What is an RSS?

           I honestly had no idea what an RSS reader was.   I was a little embarrassed to admit this, but I realized this is was the whole point of this assignment.  I set out to learn and look at the different RSS (Really Simple Syndication) apps and see what they were all about.  I even looked at YouTube videos that could help me clarify some of the information I was reading.  In simple terms RSS readers are used by many to help them keep up with the abundance of information and news from various sites.  Therefore, An RSS app is a help tool/ resource that helps readers read relevant information posted on their preferred websites in an organized clever way.  Instead of going into several individual websites you click on Feedly to look at new and updated posts from all your favorite sites.    

           

I chose Feedly from a myriad of other RSS readers for a couple of reasons.  First, Feedly is free and easy to use.   In addition, when reading the reviews, many users compared it to Google Reader (which was loved and still missed by many), and say Feedly is the closest to it.  Feedly, has been dubbed  the next best thing, and others say it’s even better.  With feedly, you won’t miss any new and updated posts. It is a cross platform app; it works with androids, iOS, and pcs. Moreover, the interface design is simple to use and follow.  Another feature that impressed me is Feedly gives the reader the option to choose how to receive their feeds. Some of the choices are: *Title view, which is a text heavy, in other words, the titles appear, and the reader choses to read the feed based on interest on the title.  * The Magazine View also provides title plus a short summary. I personally prefer the magazine view because the title alone does not give me a whole picture of the article.  The last option is *The Card View- an option that focuses on visual feeds. Feedly  also provides many sharing tools, so if you feel like you must share via Facebook, email, messenger, twitter, etc. right away- you can. So if you are an amateur user like me or an accomplished expert, Feedly sounds like the right choice.  The cost is non-existent; the design of the interface is easy to manage, and it is a cross-platform application whose features empower users to make their experience unique. 

3 of my favorite picks from Feedly:

1: School Library Journal- Very informative.  I get pleasantly lost reading all their book reviews.  Also very interesting articles, I read something that caught my attention on video games.  I recommend all mothers who worry and wonder about the impact video games are having on their children to read it. The article is called “The Surprising Impact of Brain Games on Learning”.

2. Tiny Tips for Library Fun- this is great blog to follow.  I’m not a librarian yet, and reading about all the fun possible activities librarians incorporate into their programs is so refreshing.  Reading blogs like these is quickly becoming a nice way to end my day.  Some the activities I read on were ideas to promote reading among children during low traffic times in the library.   One example is Free-quent reader club- created based on the concept of frequent flyers earning bonuses and air miles-very clever! The winner earned a book.  Smart Cookies, Club also an idea to keep students checking out books and reading, here a cookie is added to the bulletin board after each student completes a read.

3. Goldnview Middle School- As I was going through some of the news, I stumbled across the cardboard challenge the Goldview was doing for the month of September.  I thought huh? Then I saw the video called  “Caine’s Arcade” where Caine a 9 year old boy builds a whole arcade out of empty cardboard boxes.  It was brilliant!   Children need to use their imagination and creativity in fun ways like this.

2 of my favorites on Tumblr URL:

carmar0315.tumblr.com

 4.  http://motivational.tumblr.com/post/

I truly love to read positive quotes on a daily basis.  It’s a great way to start my day.  I even share them with my students, and they love them too.  Now I have them all in one place.  I don’t have to google inspirational quotes in the morning.  I can access from my phone!

  5.  http://creatinglibrarydisplays.tumblr.com/Great Library Displays- Awesome ideas found here! The posted pics are inspiring-they are awesome.