Week 2 Reflections

So we're into the second week of this class - RSS Feeds. This one wasn't as easy for me because I'm fighting hardware (I think)

What did you learn?
I've learned what is meant by an RSS feed -which is something I didn't know before. But I've also learned that it isn't as straightforward as it first seemed. First, at least some sites don't have a "subscribe" option or the RSS button. I've figured out several work arounds - primarily using the "discover rss" tool in explorer. But then (and this I think is where I'm fighting my own hardware) asking to subscribe takes me to MS explorer's feed set up (which acts like bookmarks). I don't like that because it seems to be computer specific and I use several different computers (school desktop, school laptop, home desktop, computer in any public library when I'm on the road). Ok, so I exported the feeds for explorer to google, but as I had more stuff I'm going to use google and just cut and paste the feed url.

Something tells me there is a better way to do this, but right now I don't know what it is. And I do need to try subscribing using the laptop, which seems to behave differently.

How will you use what you have learned?

The question is how might I use this. First I need to figure out how to add the "Subscribe" Icon to my blog page. Right now it has some sort of "subscribe (atom)" which makes little sense. Then I could set up a blog and send out a note asking parents to subscribe - or if I were clever enough do this before school starts so the information could go home on my first day papers. On the other hand, I'm not exactly a passive person - I think for class communications email is still better because it is a push mechanism rather than a pull ("don't tell me you didn't get the word, I know you got a note"). Have to think about this one.


How did you feel about this tool?

This one I'm not so sure about. I've got so much information coming in anyway, that I'm not sure a new source is needed. If I found a blog I really really wanted to follow I could see using it. I don't like that it takes fidgeting and figuring out what to click on the subscribe and the lack of commonality.

What do you not want to forget about this tool?

I don't want to forget the things I figured out about how to subscribe (even when it isn't clear cut) and how to finagle google and explorer.

How can this be used in the classroom or in your educational role?

Hum, I'm not sure about this. I can see using it to communicate, but I'm not seeing a clearcut advantage over email right this moment. On the other hand, I've got smart kids - maybe come Fall I should ask them. I am curious as to how this is used in a collegiate setting. My job is to get my little weasels ready for a college math class and getting them familiar with tools they will see in college is part of my job.

Should you use this in the classroom or your educational role?

Again the should question. How much should we depend on technology that isn't universally available. In particular most of us can look at our rolls and TAKS failures and figure out the economically disadvantaged often seem to go together. How much technical savvy can we expect from our parents - both in general and for our at risk kids in particular? I'm going to feel my way through this one. But my stat class this fall with start with a class survey and I'm adding a question on internet access to it. One, I'll find out who has access and two, it just makes a good survey question ("how many different ways can we display this information")


What questions do you still have about this tool?
Still have questions about making it work. What do you do when there isn't a button or a subscribe? How do I stop my computer from defaulting to explorer when I subscribe? How do I put the pretty button on my blog page so subscribing is easier? I'll be working on those as the week goes on.

Janet