Thing #10 RSS & newsreaders

I am continually amazed at how technology has evolved over the years. Just ten years ago, we were communicating by speed letters in the company I worked for and now… we are twittering from space. If you are not familiar with a speed letter, it is a carbon copy memo that simulates email correspondence. The forms we utilized had three copies: one for the sender, one for the recipient to respond and the original, which contained all correspondence. What once took all day can now be facilitated within the span of about a minute! With RSS and newsreaders we are now able to apply this same concept of efficiency by following our favorite blogs and websites without ever directly accessing the websites. I love the ability to stay abreast of the latest developments in the news with just a few simple clicks and that I can actually view multiple news releases simultaneously in a quick recap format. Taking time to visit each site individually was very time consuming, especially given my early onset of dementia (although I do not actually suffer from this ailment, I tend to be forgetful). I also like that the programs tracks what you read, and that in one simple click you can start following the website you are viewing.

I can assure you that I will be utilizing this feature to keep abreast of the breaking news both locally and nationally in order to stay in tune with my surroundings. Additionally, I am looking forward to following various blogs and professional learning communities in an effort to hone my craft. For these same reasons, I feel that teachers can benefit greatly from RSS and newsreader feeds as learning is a continuous process. We should each share in the best practices of others, seek advice of other professionals and strive to improve our own skills and knowledge pool. Additionally, as an educator we are now capable of following the latest advancements within our specific fields of study and we can infuse the findings into the classroom to further demonstrate the relevance of the topic in the real world. In consideration of the fact that this generation of students requires a variety of stimulation in small concise doses, RSS and newsreaders will provide fresh educational alternatives on a daily basis. Perhaps the best component is that educators can now maximize their efficiency and allow a little more time for relaxation/family time by utilizing these resources in preparation for current events in the classroom. Below are some of the resources I follow:

MSNBC
The Tennessean
The Cool Cat Teacher
Slideshows for 'Web 2.0 tools for effective teaching
Let's Play Math!