RSS Tutorial

RSS, which stands for real simple syndication, is an internet utility that brings updates from a webpage directly to your computer. These updates are referred to as a site’s feed, and are displayed by a feed reader also known as an aggregator. RSS feeds are most commonly associated with blogs, but can be found on many other types of websites as well. For example, some libraries may provide RSS feeds of new books as a way to keep patrons updated.

Why should you be using RSS? Well, for the past few years the mantra in public education has been “do more with less.” As we continue to reach different points of diminishing returns, we need to embrace new technology tools that help us work smarter and not harder. RSS is one of those tools. Keeping up with developments in education is an important part of being a professional learner. When time crunches hit, though, clicking through bookmarks to 30 or more websites becomes an impossibility. Imagine, however, if the content of those 30 or more websites was brought together, or aggregated, onto a single page. And to make this even more efficient, only the new content that you have not yet read will be displayed. This is the power of RSS; using an aggregator, or news reader, you can have a single page that displays only new/unread content from a set of websites that you define. Think of this as your personal, electronic newspaper!

In order to make use of RSS feeds, you will need to select an aggregator that will turn the computer code feed into the updates that you can read on your computer. Two popular (and free) web-based aggregators are Google Reader and Bloglines. There are also computer-based aggregators built into the Firefox browser and the Thunderbird e-mail client as well as add-ons such as Lektora.

My personal preference has been moving more and more towards Google Reader as it is available where ever I find wireless access and it has a nice set of keyboard navigation keys for quick perusal of feed updates. There is an easy to use flash tutorial on using Google Reader available to help you get started. If you need to populate your aggregator with a set of RSS feeds, you can download my set of feeds about schools, libraries, and technology that I read on a regular basis and then import them into your aggregator.

Directions for accomplishing this in Google Reader:

1. Download the RSS feed list (OPML file) by right-clicking this link and selecting to save the file.
2. Browse to your Google Reader page and login.
3. Click on “Edit Subscriptions”
4. In the dropdown menu, select “Import Subscriptions”
5. Click “Browse” and locate the OPML.xml file that you downloaded in step 1.
6. Click on “Upload” to have Google Reader process your import list.
7. Be sure to check back to Google Reader on a regular basis to receive updates from the different sites…

Don’t forget that you can also add new feeds that you find to your Google Reader subscription list by right-clicking on the RSS or XML feed link and copying the shortcut. Then go to Google Reader, click on “Edit Subscriptions” and then click “Add a feed.” Paste the feed address in the box, to start reading!

If you want to try the power of RSS without having to download or set up your own aggregator, you can use the RSS aggregator page I have already created at http://infomancy.suprglu.com. That page will feature the latest content from the different sites included in my school, library and instructional technology feed list available above.