can also use RSS to keep track of comments left on student blog posts.

23. Benefits A Google news search will give you a feed to subscribe to that will update your reader whenever your search topic has new articles. Subscribe to professional organisations or tki communities in your field.

24. Benefits Combine RSS with a social bookmarking site like del.icio.us to create feeds for specific tags. If you create a unique tag for a specific topic, then any bookmarks you (or anybody) adds with that tag will be automatically fed to both your RSS reader and your students.

25. © CORE Education Ltd.