Research on RSS and use in education (or any research)

I am presenting on the use of RSS but I need to include a written research paper and I have not found much on the use of RSS specifically. If anyone knows someone doing research in this area, or know of an article that just addresses it, that would be a help to get me started. I have many on Web 2.0 and tools, and the often include RSS but there is no research to show that it is beneficial to use in an educational environment.
I know it is- I also know it is not used a lot and that there is a limited amount of people who use it.
Hopefully, someone has some info that will lead me to more. Sometimes, just one article, can open the door to more.
Thanks!!
Kathy Cercone PT, PhD

Tags: 2.0, RSS, Web

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Permalink Reply by Kathy Cercone on December 4, 2009 at 5:43pm

Isn't delivery of information communication?

I also have put my blog inside a course management system- it is my communication and I can use my phone and call in a message that gets posted to my blog and due to the feed, goes right into my course.

There is research that communication and tools are certainly beneficial- students read, share, communicate, work actively, may collaborate. It depends on age and learning theory that you prescribe to. I tend to use constructivist learning theory with my college students. I teach biology and they need current research- they need to understand research, they need to be able to read it and interpret it. RSS feeds allow my students to view current research and compare the research. They can determine what is good and what is bad research.

RSS may be a method of delivery, but it has more potential than just delivery. I have read about email being replace by RSS in some situations.

It is a tool. We use many tools to achieve our goals. What is wrong with another method of delivery. It just adds to our "bag of tricks" to engage and motivate students.

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Permalink Reply by Kathy Cercone on December 4, 2009 at 6:04pm

But I am talking about how I take my own blog feed- one I write. I produce RSS.
I now take my RSS feed, create javascript, put it into my course management system (I use both eCollege and Blackboard/Vista). NOw my blog is inside my course.

I have 2 identical courses. I can write 1 blog. That blog is now in 2 courses. I have saved myself a ton of time. My students have access to my information constantly.
I call my blog on the phone, make an audio, it goes to my blog, then right into my course. I do not even need a computer to do this. When I travel, I can update my course via my phone. That is when I use this feature a lot.

If I did not have RSS feeds, I would have to open each course, post the information. Close one course, open another course, type the same information. Close the course.

Now, I can even do audio. If I want to teach them something in audio, or remind them of some work, I can call and it is in audio. Learning styles are important to consider.

Most faculty have no clue what RSS is. It has positive potential to help. Why not use it if it can help.

RSS aggregation is part of the discussion. They do not know anything about that either. Diigo allows you to set up student feeds.

There is potential- as Web 2.0 evolves, so will this. It is more than just a magazine update tool.

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Permalink Reply by Kathy Cercone on December 5, 2009 at 4:54pm

You make me sound smart!!! LOL. But, you have made a great comparison and I really appreciate that. You have simplified it so maybe I can explain it better to people. I hope others may join us here to share information and in the discussion.

The more information I have, or references to information like this type of information would be great. (In fact, I may quote you and reference this in my reference list).

Since I use this for education as a form of communication- it is a pedagogically solid method for teaching online- it is just that I need to show what RSS can do to facilitate communication.

Thank you for your points on RSS.
Kathy

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Permalink Reply by Kathy Cercone on March 5, 2010 at 3:47pm

I want to update anyone who is interested in this subject- I have presented this use of RSS and the use of the feed inside the course management system and it has been so well received that I am presenting 3 more times to different divisions of Kaplan University.

I think you need to see what I do to understand this concept as it is not very commonly done. I use the blog feed into my course - I can't put You Tubes in my courses due to copyright, but I can put them on my blog and with the feed from the blog, my students get the update and go view the video that I want them to see.

If anyone is interested, I can post my powerpoint.