RSS is not a new digital tool, but it is one that has not been optimally utilized and incorporated into the K-12 classroom. However, there are various ways by which RSS and feed readers can enhance instruction and support 21st century learning for teachers and students. Now, with the popular practice of flipping instruction, RSS also serves as a content aggregator for student work that is posted online. Perhaps it is the ambiguity of its utility that has stifled RSS from proliferating into mainstream K-12 classrooms, or perhaps it is because many educators fall into the laggard quadrant of the innovation adoption curve.
Friday, September 6, 2013
RSS in Education
RSS is not a new digital tool, but it is one that has not been optimally utilized and incorporated into the K-12 classroom. However, there are various ways by which RSS and feed readers can enhance instruction and support 21st century learning for teachers and students. Now, with the popular practice of flipping instruction, RSS also serves as a content aggregator for student work that is posted online. Perhaps it is the ambiguity of its utility that has stifled RSS from proliferating into mainstream K-12 classrooms, or perhaps it is because many educators fall into the laggard quadrant of the innovation adoption curve.
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Excellent presentation. I have to admit I'm a bit afraid of RSS feeds flooding my inbox and creating "time vampire." I know how set up inbox rules to segregate my RSS feeds. Do you have tips on how to manage the feeds past that point so you don't lose hours a day keeping up with them?
ReplyDeleteI was going to suggest setting up email rules and then taking 15 minutes each day to read a little bit of what you have collected. Just because you are using RSS doesn't mean that you need to read everything that comes your way, or that you would even want to. RSS is designed to save time, and utilizing rules in your inbox would be a great way to cut down on unnecessary clutter.
DeleteDave and Margo, I don't know what you mean by "inbox" in the context of RSS feeds. I've been using Feedly. And while I will skim a lot of headlines, there are only a few individual feeds I check carefully. Skimming and scan reading are legitimate skills, and you can save a lot of time by knowing what to read and what not to read.
DeleteJust like with Twitter, I have found RSS to be useful Pro-d wise, and RSS can sometimes be easier to narrow down topics to a more specific level. I know there are some limitations with the program/site you were using, but I think the tutorial would be even more helpful if it showed some examples of the readers in use, or how to sign up for them.
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