Thing 2. Another RSS Hint

I think the best way to get into the habit of using your RSS reader is to add the "subscribe" button to your toolbar. If you regularly use one computer--your laptop, for example--to read your Reader or Bloglines feeds and to browse the Internet, having the buttons installed makes it a snap to add a feed to your reader. No need to copy and paste a URL or even look for the RSS icon.

For GoogleReader
It is an easy drag and drop operation to add the Subscribe button. You actually just drag the blue link Subscribe to your toolbar.

For Bloglines
Follow the instructions, depending on your browser.

We will talk about adding other buttons to your toolbar at our meetings--they are productivity enhancers!

Thing 2. I Love RSS!

I use Bloglines as my reader. It is similar to GoogleReader, but I like the cleaner interface. It is all personal preference. I *try* to keep up, but I do use the Mark All as Read button, too. And I don't even feel guilty.

I have added many non-educational blogs to my Bloglines, too. I love magazines (OK, I love all sources of information!) and having blogs that address my magazine interests is really ideal for me. I have craft/sewing blogs, news, thrifter blogs (I am a hunter/gatherer by nature), "green" blogs, pop culture blogs, and more. I spend many an evening looking at other people's projects for home and hearth--and seeing what is new in the world.

While the use of GoogleReader or Bloglines is great for keeping up with blogs, there are other uses, too. If you want to keep up with the latest from your favorite columnists at the NYT, Newsweek, or many other papers, use RSS. You can keep up with stock quotes, podcasts, and just about anything else on the Web that has a feed.

I just read on Infodoodads, a blog by a team of librarians, about a service that will email your feeds. I would have to think about that, since as Infodoodads points out, we already get a lot of email. But here it is if that appeals to you--Feed My Inbox.

Thing 2. Blogging--Sorry, MPS

Well, our brief experiment with Edublogs didn't work. The final straw was having to reset the password, which took way too much time and effort. Add that to the GoogleReader problems (and apparently the same problems exist with Bloglines, another reader) and it is just too unpredictable. If you were to use for classroom blogging, the delay in receiving the feeds could be a big problem if students were expected to blog and you needed to read the posts in a timely manner. Which is too bad, because there are some nice features.

I have re-done my blog using Blogger. I think you will find Blogger very simple to use with many ways to customize the template and many gadgets (or, as others call them, widgets) to add to the sidebar. I haven't progressed much with that, but I will. I encourage you to take time to look through the gadget list (under Layout>Page Elements>Add Gadget). Just remember to Save any changes you want to keep.

Chaska Training

It was a great two days in Chaska. We managed to get though all of the material--a lot--thanks to the cooperation and interest of all involved. Thanks!

It is nice to have returnees, too--Travis, Sarah, VeRonica, Kelly, Connie, Sharon, Lisa, and Jeanne will have much to offer based on their understanding and use of the tools last year. I know people have asked Travis already how he managed all those student blogs.

Bill DeJohn was impressed by your enthusiasm and ideas on the Research Project Calculator. I am always urging him to update its look and to take a hard look at the information architecture of the RPC. It is a great tool with tremendous content, but it does have a *Web 1.0* look about it. And in this day and age, looks count, especially with students. Bill does react to our comments, so keep sending them in via the RPC feedback page.

First Training Days at MPS

A week later, I am finally reflecting on the two days at Ramsey with the 2008-2009 group of teachers from Minneapolis Public Schools. I’d say we are off to a good start! We managed to cover all the material, teachers and LMS were responsive and interested, the food arrived on time, most people got their blogs set up and sent the URL to Karen, and in general, it went smoothly. Thanks for all the interest and cooperation.

Some snags–The glitch in the computer lab where we were viewing each other’s accounts seemed a bit random to me. In the future at Ramsey, this shouldn’t be an issue using your laptops with the wireless. It was a bit chaotic choosing the dates/days, but it got done. The email delay for the blogs could have been avoided–and we will use what we learn in future groups.

I received a comment about passing on suggestions about the Research Project Calculator–I did that when I talked to the Minitex director this week. It is good if you directly submit comments, too. Everyone in MPLS was so excited about the RPC and how they can use it that I invited the Minitex director to observe that session next week in Chaska. Hope they are as enthusisastic as you all!!