Spring 2005, RSS feeds objectives

Project 4 objectives

Resources

Web pages

Contrasting Bloglines v. web page

Project theme: Instructional technology, RSS feeds Purpose. The purpose of this project is to explore RSS feeds and their uses. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is an XML based web content syndication format that provides a means for users to subscribe to specific web content. Technically, RSS is fairly simple to use and develop, and RSS provides dynamic content to a willing audience. RSS is suitable for content that changes frequently and provides a user with updated information on a regular basis. Unlike e-mail, RSS allows users to subscribe to content that they choose, rather than using filters to weed out unwanted content. RSS feeds may be used by anyone with internet access, and free on-line services make is easy to subscribe to content. Individuals with some programming knowledge may take it a step further and include RSS feeds in their own custom web pages. RSS may be used to subscribe to weblogs, a popular source for syndicated content. Increasingly, RSS is expanding beyond journals and news headlines. Any content that is updated regularly like stock quotes, schedules, radio programs, audio and video clips, weather, and research materials is a candidate for distribution. Realtors, headhunters, the entertainment industry, government, marketers, airlines, and schools are just a few of the groups who see great potential for using and providing RSS feeds. RSS is in its infancy, but educators are exploring the possibilities. RSS feeds may be confined to small classrooms, where students of all ages can collaborate and collect information, or used in world-wide university research projects. It provides control and organization, and matches willing providers with willing participants. It is a valuable tool in the arsenal of constructivist pedagogy. RSS seems poised to become a key player in the changing education paradigm. The Maricopa Community College system in Phoenix, Arizona, is very active in providing RSS feeds as part of their learning objects model. They provide feeds in multiple disciplines from anthropology, to nursing, to writing. They are setting up an impressive syndicated network of resources, some of which are updated hourly.

Activities. On-line resources which detail the development and uses for RSS are listed in the Resources link. These resources provided the backdrop for the experimentation and development of web pages coded with RSS feeds. The project focused on free, accessible sources and tried to minimize the amount of programming required to duplicate the process. The Web pages link includes a discussion of process, samples of code, and output.The final product in Section F includes a science resource page and blog. Syndicated science content dynamically updates the resource page, and a feed for the page is provided for subscribers. The science blog is included on the resource page, but also contains its own RSS feed for subscribers. Either feed can be used in an aggregator. Both feeds are included in the Bloglines account titled My Space, which was developed in contract 3, Aggregators.

Navigation. The links located in the bar toward the top of this page access the following topics: Project 4 objectives: links to the current page. Resources: links to lists of on-line resources about RSS feeds, including directories, guides, and code generators. Web pages: provides examples of code and output, plus the final science resource page, blog, and subscription example Contrasting Bloglines v. web page: contrasts the processes of using an on-line aggregator with using a custom web page to display RSS feeds.

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Author: Jacalyn Watson, City Univeristy, April, 2005