Google Reader

1. Introduction Google Reader

2. Google’s Mission • “Google’s mission is to organize the world‘s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” • Anyone who has ever used the Google Search Engine would probably agree. Since its launch, Google has continued to organize and make information accessible and useful. The service Google Reader is no different.

3. What is Google Reader? • Google Reader is an RSS. • What is an RSS? • RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. • Syndication is when one party creates the content and it is then published in many places. An easy example of this would be a television show which is produced by one network and it is then shown on many other networks. The benefit of syndication is that one can reach a wider range of audience for the featured content. • More simply put, RSS is a family of web feed formats which are used to publish frequently updated works, and Google Reader is one such format.

4. The 5 W’s of Google Reader • Who? • The ‘who’ in question are Larry Page and Sergey Brin, co-founders of Google. • What? • Google Reader is a feed reader, or an RSS. • It is now the Google Reader we can see today, as opposed to its earlier and less refined versions. • When? • Google Reader was launched in October of 2005. • It graduated from beta status in September of 2007. • Where? • Introduced at the Web 2.0 conference in San Francisco. • Why? • Google Reader is a service which, it was hoped, would provide users more time reading what was important or of interest.

5. How to Use Google Reader • RSS in Plain English • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU • Google Reader in Plain English • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSPZ2Uu_X3Y • Now, having been briefly introduced to Google Reader, take a look at the handout and follow along.

6. Interactive Activity • Hand out papers. • Remind everyone to be careful not to get paper cuts. • Explain how to use Google Reader. • This activity can be done with computers. • Google Reader has many features to use. Users will have to explore to figure out what preferences and settings they like best.

7. UCN’s Use of Google APPs • UCN uses Google APPs for e-mail services. • The next time you log on to your UCN e-mail take a look to the right of the sign-in box. There you will see the following: • “Welcome to your email for UCN, powered by Google, where email is more intuitive, efficient and useful. • Keep unwanted messages out of your inbox with Google's powerful spam blocking technology • Keep any message you might need down the road, and then find it fast with Google search • Send mail, read new messages and search your archives instantly from your phone”

8. UCN’s Use of Google APPs • UCN obviously values the use and availability of Google services. It is highly likely that other schools will as well. • However, Google Reader is not available for use with myucn.ca. • To access Google Reader you must use or create a separate Google Account. • This is because Google Reader is not included in Google Apps for Education • The services included in this package are Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk, Google Docs, Google Sites, and Google Video for education. • As Google Reader is not available with Google APPs for Education your students may find it necessary to create a separate Google account.

9. Social Media Policy • First of all, what is Social Media? • Social Media refers to the use of web-based and mobile technologies which are used to turn communication into an interactive dialogue, that is, communication which is created and interchanged between users. • Social Media comes in many forms, including Google Reader. • Social Media can be a powerful tool for researching and for teaching.

10. Social Media Policy • Secondly, what is a Policy? • A policy is a plan or definite course of action, such as of a government, political party or business, intended to influence and determine decisions, actions, and other matters. • A Social Media Policy is then a policy implemented to guide the use of social media within and by a certain group, in this case the group being the various educational institutions by which we as teachers will be employed.

11. Social Media Policy • The only way you can be certain of any existing Social Media Policies in your employing school is to ask. Ask and find out what, if any, Social Media Policy there may be, and abide by it. • Google Reader can be used for tracking news in your field or any particular field you may find resourceful or of interest and your students may find Google Reader to be useful in their work. It is therefore not unreasonable to ask about any existing Social Media Policies because you certainly do not want to get into trouble because you did not ask!

12. Social Networking Safety • Social networking is a popular way for students to present themselves, seek approval, and share their interests. These virtual communities are numerous and are appealing because they provide instant community, communication and real-time communication features. • However, be aware that anyone can post just about anything to the internet and your students can run across less than decent “materials”. • Remember to show your students how to unsubscribe should any subscription become inappropriate for school use. • It is always important to teach your students how to be safe cyber citizens. Teach them to be wary and to be critical about the kinds of information they come across. • Who wrote this? When was it written? How is it relevant? Do I need this information? Is the information biased in any way? • These kinds of questions are necessary, from grade school to post-secondary education and beyond!

13. How Students Can Use Google Reader in the Classroom • Google Reader can be helpful to both teachers and students. • Students can use Google Reader to: • Keep track of news and information both relative to their studies and also those of personal interest. • Collect and share research materials for group projects. • Read items shared by their teacher to help with assignments.

14. How Teachers Can Use Google Reader in the Classroom • Teachers can use Google Reader to: • Keep track of student blogs all in one place. • Read other educator’s blogs for ideas, current research, and tips. • Use the ‘Shared Items’ feature to share news with either students or colleagues. • Subscribe to other school blogs and share best posts with their own students. • Can be annotated with notes, showing relations to content currently being learned in class. • Share news and current events on specific areas of interest or units of study.

15. Why is Google Reader Educational? • When used properly Google Reader can be a powerful tool for research and teaching. It helps you keep up with current events. • It can help keep students and teachers informed of each other’s blogs and interests. • Google Reader collects your selected feeds all in one place and allows you to share them with your friends and contacts, if you so desire. This can be used for collecting information for your students and for your students to collect information to share with each other. • Google Reader is a time-saving tool. When used properly the service can save valuable time for the class day and also the personal time of both teachers and students.

16. Why Use Google Reader? • It saves you oodles of time. • Instead of wandering around the internet, trying to find out the latest news or to see if any blogs you follow have been updated you can have them all in one handy place. The information comes to you automatically. • You can collect, annotate and share. • It’s simple, has easy-to-use features and best of all, it’s free! • What’s not to like? • Oh, but try not to jump in all at once if you are a new user, otherwise you may end up with 800+ unread items to scroll through!

17. About Google • Google Reader: https://www.google.com/reader • About Google Company: http://www.google.com/about/corporate/company/index.html • About Google History: http://www.google.com/about/corporate/company/history.html • About Google Apps: http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/topic.py?topic=29157

18. Web-Based Resources • How to Use Google Reader: https://sites.google.com/a/philau.edu/collaboration/Home/Home/getting-started/calendar/google-search/blogger/google-readerhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti4FZaL_HgMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkm1aWcETZghttp://michaelhyatt.com/how-to-use-google-reader-to-keep-up-with-your-favorite-blogs.html • 10 Reasons to Start Using Google Reader: http://www.thedesigncubicle.com/2008/11/10-reasons-to-start-using-google-reader/ • 10 Tips for Using Google Reader in the Classroom: http://www.edutechintegration.com/2010/12/10-tips-for-using-google-reader-in.html • The Official Google Reader Help Videos (YouTube): http://www.youtube.com/user/GoogleReaderHelp#p/u/1/o1d-b8wzzMY

19. Web-Based Resources • The Newbie’s Guide to Google Reader: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-9745368-2.html • The Ultimate Guide to Google Reader: http://thesocialmediaguide.com/social_media/ultimate-google-reader-guide • How to Set up the Ultimate Listening Station Using Google Reader: http://www.colinalsheimer.com/google-reader-listening-station • Follow Twitter by Using Google Reader: http://www.govloop.com/profiles/blogs/follow-twitter-by-using-google-reader-amp-other-safe-social-media

20. Web-Based Resources • RRS Feeds – A Tutorial: http://www.press-feed.com/howitworks/rss_tutorial.php#whatarewebfeeds • How to Sustain a Social Media Presence in Three Hours a Week: http://www.alexandrasamuel.com/career-work/how-to-sustain-a-social-media-presence-in-3-hours-a-week • Five Steps to Create Your Social Media Toolkit: http://www.alexandrasamuel.com/career-work/5-steps-to-create-your-social-media-toolkit • The Five Requirements for a Starter Social Media Presence: http://www.alexandrasamuel.com/career-work/the-5-requirements-for-a-starter-social-media-presence • Screen Shots Used for Activity: http://s1130.photobucket.com/albums/m530/PCAnne17/

21. References • Actually, we just went past majority of them… • Definition—Policy: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/policy • Definition—Social Media: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/networking/g/socialmedia.htm • Definition—Social Networking: http://www.internetsafety101.org/socialnetworking.htm • How I Use Google Reader: http://mbteach.com/?p=99