RSS & Google Reader [Handout]

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. RSS feeds are a way for websites to

distribute new content as it becomes available. Think of an RSS feed as a file that

contains a blog or website's most recent entries.

By subscribing to a site's feed in Reader, you will be automatically notified when

that website contains new posts or entries. Instead of checking sites repeatedly for

updates, RSS feeds bring your favorite websites to you!

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The first thing you’ll need is an RSS or feed reader. We’ll be using Google Reader

but there are a number of others to choose from.

A feed reader is like a magazine that you design for yourself or like a DVR for the

internet. You pick what you want and you choose when, or even, if you want to

read it.

Google Reader lets you subscribe to your favorite websites so new content comes

to you when it's posted. Google Reader keeps track of which things you've read so

that you only see unread items when you come back.

To get started go to http://reader.google.com

Login with an existing Google account or create a new account.

NOTE: You can use any existing Google or Gmail account but that is not required. You can

sign up with any email address.

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Upon successfully logging in for the first time you’ll be greeted with something like this.

Now you’re ready for Step #2 – subscribing.

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There is virtually no end to the things you can do with RSS feeds. From cartoons and sports

to stock prices and industry news, you can have it all delivered directly to you without ever

having to visit any of the sites you subscribe to.

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To subscribe to a feed all you need to do is look for the RSS Feed icon or link. The most

common icon is the orange one seen above but you may also encounter many variations.

Once you start looking for them you’ll see them EVERYWHERE!

When you click an RSS icon to preview the feed. You’ll most likely get one of these two

types of pages.

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Copy/Paste Method:

1. Copy the URL from the address bar

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2. From within Google Reader, click the Add a Subscription button.

3. Then paste the address you just copied from your source and click the Add button.

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Some pages will automate the copy/paste steps we just mentioned.

If you see a page like this, simply click on the feed reader you are using. (In our case

Google)

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Google gives you the choice of reading feeds on your Google homepage or in Google

Reader.

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Here are some good learning / training related blogs to get you started:

http://alltop.com/ | http://elearning.alltop.com/

Learning Design/Development:

• Articulate Rapid Elearning: http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/

• Articulate Community: http://www.articulate.com/blog/

• Adobe Captivate:

http://blogs.adobe.com/captivate/ & http://captaincaptivate.com/

Presentations:

• Nancy Duarte: http://blog.duarte.com/

• Garr Reynolds: http://www.presentationzen.com/

• Cliff Atkinson: http://beyondbulletpoints.com/

General Learning & Training :

• Learning Solutions Magazine: http://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/

• ASTD: http://www1.astd.org/Blog/

• Training Magazine: http://www.trainingmag.com/

Other Misc

• Mike Taylor’s Weekly Tip: http://miketips.wordpress.com/

• AEP: http://www.aep.com/newsroom/rss/aepfeed.asp

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Google Reader Getting Started Guide:

http://www.google.com/support/reader/bin/answer.py?answer=113517

See a full list of Google Reader shortcuts here:

http://www.google.com/support/reader/bin/answer.py?answer=69973

And more Google Help here:

http://www.google.com/support/reader/

Subscribing to Feeds:

http://www.google.com/support/reader/bin/topic.py?hl=en&topic=12011

Reading Feeds:

http://www.google.com/support/reader/bin/answer.py?answer=113517#0.1_reading

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