Angela Maiers Educational Services

RSS Appreciation Revisited

Today in Omaha, we talked a lot about Really Simple Syndication, aka RSS (or what we've described as Relevant Signal Stream). The following post was first published here in May 2009, but well worth the revisit.

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  A few questions:

1. What is RSS?
2. Why Should I Care?
3. How Can I Use RSS in a Classroom?

Great questions!

What is RSS?
RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication. It's a way that new information published online gets distributed to various content aggregators.

You probably already use RSS, receiving updates through email, a home page like iGoogle or MyYahoo, or possibly with a feed aggregator.

It's a great way to collect information from blogs and other sites without having to visit them every day to see if they updated. There are also sites like Alltop.com that help gather great content into a single space. And they do it with and because of the power of RSS.

Why Should I Care?
By not having to visit web pages to see IF they update, subscribing via RSS allows the content you want delivered to you -- in any fashion you wish. Email, Aggregator, Mobile...whatever -- so you save time.

A lot of folks who subscribe to this blog do so via email. Though that's one way, I wonder if it would be more productive for folks under a heavy email load to try out Google Reader (a web-based RSS aggregator) or GreatNews (a desktop application).

You can also use RSS to subscribe to various searches. If you're doing research on a topic, you can subscribe to the RSS feed of Google News or a Google Blog Search. You can also subscribe to a topic or name on YouTube or Twitter (using TweetScan). As Mike Sansone says, "Search Once and Subscribe."

How Can I Use RSS in a Classroom?
Well, we already mentioned the fantastic research possibilities above, but there are other ways. Will Richardson has a great document for educators who want a quick start to RSS.

One way I've used RSS is with my grad students. We create a wiki for the class and allow the discussion and collaborate to exist outside classroom walls. In fact, the wikis I've used still exist and are being used even thought the classes are finished.

Want to give it a try? Subscribe to my blog's RSS feed by some other fashion than email. I'd suggest GoogleReader. Then, go to Alltop and subscribe to a few other blogs or news sites.  In a few days, you'll find you're receiving more information, in less time -- without spam.

RSS - I appreciate you!

Also on this site: The Power of RSS Feeds

Related Videos:
RSS in Plain English
How to Use Google Reader

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How Do I Spell Reform? T-R-A-N-S-F-O-R-M

 There was the knowing and the un-knowing. The one who was "in the know"always stood in the front. Those who were part of the "non-knowing" sat down. The less you knew, the farther back in the room you sat. And then came reform. But is it truly reform (or was it meant to be con-form)?

Frankly, I'm starting to hate the word reform. It directs focus on the past rather than the future, on those sitting in the class without addressing those standing in the front. It seems, in context, it's leaning towards "re-do" instead of "re-form." What? Have we been doing it wrong all these years? Probably not the case -- though I hope complacency doesn't set in either.

During the summer season, I work with teachers from all over the country who invest their own personal time not in a re-do, but in a do-better, a do-whatever-it-takes habitude style of operation. Together, we are working on ways to reform transform education. Yes!  That's what we're working towards. Transfomation!

Knowledge used to be received alone. The old "Hear it and Hold it" method. A one-way transmission. Top down. Nothing was contextual. It was about sequence and order. Here's what we did yesterday, here's what we're doing today. Sequence and order ruled over context and experience. 

Does this old "transfer" of knowledge work well in the long-term? Not so much. There's a lot of blame game still going on from one grade level to the previous level. The "Hear it and Hold it" might serve short term testing, standards, and assessments well - but it falls way short of serving the most important people in the room -- the learners.

Now, collaboration is a key skill.  Differentiation and Equity have important roles in curriculum design and classroom experience. And we'll examine some of the differences between the old "reform" and the ne "transform" soon. Put your thinking caps on, kids:-)  We'll learn from this together. 

We can sooo do this.

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Leadership Day 2009: Hey Leader - Tell Me a Story!

Pop Quiz:
If your school became the subject  of a Hollywood movie, would you characterize the story as:

• A Drama
• A Comedy
• A Hero's Journey
• An Inspirational Tale
• A Tragedy

 This may seem like an odd question to pose, but  it came to mind as I was preparing this post for a global discussion on Educational Leadership; a challenge from my colleague Scott McLeod.

Scott encouraged educators around the blogosphere to contribute advice and insight about the role technology plays in teaching and learning in hopes to help the leaders of our schools guide their students and staff  in finding ways to utilize its power more efficiently and effectively.

So what does a Hollywood movie have to do with this? Everything!  We are not moved and motivated by statistics and factual data.  We are driven to action and empowerment by hearing stories of people who have overcome and turned those hurdles into triumphs. Yet that is not the story being told.

Right now the story of technology and education is one of disruption, change, fear and destruction. We are broadcasting this story to teachers, members of the community , and most importantly the children we serve. Our belief in this story deepens as the messages we convey is one of loss for the good ole days and  worries for the future. Soon enough we will find ourselves playing the lead roles in the horror we have been describing and predicting.

What we often fail to recognize is that we have more control than we think. We create the setting, we choose the lead characters, and we have the power to design the script. Just as a director of a movie utilizes different perspectives, camera angles, and colors to create a look and feel of a movie, we too can redefine the experience of school with new perspectives and actions that could change everything.

I want to encourage our 21st Century leaders to tell this new story. Tell the stories of how technology is allowing millions of students to connect like never before. Of how teachers are collaborating globally. And how together, teachers and students are changing the world in big and small ways

Check out the roster of Leadership Day 2009 in the comments section of Scott's call for Leadership Day.

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Related articles by Zemanta

• How Should We Educate 21st Century Students? (onlivingbylearning.com)
• Kim Cofino on becoming a 21st century educator (othersidegroup.com)
• What If? Technology in the 21st Century Classroom (newswire.ca)
• Create the Future: 21st Century Learning in Practice (123elearning.blogspot.com)
• The School Without Walls (deangroom.wordpress.com)

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Chalk Talk - 7/3/09

Chalk Talk Friday represents conversations and brilliance I've discovered traversing my way through the Blogosphere.  From professional to personal development, these are the posts and links have in some way touched my head or my heart!

More on ISTE's NECC09 and EduBloggerCon (my head is still processing all the great info, my heart remembering the great friendships forged!  Hope to see you all in Denver for #ISTE10)

• Twitter Search on #NECC09 - all the chatter and so many links to posts, pics, and videos
• Flickr Photo Album - A photo album of NECC by and with Flickr members at NECC
• Google Blog Search for all posts on NECC
  
• NECC09 presentations uploaded to SlideShare
  
• ISTE Connects - a post-event online program

I went directly from NECC to two days with Omaha Public Schools ELL/ESL teachers (a great group of leaders!). I look forward to talking more about both events next week!  Have a wonderful holiday weekend.

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Chalk Talk 6/26/09 - EduBloggerCon and NECC Edition

Chalk Talk Friday represents conversations and brilliance I've discovered traversing my way through the Blogosphere.  From professional to personal development, these are the posts and links have in some way touched my head or my heart!

I'm in Washington, D.C. this weekend for EduBloggerCon and NECC 09. Should be great fun as I get to meet many old friends in person for the first time (I would've laughed at that line two years ago).  There are sure to be some great backchannel conversations, and here are some:

• EduBloggerCon Agenda (includes links to some virtual chatrooms)
• NECC Unplugged (the fringe of the NECC event - think of NECC Off Broadway) - Some great virtual presentations go on here!
• ISTE's Blog (includes Ustream chat and various link)
• Bloggers Blogging About NECC
• Kevin Jarrett's Photostream as he takes 'em
  
• I'll add links to this post as I find them
  

Also watch for Twitter hashtags: #edubloggercon, #necc, and #necc09

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Des Moines Literacy Institute 2009: Yes, we can!

Yes, we can! Barak Obama said it during his presidential campaign, and I felt that same conviction and energy during this year's Des Moines Literacy Institute. What a truly amazing experience. Times like these with teachers remind me that everyday we are changing, shaping, and impacting students lives...in spite of all the challenge we face. 

I watched teachers work to improve their skills, explore new tools and technologies, and grapple with the best ways to ensure this important work is done well. I could not help but smile and imagine how very different the conversation with students will be in the coming year.

It is not easy stepping out of our comfort zones, challenging ourselves to think and do differently, and remain positive in the process. Yet, it is the single most important thing we can do for our students. 21st Century teaching is not about implementing new standards or adding technology to our already filled plates. It is about deeply understanding the kind of learner WE need to be in order to model that for our students.

These teachers will stand up in front of their students next year, not only as a model of content expertise, but as a model of continuous, lifelong learning. Doesn't every student deserve a teacher who is:

• passionately curious? 
• willing to push their imagination to the limit? 
• ready and willing to risk?
• flexible and prepared to adapt?
• capable of persevering through the challenge, change, and in spite of both...willing to do whatever it takes?
• courageous, tenacious, and filled with confidence to stand up for what is right?

That is exactly what I saw, and why I feel so confident in saying? YES WE CAN!

I so want to thank all those who participated in the day. I so appreciate your time and commitment. I also want to share a special thanks to "Team Maiers", our breakout presenters and folks who lent helping hands, all without whom the conversation could not have happened. 

And with the wonderful images, including some great pictures captured by our photographer John Johnson, we are able to remember the day with this slide show from Animoto: 

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Today's 21st Century Literacies Day Back Channel on Cover It Live

Today's 21st Century Literacies workshop will have a backchannel for the keynote and breakouts on CoverItLive:

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21C Literacies Day in Des Moines ... Taking the Conversation Global

We're on the final turn before my biggest event of the year, the 8th Annual Maiers Literacy Bootcamp -- and this year the intensity is packed into a single day. We'll be looking at how to design a great student experience, core curriculum, habitudes, and several breakouts on using technology and techniques to enhance teaching and learning.

One amazing thing about this event is the response I've received from out of the area. Not just outside of Iowa (though several are coming from various states), but several outside of the continent!  Actually had a few teachers from Brazil and Australia inquire about coming.

So...

We'll be making the keynote (and possibly the closing segment) conversations accessible to the global community We'll be doing so via UStream, Cover-itLive, and Twitter.

(If you're thinking about registering at the last minute, stop thinking and just do it -- or just show up at the door. It's already a full house...but why not?)

It's been less than two years since I've begun laying digital footprints, and I am so thankful for the friends, teachers, guides and collaborators because of the tools that are available to use. Would you believe two years ago, if you'd have searched my name, you'd find one single picture. Unfindable two years ago. WOW!

So stay tuned. Though only a small portion of the day will be available Live, I'm sure many of the presenters and participants will try to keep the conversations alive in the breakouts. 

Thanks for a great two years! Here's to a smashing day on Monday.

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Where Conversations are Hushed, Creativity is Stunted

In this TED talk video, Clay Shirky says we are witnessing the end of the era of top-down control, and a big reason is the social prowess of tools such as Facebook, Twitter, and SMS and TXT messaging.

There is an important message not to miss here: Where conversation is hushed and (attempted to be) controlled, collaboration is slowed and ideation, production, and creativity are stunted.

I'm a big fan of Twitter, not only for its connective and collaborative possibilities - but the real-time search of breaking news (as Clay points out several times in this 17-minute video). I love, love, love the changes that are happening.  And what great possibilities for our learning and our teaching!

Related Video
 - Clay Shirky on Innovation vs Collaboration

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Chalk Talk: Breakout the "Cs" Edition

Chalk Talk Friday represents conversations and brilliance I've discovered traversing my way through the Blogosphere.  From professional to personal development, these are the posts and links have in some way touched my head or my heart!

With less than two weeks to our Des Moines 21C Literacies Day, I thought we'd share the C's of the breakout sessions:

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Breakout Session Descriptions

CORE HABITS: Habitudes
Core habits - The Habitudes of the 21st century learner is really a core piece of this day, and every day going forward as learners. Without the right Habitudes, their future success will be limited. This session will explore tools and strategies to help identify and teach students the importance of Imagination, Curiosity, Perseverance, Self-Awareness, Courage, and Adaptability.

COMMUNICATION: Read/Write
Images, sounds and animations — like words — become important building blocks whose meanings to help all voices be heard. Just as the same words and phrases can be arranged or manipulated to express different meanings depending on the author’s intent, so can sounds and images. In this session, tools to create various content and message types will be explored.

COLLABORATION: PLN - Sharing/connecting

You know my motto: We are smarter together. Time, space, and geography are no longer limits to collaborative possibilities. We will explore tools and projects that will help you create a personal learning network so you can take charge of your own professional learning, make collaboration and connecting easier, and give you ideas for classroom implementation to meet Iowa Core Curriculum standards. 

CONTRIBUTION: Publishing Web 2.0
 Information and content have traditionally been relatively static things, created once and rarely if ever changed. People don’t just refer to information, or just copy it, they interact with it. They modify it, they create it – and this is to be encouraged. Tools such as podcasting, video-casting, and photo sharing will be examined in this session.

CONTENT INTAKE: Infosumption
The amount of content available is growing at an exponential rate, and can become overwhelming to even the best of researcher.  The ability to use rapidly changing and evolving technologies to safely filter and find content in order to achieve our personal or professional goals is a critical 21st century skill.  This session will support teachers and students to be able to find information they need, determine its importance and authority, and how to use itor share it.

CHANGE: Change Agents 
For leaders and school administrators, this session will support you with resources and practices as you continue to move your schools forward in the process.

There are still a dozen seats remaining. Register Today.

Questions regarding college credits, timing, and other bits of info will be covered by both email and the blog. Thanks!

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