Technology-Leadership+Summary

// RSS for Educators: Blogs, Newsfeeds, Podcasts, and Wikis in the classroom, // by John G. Hendron, is a comprehensive look at web tools that have become popular in the in the 21st century. RSS stands for really simple syndication, and it is a way for people to get new and updated content from websites. Hendron goes deeper into the use of RSS in schools, classrooms and software applications. The RSS uses what is called an aggregator. This aggregator continually checks certain websites to see if new or updated content is available. When it is, it notifies the person of the new content and even downloads content to be easily accessed. It works in a similar way to ones owns email, constantly searching for new mail delivered. There are a number of free aggregators available that one can subscribe to. Just list sources on websites that you have interest in and the aggregator does the rest. When I started using the aggregator I started slow as suggested in class and still it can be an abundant amount of information. Blogs, or weblogs, are very popular and can be found on almost any topic. ”Today blogs are being created by people in all walks of life and for innumerable reasons” (Hendron, 2008, p. 21). A blogger, one who maintains a blog, writes something called a post to his blog. Most blogs allow readers to comment on the post and often links readers to other blogs or websites of similar interest to the blog topic. Technically blogs are easy and can be free. A person creates a page and writes posts to it. It can be used by educators as a tool for communication with parents, students, administrators and colleagues. “Wikis are websites that can be quickly updated” (Hendron, 2008, p. 33). Wikis are similar to blogs but are listed on page in chronological order by date of post. The earlier posts are first and then come later posts. Blogs on the other hand are listed with latest post first and then next latest on down. Wikis allow the actual function of read and write on the web. Wikis are websites that can be edited, corrected, added to by others who read the wiki. They can be used in education environs as tools for curriculum and lesson planning, sign-up sheets, announcements, meeting minutes and a host of other applications. “Podcasting is a process of publishing/broadcasting on the web that uses Really Simple Syndication (RSS) to deliver multiple media content to end users” ( Hendron, 2008, p. 47). Could be called talk/ listen web instead of read write web. With more families having access to technology and internet connectivity this is a great way to reach and communicate with all stakeholders in the district. A weekly student or teacher podcast, as superintendent’s update. Students could use it to broadcast daily announcements. These technological Web 2.0 tools have a real valid use in the educational setting. We can open up the lines of communication with parents and students. Communication is the key to successful education of our young people today. Parents are becoming disenfranchised with the education system. Understandable when statistics are showing that we are not doing a good job of educating their children. I think that our students like being connected to the world through technology. They may even need it. If we step up, become at least at ease with these tools and utilize them to advantage we may find more success and an easier way.

Hendron, J.G. (2008). //RSS for Educators: Blogs, Newsfeeds, Podcasts, and Wikis in the Classroom.// Eugene, Oregon. ISTE.