Tuesday, November 17, 2009

RSS Feeds and Education

I’ve been a long time user of RSS feeds but only recently discovered a way to keep up on the RSS feeds that I follow.

I largely use Google Reader as my RSS reader however I do use FreeRange on my cell phone quite often as each of the sites below will note. I have occasionally also used the Windows Vista gadget to monitor feeds.

And now, here is a list of my ten favorite educationally related feeds.


1. A Life Without Limits – Rolling Into the Future

Blog: http://alifewithoutlimitsrollinintothefuture.blogspot.com/

Feed: http://alifewithoutlimitsrollinintothefuture.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Description: Debbie, an individual with a disability, maintains her own blog to push past the stereotypes and inspire others to pursue their dreams “no matter what.”

Justification for selecting this one: I was actually searching for a blog written by someone with cerebral palsy to prove that there are people with this disease who are doing it. I wanted to find hope and motivation for my cousin Josh who has CP. While I don’t know what Debbie’s disability is exactly, I thought the point was made that technology transcends disability and breaks down barriers of communication for all.

Format Received: I use Google Reader as the method by which I get updates posted to this feed. I also use FreeRange on my cell phone. Free Range is a mobile application that presents the contents of feeds provided by Google Reader.

2. Assistive Technology

Blog: http://assistivetek.blogspot.com/

Feed: http://assistivetek.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Description: A blog “on the topic of assistive technology, eLearning, mind mapping, project management, visual learning, collaborative tools, and educational technology.”

Justification for selecting this one: Since my area of focus is educational technology, I wanted to find a feed to follow that would identify appropriate uses of adaptive technology in education. It just so happens that the author of this blog, Brian Friedlander, is my husband’s cousin and I have been following his blog since he posted a recent update on Facebook.

Format Received: I use Google Reader as the method by which I get updates posted to this feed. I also use FreeRange on my cell phone. Free Range is a mobile application that presents the contents of feeds provided by Google Reader.

3. Mike Saggese’s Blog @ 508 Portal

Blog: http://www.508portal.com/?q=blog/555

Feed: http://www.508portal.com/?q=blog/555/feed

Description: TecAccess is an accessibility consultancy practice who maintains an accessibility and disability community blog. The blog spans at range of topics from “accessible technology and Section 508 to the business case for accessibility.”

Justification for selecting this one: While the blog clearly has its own agenda (selling it’s consultancy services), I found the posts to be interesting and relevant to bringing equity into the classroom.

Format Received: I use Google Reader as the method by which I get updates posted to this feed. I also use FreeRange on my cell phone. Free Range is a mobile application that presents the contents of feeds provided by Google Reader.

4. No Limits to Learning

Blog: http://nolimitstolearning.blogspot.com/

Feed: http://nolimitstolearning.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Description: The tagline for this blog says “celebrating human potential through assistive technology” and the author of the blog invites readers to comment on children, disabilities, assistive technology and education.

Justification for selecting this one: I found this site in searching for adaptive technology but it captured my attention through several posts on the use of Wii as an assistive technology. I am strong proponent that the Wii motion control should be embraced as a way to enable greater accessibility in education.

Format Received: I use Google Reader as the method by which I get updates posted to this feed. I also use FreeRange on my cell phone. Free Range is a mobile application that presents the contents of feeds provided by Google Reader.

General Education Interest

5. Cool Cat Teacher

Blog: http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/

Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/CoolCatTeacherBlog

Description: Cool Cat Teacher’s philosophy is “teaching content with new tools, enthusiasm, and the belief that teaching is a noble calling.”

Justification for selecting this one: I found this site while looking at the blogroll of another blog that I follow and I am continually impressed by the interesting posts and technology integration discussions. I also really like the “Daily Spotlight on Education” series because it provides nuggets of information in a short post.

Format Received: I use Google Reader as the method by which I get updates posted to this feed. I also use FreeRange on my cell phone. Free Range is a mobile application that presents the contents of feeds provided by Google Reader.

6. EdTechTalk’s 21st Century Learning

Podcast: http://www.edtechtalk.com/taxonomy/term/9

Feed: http://www.edtechtalk.com/taxonomy/term/9/0/feed

Description: A web radio show that explores the intersection of education and technology.

Justification for selecting this one: I’m a big fan of EdTechTalk, a platform that hosts numerous podcasts for their community of educators interested in discussing and learning about the uses of educational technology. I picked the 21st Century Learning show to highlight since it meshes with my passion for utilizing Web 2.0 tools in the classroom.

Format Received: I use Google Reader as the method by which I get updates posted to this feed. I also use FreeRange on my cell phone. Free Range is a mobile application that presents the contents of feeds provided by Google Reader.

7. The Clever Sheep

Blog: http://thecleversheep.blogspot.com/

Feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheCleverSheep

Description: The author is a teacher who has self-proclaimed using media and other communication technologies in education for years. The blog desires to engage in meaningful conversations with other educators who also see themselves as learners.

Justification for selecting this one: This site is a new acquisition to my collection of blogs that I follow but I’ve been impressed with the informative nature of the posts so far. I’ve predominately read this thread on my phone and found myself sending posts to email for later follow-up. To me, this is a sign that the blog is worthwhile.

Format Received: I use Google Reader as the method by which I get updates posted to this feed. I also use FreeRange on my cell phone. Free Range is a mobile application that presents the contents of feeds provided by Google Reader.

8. The Power of Educational Technology

Blog: http://edtechpower.blogspot.com/

Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThePowerOfEducationalTechnology

Description: Liz Davis is the director of academic technology at an independent school near Boston. She is very active among the community of educational technologists and her blog postings inspire other educators to integrate technology in the classroom.

Justification for selecting this one: This was the very first blog that I began following. I found it through my network of educators on Twitter and quickly became a fan. She provides interesting and useful links to educational software tools and inspiring stories of successful classroom implementations. Additionally, her blog serves as a professional learning community through its various followers and associated comments.

Format Received: I use Google Reader as the method by which I get updates posted to this feed. I also use FreeRange on my cell phone. Free Range is a mobile application that presents the contents of feeds provided by Google Reader. In addition to these methods, I also get blog post updates delivered directly to my email.

9. LParisi’s Twitter Stream

Twitter: http://twitter.com/lparisi

Feed: http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/6212782.rss

Description: Lisa Parisi is a 5th grade teacher on Long Island who has created an environment in her classroom that is both respectful and collaborative. They use project-based learning approaches and lots of technology integration.

Justification for selecting this one: I spent half of my observation hours observing in Lisa’s classroom and I am supremely impressed with the levels of achievement and engagement by her students. I have chosen to profile Lisa’s twitter feed rather than her blog because quite frankly she updates Twitter a lot more frequently.

Format Received: I use Google Reader as the method by which I get updates posted to this feed. I also use FreeRange on my cell phone. Free Range is a mobile application that presents the contents of feeds provided by Google Reader. While I could use any number of Twitter clients to follow this feed, using a feed reader ensures that I don’t miss any.

9. Technology on CNN

Website: http://www.cnn.com/TECH/?eref=rss_tech

Feed: http://rss.cnn.com/rss/cnn_tech.rss

Description: This is CNN’s online Technology section, kind of like the Science section in the Tuesday Times. It provides an overview of the latest and greatest news reports on technology.

Justification for selecting this one: I’ve included this thread here as a reminder that it is always important to keep up to date on your content area of specialist. As an educational technology specialist, I need to keep pace on the latest trends in technology and not just the latest trends in educational technology.

Format Received: I use Google Reader as the method by which I get updates posted to this feed. I also use FreeRange on my cell phone. Free Range is a mobile application that presents the contents of feeds provided by Google Reader.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Robin:

    Thanks for mentioning my blog- it is great to be able to read yours as well. Keep up the great work blogging. Hope to see you soon!

    Brian

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks so much for including me on your list and for pointing me to some new and interesting resources.
    -Liz

    ReplyDelete