So I decided to make RSS a part of my class from the first day. My students keep a learning blog throughout the semester, and I tied my RSS activities into it. I required that my students start a Google Reader page and link to at least three different sites that interested them. As proof, they needed to either print or email a screenshot of their main Google Reader page. Throughout the semester, they'll have to respond in their blogs to several writing prompts about the sites they're monitoring and how they might use these sites to find inspiration for class writing projects.

I used an in-class explanation that pretty much copied the RSS in Plain English segment. I also referred them to the YouTube page and gave them the URL. I got no resistance from the class at all. They could all see what we were trying to do with the assignment and how RSS could help them with their writing. Honestly, I was expecting at least one or two technophobes in a class that size (19 students). Not a one. They were all willing to give it a shot. And so far, nobody's had any trouble getting their page set up. That was the other problem that I was expecting.

So I guess I'm bragging at how well my RSS kickoff went. :) I'm curious to know what everyone else's experience was like (for those of us on the RSS grant).

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Just looking at the pics, it appears we have quite a kick-butt crew here!

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I posted these both to my classes blogs. I don't ever want to explain RSS or social networking EVER AGAIN.

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I'd love to see your assignment for podcasting. I had a group do it last year, and I want to use it more widely this year.

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Greg, I'm really interested in how you incorporate podcasting into your class. A colleague of mine taught a course last year where he had students develop podcasts instead of writing reading responses. I've been listening to their podcasts, and I can't decide if I think it really makes much of a difference...I'm trying to figure out how I would incorporate them successfully.

On the issue of ethics, we had a prof at NCSU last year who got busted for selling the podcasts of his lectures at iTunes. Not sure what I think of that or where I stand on the issue:
http://media.www.technicianonline.com/media/storage/paper848/news/2006/09/13/News/Professor.Gives.Students.The.Option.Of.Purchasing.His.Lectures.Online-2268444.shtml?norewrite200609131711&sourcedomain=www.technicianonline.com

Here's an economist at NCSU who started a daily podcast a year ago: http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/magazine/spring06/walden.html

Susan

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