WebedtecH

I thought I’d take a few minutes and explain the process I use to manage the 500+ RSS feeds I keep track of on a daily basis. No, I don’t read all of them every day (I do have a life you know) but I use a two step process to keep them under control and separate the chaff from the wheat.

Step 1 - Rapid Triage

I’m an avid Google Reader user and live by three keys in the site. “J”, “K”, and “S”. Here’s the story. I pull up Google Reader and start at the first article in the list. Immediately I decide is this something I want to read/learn more about/pursue/give a hoot about or not. If I’m interested in the article, “S” gets pressed. This sets the Star function in Google Reader and tags the article with a star (duh). Now “J” and we move on to the next article. Faster and faster the fingers fly with judgement calls being made on every one. If I fly past and think twice about an article, “K” backs me up and I Star the entry.

Step 2 - Detailed Reading

Google Reader’s “Starred Items” view lets me go back through all the articles that I have tagged for reading and take my time with them, bookmarking, blogging, and finally unstarring with the “S” key again as I work my way through my list.

By using this two-step process I can keep up on everything coming across my virtual desk and still dedicate the time necessary to read those items that really interest me.

P.S. - The a similar process works when using Google Reader from my cell phone wherever I am. Woohoo!

I thought I’d take a few minutes and explain the process I use to manage the 500+ RSS feeds I keep track of on a daily basis. No, I don’t read all of them every day (I do have a life you know) but I use a two step process to keep them under control and separate the chaff from the wheat.

Step 1 - Rapid Triage

I’m an avid Google Reader user and live by three keys in the site. “J”, “K”, and “S”. Here’s the story. I pull up Google Reader and start at the first article in the list. Immediately I decide is this something I want to read/learn more about/pursue/give a hoot about or not. If I’m interested in the article, “S” gets pressed. This sets the Star function in Google Reader and tags the article with a star (duh). Now “J” and we move on to the next article. Faster and faster the fingers fly with judgement calls being made on every one. If I fly past and think twice about an article, “K” backs me up and I Star the entry.

Step 2 - Detailed Reading

Google Reader’s “Starred Items” view lets me go back through all the articles that I have tagged for reading and take my time with them, bookmarking, blogging, and finally unstarring with the “S” key again as I work my way through my list.

By using this two-step process I can keep up on everything coming across my virtual desk and still dedicate the time necessary to read those items that really interest me.

P.S. - The a similar process works when using Google Reader from my cell phone wherever I am. Woohoo!

An excellent article of the power of choice to inspire students to do their best work.  It’s so simple it just might work…

» Let Them Eat Cake. Or Write About It. The Line

Richard MacManus over at ReadWriteWeb has given a strong review to the new presentation offering from Zoho called Zoho Show.  If you’re an active Powerpoint user, I’d be interested to hear your comments on the application.  We’re a Google shop, but there’s nothing preventing anyone from using these other web-based application suites to do more, faster, better…we have the technology.

Zoho Show 2.0 Unveiled - Compares Well to Powerpoint, One-Ups Google

As we educate our students on a daily basis we should always keep in mind the safe ways to use technology.  We should protect our students and teach them to protect themselves.  ConnectSafely.com is an excellent resource to learn more about what we should watch out for.

ConnectSafely - Home