RSS Feeds

RSS feeds Defined:

RSS is usually defined as Really Simple Syndication (which means nothing really). However, the word syndication gives you an idea of the meaning. RSS Feeds allow you to subscribe or syndicate web resources that frequently update material. For example: blog entries, news headlines, podcasts, and some websites.

This means that rather than go and find information that interests you, you can have the information sent directly to you every time something new is added to the site. You create an account with an aggregator and subscribe to your favorite blogs, sites, etc.

Below is a clear, simple video explanation of how RSS feeds work.

RSS in Plain English by Lee Lefever

Why should you care?

Because RSS Feeds can make your research easier!

Now Do It!

1. Set up an Aggregator – we will use Google Reader
2. We created a dummy Google Reader account with the login: class@dom.edu and the password: April1008.  Please log in to this to practice adding feeds.
3. Go to two of your favorite websites, blogs, radio stations, etc (we are using CNN and Library of Congress as examples) but since we are all logged into the same account, I encourage you to go to one of your favorite websites or to one of the sites in the blogroll (to the right —>) and add a feed from one of these sites.
4. Set up a feed from your favorite sites by clicking the icon () to add the feed link to your reader or selecting your reader from a list.
5. Added Bonus – go to a database (right now we are going to use Academic Search Premier) and search for a topic that interests you.
6. Click on Search History/Alerts
7. Click on the RSS icon and paste the code into your reader or click the link.
8. Now you have set up an alert and your research will come directly to you.