RSS for Community of Practice

Doing More with Less

http://www.rawsthorne.org

Workshop ObjectivesUpon completion of this workshop the participants

will ….• be able to explain the publish and subscribe

model used within blogging.• be able to identify the key technology

components of blogging.• be able to list the key administrative options

required to maintain a blog.• be able to describe two different blogging

services.• be able to discuss the concept of

aggregation as it applies to subscribing to multiple blogs.

Blogging: Concepts

• Publishing and subscription– A blogger publishes postings– A blog reader subscribes to a blog

• Notification service– A reader polls a blog to be notified of new

posts

Publish and Subscribe

Think1. Reflect upon the business of magazine publishing. 2. Think about the magazines you have subscriptions.

Ink (write down answers to the following questions)1. What ‘high level’ tasks does a magazine publisher

perform?2. As a subscriber what are your activities in relation to

your magazines and their subscriptions?

You have 3 minutes to complete this activity

?

Publisher Subscriber

Tasks

• Targets a subject• Creates content• Creates magazines• Distributes magazines• Generates revenue• Notifies subscribers• Keeps things interesting• Manages data

–authors, dates, keywords, titles, references, etc…

• Seeks new publications• Pays for subscriptions• Reads magazines• Skims magazines for

interesting articles• Selects magazines from

assortment• Cancels subscriptions• Looks for related

information

BlogsBlogger Reader

• Targets a subject• Sets up a blog• Creates content / posts• Publishes posts• Attracts subscribers• Keeps things interesting• Manages data

– dates, keywords, titles, references, permissions, etc…

• Searches for blogs• Checks for new postings• Reads blogs• Skims blogs for interesting

articles• Selects postings from

assortment of blogs• Cancels blog subscriptions• Looks for related

information

Messaging Technology

• Blogs are based upon a messaging technology• The messages are well formed using a

standardized messaging format known as XML• The standard for blogging is known as RSS

Messaging Technology: XML

• The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a general-purpose markup language that supports a wide variety of applications.

<element attribute=“value”>content</element>

<person><last-name>Rawsthorne</last-name><first-name>Peter</first-name>

</person>

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><recipe name="bread" prep_time="5 mins" cook_time="3 hours"> <title>Basic bread</title> <ingredient amount="3" unit="cups">Flour</ingredient> <ingredient amount="0.25" unit="ounce">Yeast</ingredient> <ingredient amount="1.5" unit="cups" state="warm">Water</ingredient> <ingredient amount="1" unit="teaspoon">Salt</ingredient> <instructions> <step>Mix all ingredients together, and knead thoroughly.</step> <step>Cover with a cloth, and leave for one hour in warm room.</step> <step>Knead again, place in a tin, and then bake in the oven.</step> </instructions></recipe>

Messaging Technology: RSS

• Really Simple Syndication• Rich Site Summary

• RSS is a simple XML-based system that allows users to subscribe to their favorite websites.

<rss version="2.0"><channel>

<title>Critical Technology</title><link>http://criticaltechnology.wordpress.com</link><description>Another WordPress weblog</description><pubDate>Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:23:47 +0000</pubDate><language>en</language><item>

<title>Hello world!</title><pubDate>Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:23:47 +0000</pubDate><dc:creator>criticaltechnology</dc:creator><description>Welcome to Wordpress.com. </description><content>This is your first post.</content>

</item></channel>

</rss>

DEMO

web page vs. RSS

http://criticaltechnology.blogspot.com

http://criticaltechnology.blogspot.com/rss.xml

Add a post…

http://criticaltechnology.blogspot.com

http://criticaltechnology.blogspot.com/rss.xml

Blogger Readersubscribe

updates?

updates?

Puzzle

think think pair solveFrom what you have learned so far;

Think about the structure and content of RSSThink about the publisher – subscriber relationshipPair up with someone next to youSolve the problem of how a subscribers software would

determine if the blog had new postings? (hint: think about the XML elements present within an RSS file)

You have 2 minutes to complete this activity

?

<rss version="2.0"><channel>

<title>Critical Technology</title><link>http://criticaltechnology.wordpress.com</link><description>Another WordPress weblog</description><pubDate>Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:23:47 +0000</pubDate><language>en</language><item>

<title>Hello world!</title><pubDate>Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:23:47 +0000</pubDate><dc:creator>criticaltechnology</dc:creator><description>Welcome to Wordpress.com. </description><content>This is your first post.</content>

</item></channel>

</rss>

Internet

RSS

RSS

RSSRSS

RSS

RSSRSS

RSS

RSSRSS

RSS

RSS Blog Reader

As a blog reader you can subscribe to many blogs. You can have your blog reading software polling many blogs for new posts.

It’s like creating your own magazine.

Phew!

QUESTIONS?

Two Blogging Options

Blogger

• Free• Easy to use• Web 2.0 savvy• Very Popular• Owned by Google• Proprietary• Allows many blogs• Limited flexibility• “Slow”

DEMO

http://www.blogger.com

WordPress

• Free• Intermediate to use• Web 1.5 savvy• Very Popular• Owned by Everyone• OpenSource• Allows many blogs• “Unlimited” flexibility• “Quick”

Can limit viewer ship to 35 people. Therefore, you can create an internet blog where only subscribed members can view the blog over the internet.

DEMO

http://www.wordpress.com

What features do you think are most important?

Administrative Options

• Dashboard• Posting / Writing• Tagging• Media• Management• Members / Users

- Privacy - • Look and Feel • Options

Internet

RSS

RSS

RSSRSS

RSS

RSSRSS

RSS

RSSRSS

RSS

RSS Blog Reader

Aggregation

Aggregator

• A news aggregator is a software application or remotely hosted service that collects syndicated content from disparate sources and provides a single consolidated view. These applications can also be commonly referred to as a feed reader, feed aggregator or simply just an aggregator.

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

DEMO

Exercises

1. Reflect upon the structure of RSS.

2. Find blogs of interest to you. View their

aesthetics.

3. Design your blog for Wednesdays Lab.

Web 2.0 Ideas for Educators: A guide to RSS and More.http://www.teachinghacks.com/audio/100ideasWeb2educators.pdf

Exit Activity

• Write on one side of the

card what you feel was

well understood.

• Write on the other side of

the card what could have

been given more

attention.

• Leave the cards at the

front before you leave.

References

• Communities of practice, a brief introduction - Etienne Wenger http://www.ewenger.com/theory/

• The Use of Blogs, Wikis and RSS in Education: A Conversation of Possibilities http://eprints.qut.edu.au/5398/1/5398.pdf

• RSS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_(file_format)

• Video: RSS in Plain English http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU

• Blogger http://www.blogger.com/home

• Wordpress http://wordpress.org/

• Google Reader http://www.google.com/reader/

All the information in this document is licensed under the Creative Commons license: Attribution – Share Alike

For more information regarding this license please visit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/ca/