Feed me! Using RSS and Web Tools

Helen Curtis and Jo AlcockLearning and Information Services

Staff Development

2009/2010

Session Aims• Introduction to RSS• Using a feed reader• RSS feeds for research and current

awareness• Bookmarking, tagging, and sharing items• Applications of RSS and web tools in teaching

What is RSS?RSS = Really Simple Syndication

RSS enables you to subscribe to many web sources so that updated information comes directly to you.

www.commoncraft.com

RSS feeds VS email alerts

Aspect RSS EmailLogin/registration Usually subscribe to feeds

with a few clicks and no registration required

Set up account with each so may have to deal with multiple logins

Segregate or integrate Segregates your news so it doesn’t get buried as you deal with more urgent emails

Integrates your news with email so only one interface to check

Managing new items Items automatically marked as read; much easier to manage if you fall behind with your reading

Every new item that comes in has to be filed or filtered in some way

Sharing and adding comments

Easy to add tags and comments and share with others

Forwarding emails to others. Inbox overload?

Adapted from: http://libguides.mit.edu/rss

How does RSS work?

How can I use RSS?Web-based reader• Check RSS feeds from any

internet connection• Use web browser to check for

new items• Greater social options e.g.

sharing, following, tagging

Desktop-based reader• Located on a particular

computer (e.g. home PC)• Use desktop software to

check for new items• Greater customisation options

e.g. filtering, personalisation

NetNewsWire

Getting started with Google Reader

Finding RSS feeds• Latest news feeds• Publisher or bookseller feeds

– New books or research papers– Most read or most cited publications

• Journal feeds – Table of Contents (TOC)• Saved searches from online databases• New blog posts or updated websites• Favourite user’s bookmarks, articles or photos

Journal feeds

• Large research database from the British Library

• Set up a Zetoc Alert• Add journals to your list• Receive TOC alert via email

or RSS

• ticTOCs table of contents service

• Search for journals• View citations and links to

full text (where subscription allows)

• Export to a feed reader

Useful reading: ticTOCs and Zetoc RSS: what are the differences?

Saved Searches and Alerts• Saved search: set search terms and parameters

and feed will update with new content that matches

• Citation search: feed that will update when an article you are interested in is cited

• Google alerts: use for tracking a subject, a news story, or see what is being written about you!

Bookmarking, Tagging, & Sharing• Bookmarking: saving favourite web

links

• Tagging: your descriptive words to help locate links again

• Sharing: with students, colleagues, research partners

See what we have tagged and shared with you at:http://delicious.com/tag/wlvrss

Some sharing tools• Google Reader – shared items and enables

comments• Delicious – shared web resources• EndNote Web - create groups of shared references • Fur.ly - shorten multiple URLs into one• Clipmarks – highlight sections of websites• Friendfeed – bringing together feeds and enabling

discussion via comments• Netvibes – start page, bring together feeds with

widgets

Using web tools in teaching• Encourage wider reading

– Creating set of RSS feeds alongside a reading list– Embed feeds into PebblePad webfolio

• Formative tasks– What have you read this week?– Share and comment on items

• Tool for collaboration– Create a course subject or bookmark collection– Build start pages for a group project

• Embed into research process– Research trail: part of literature search and review

Contact us

Helen CurtisAcademic Resources LibrarianExt. 3561h.curtis@wlv.ac.uk@helencurtis

Jo AlcockResources LibrarianExt. 3273j.alcock@wlv.ac.uk@joeyanne