Uses of RSS Feeds in Education

DeWolf (2007) states; “RSS Feeds are the Really Simple Syndication of web content, meant to allow users to keep up with their favorite web sites in a time saving, automated manner” (para. 2). RSS feeds are a form of subscription to things that are published to the web. They are similar to having subscriptions to your favorite magazines or newspapers. They are links that allow a person to view a particular blog, podcast, or other form or information as soon as it is updated. It is a simple way to keep up to date on the information that you enjoy. Using sites such as Google reader will also help to manage the RSS feeds that you have subscribed to. Now the real question is, how can this web 2.0 technology be used in education and what resources are available to teachers?

According to Suite101.com (2008), RSS feeds can be used in education to follow a current event in class. RSS feeds can also be used to monitor collaborative projects. They can be created for class updates, homework assignments, question of the day, and due date reminders. They can also be used to help keep parents informed as well.

Housley (2009) recommends using RSS feeds for student research. The students can subscribe to feeds using specific key words that pertain to their research. The students can also create a search feed that will notify them when their particular topic in mentioned. The feeds can be used to keep school sports schedules up to date.

In Richardson’s (2005) article on RSS feeds, he recommends several ways to use RSS feeds in the classroom. One way that teachers can use RSS feeds is to review student blogs. If the students already have created and use weblogs, then the teacher can subscribe to these weblogs RSS feeds to collect the assignments easily, instead of having to access each weblog separately. Teachers and students can use RSS feeds to keep up to date with websites that discuss a particular topic. RSS feeds can also be used to locate news groups and other news outlets.

D’Souza (n.d.) shares a variety of information about RSS feeds in education. Depending on the blog service that is being used, teachers can track students’ comments to their peers a blogs to make sure that the students are learning how to comment appropriately. RSS feeds can be used to track discussion boards. Teachers can set up discussion boards for a particular topic and then monitor the discussion of the students through an RSS feed.

Along with knowing how RSS feeds can be used in education, teachers and students need to understand how RSS feeds work and can be created. Ormiston (2006) has created a website that provides a variety of tutorials and resources dealing with RSS feeds and using them in education.

These articles and the resources listed below provide information and feeds that are relevant to education. As with all things on the Internet, RSS feeds should be investigated by the teacher prior to using in the classroom. However these sites and articles, demonstrate the use of RSS feeds in the classroom and how they can be beneficial to education.

References:

DeWolf, E. (2007, November 13). Using RSS feeds to your advantage. Message posted to http://ericadewolf.wordpress.com/2007/11/13/using-rss-feeds-to-your-advantage/

D’Souza, Q. (n.d.). RSS ideas for educators. Retrieved July 24, 2009 from http://www.teachinghacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/01/RSS%20Ideas%20for% 20Educators111.pdf

Housley, S. (2009). RSS and education. Retrieved July 24, 2009 from http://www.rss-specifications.com/rss-and-education.htm

Ormiston, M. (2006). RSS feeds in education. Retrieved July 24, 2009 from http://www.techteachers.com/rss.htm

Richardson, W. (2005, March 29). RSS: a quick start guide for educators. Retrieved July 24, 2009 from http://weblogg-ed.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/RSSFAQ4.pdf

Resources:

http://www.educational-feeds.com/

http://weblogg-ed.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/RSSFAQ4.pdf

http://www.techteachers.com/rss.htmW