Really Simple Syndication
That's really what it is! I thought the concept of the RSS feed was really cool. Now I know what it is everytime I see it on a website. It was encouraging to now that someone throught of this to help make searching easier.
My first thought about classroom use of this was I wished I taught something other than math. Relative to student use, there is so much inappropriate information out there for high school math students. Take for example, Calculus. If I were to search with that word, I would get so much more information than just first year high school Calculus. A lot of that information would be over my students' heads. Also, if we google search for Algebra, what usually comes up are other teachers' notes or problems for students to look at. So, I know I would need time to set up RSS feeds to get me access to the 'good newspapers' and magazines and look for connections to the math that my students do.
For myself to get a true ides of what's really out there, I would start one for me only and spend some time with it. It would give me a better understanding of what the kids might experience. Also, I would then be able to redefine what it is I am looking for. At this point I am not too sure. I am thinking about the statement, "Where are we ever gonna use this?" that I get from the lower level math students or the disinterested math students. The good news is that over the last 10 years or so, that statement pops up less frequently. The RSS feed can help for the kids who are not naturally mathematically inclined or interested. It would also enhance all of our learners.
I am liking this one.
Christine, you have great points!It is definitely hard for students to search "algebra" on the internet and really get the relevant information that they need. An RSS feed would be perfect for this. I agree, finding sites that have answers to the kids question "when am I ever going to use this" would be awesome!!
ReplyDeleteI also liked the RSS chapter, but my question is "Where am I supposed to find the time to regualrly check my RSS? The author recommends that the user checkl their RSS each day after they check their email; I have trouble making time to check my email. I do, however, like the idea of having RSS sort and store resources that are relevant to a topic I am interested in.
ReplyDeleteI had some very similar thoughts. Even though I don't have an RSS feed setup, I feel that I get information in a similar fashion through things like the AP list serve for Stats, the Daily Digest from NCTM, and updates from Texas Instruments. I know that there are blogs out there by other teachers that would be interesting, but quite frankly I can hardly keep up with my current reading. I can spend a whole prep period just reading and checking out the suggested material.
ReplyDeleteAs for the students, I read an idea recently where the teacher had the students do the resarch for good websites. She may have had it as an extra credit offering. Saved her time and rewarded the students. It was a win win situation.
Christine,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I have used everything you taught me in geometry class back at WHS....well almost everything.
As for the RSS, you make a good point about trying it out yourself first. Sometimes I get so fired up over an idea that I want to present it to my students immediately. That usually ends up being a crash and burn situation. When too many problems pop up that haven't been investigated yet, the whole lesson derails. I would play around with RSS, get some feeds that I think are solid, have my students read the same feeds, and then maybe they'd be ready to venture out on their own.