213 : 21 Technology Skills for the 21st Century In Central A&M District 21
In Sync with Technology Grant
 Central A&M High School and Middle School Libraries
 Funded by the Illinois State Library
21st Century
 Classroom		 Community and
Business Training		 Tech Teams Grant
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7.       Mashups

A mashup is a Web tool that combines data from more than one source into a new tool.   Google Maps is an example of a mashup.
Where to start:

Interactive Timeline  http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/timeline/

http://www.dilbert.com/mashups/punchline/

http://www.webmashup.com/

Google Maps  http://maps.google.com/maps?f=s&ie=UTF8&ll=37.0625,-95.677068&spn=29.496064,56.25&z=4&mid=1233141720

Classroom Uses:
http://www.slideshare.net/coolcatteacher/flat-classroom-mashups-7-steps-to-flatten-your-classroom

http://classroomlearning2.blogspot.com/2007/08/6-week-3-flickr-fun-mashups-and-3rd.html

http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=3676a5cf62e5ccf0d542 video about the Edusim project

http://dev.live.com/mashups/ mashups library

Library Uses:

http://blog.programmableweb.com/2008/02/13/librarything-api-mashup-the-library/

http://library2.usask.ca/~fichter/mashups/
 
What to do:

  1. Try a mashup like Google Maps or the Interactive Timeline. 

  2. Post your thoughts about it in the Forum.

8.       RSS feeds and newsreaders

We’ve asked you to search for blogs to read, or create your own.  Now you might be thinking that you don’t have time to read those blogs all the time to see if anyone posted an update.  You are right… that would take way too long.  RSS feeds and news readers were created to make it easy to keep up with recently posted entries for blogs, newsfeeds, podcasts or websites.  RSS ( “Real Simple Syndication” ) is a file format for delivering regularly updated information over the web.  This service has changed the way news, media and content creators share information, and it is changing the way everyday users are consuming information. A summary of information from different web sites can be read using software called an RSS reader (also called an aggregator, news reader or feed reader.) This reader could be web-based, desktop based or on a mobile device such as a phone or a blackberry. There are many different feed readers, but we recommend using Google Reader.

RSS feeds: you can subscribe to websites with a feed. Just enter the URL of the website in the RSS reader.  To be able to subscribe to a site in an RSS reader, the site must have a news feed.  Watch for one of these news feed icon: rss icon.jpgor ownrssfeed.gif.
 

Where to start:

Watch this Common Craft video about adding RSS feeds to Google Reader: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU

Watch this video from Helen Blowers on adding RSS feeds to Bloglines: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKGz-y_SGL4&feature=related

Library Uses:

Hennepin County Library RSS feeds: http://www.hclib.org/pub/search/RSS.cfm

Library of Congress RSS feeds: http://www.loc.gov/rss/ ( Look for the section for teachers)

Innovative Ways Libraries use RSS: http://www.rss4lib.com/

Classroom Uses:

Classroom Tech Tips:  http://classroomtechtips.wordpress.com/2007/02/08/blogging-and-rss-feeds/

Information Avalanche Rescue: RSS Feeds in the Classroom http://eduscapes.com/sessions/rss/
 
What to do:

  1. Go to one of these sites to sign up for a  web-based news reader:
     Google Reader:  http://www.google.com/intl/en/googlereader/tour.html

    2. You will need to sign in to the Google Reader site using your Google account information (the same as your Google email account.)

    Bloglines    http://www.bloglines.com/ You will need to sign up for your free account.  Once you are in the site, subscribe to 3 feeds.  Read some of your feeds.
     

  2. You could also try looking on websites for the RSS subscription icon, then add that feed to your reader from the website instead of from the reader. Check out the Directory of RSS feeds (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/_/rss-directory.htm ) for some possibilities. Look on an area website or news station for an RSS feed button.
     

  3. Go to the 213 Ning and post a comment on the RSS forum page.  Comment on your experience with RSS and readers.  You could talk about a favorite feed that you found.

     

 

 

 
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Grant Team Members: Ruth Shasteen, Ken Hawley, Jared Cook, Donna Moore, Jackie Lawton