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How I use Google Reader
By Christine Martell | September 30, 2007
Keven Jones challenged people to use an RSS feed reader in the kick off of the Social Learning SIG. I had way too much to say in a comment, so I decided to write this post instead.
It’s about changing how you intersect with ideas
Starting to read blogs and use an RSS reader isn’t a simple change, at least it wasn’t for me. I used to have a pile of professional journals, and I would read them in the morning with my tea. It was how I stayed current with our field.
Tony Karrer wrote a post on Time Spent on Blogging. He summed up what is also true for me:
I likely spend an average of 30-45 minutes per day reading/writing that is part of what I call “scanning” which is staying up to speed on what’s going on. Realize this is high, but much of my professional work is staying up to speed.
Blog reading and writing as part of scanning has been a replacement of other activities that I used to do - reading magazines and books. Originally, I didn’t plan to replace these activities as I considered the information from blogs to be quite different. However, I’ve found that I’m not nearly as willing to read through a magazine, book or newspaper in depth because they don’t seem nearly as meaningful or targeted as blog posts. Most of my free subscriptions have lapsed.
I also really appreciate that when I find ideas that are really interesting, I can comment and potentially talk with the author. After five months of blogging I have made a number of professional contacts, and new business opportunities as a result. I’ve even made some friends.
In the transition, I have a backlog of unread magazines. The pile sits there and taunts me, reminding me I am ignoring them. I’m learning to just flip through them and throw them out. When the subscription renewals come, I find myself letting most of them lapse.
Organize the Feeds
I’m currently following 94 feeds. When I find something that I think will be interesting, I try it for a while. If after reading for a couple of weeks the content doesn’t consistently grab me, I unsubscribe. Unless I have made a personal connection with the blogger. Then they go into a special category; right now it is labeled bb31days after the project that helped me learn to connect through blogging.
The other categories relate to various interests and parts of my business. I keep them sorted like this so when I get really busy, I can prioritize what I read. Personal relationships are important to me, so I always try to keep up with the blogs where I know the author. I have an informal kind of hierarchy. Those blogs on visual communication at the center of my professional life get read first. The ones on marketing, I might let slide.
To make a folder you select a blog feed, then use the drop down menu labeled ‘feed settings’. The choice at the bottom is new folder. This is also how you can unsubscribe and assign new feeds to existing folders. If you click on the small image to the left, you will be able to see it in full size. I have put a red arrow pointing to the menu you are looking for.
Think about your goals
My blogging interests are professional. I read and write blog posts to keep current in my field, to establish a professional presence online and to make professional contacts. Knowing this helps me filter all the information that I come across. I use my RSS reader to bring me the specific things I am looking for. Other people use blogs for following hobbies, connecting with others who share a particular life challenge, telling stories, showcasing something they do. I keep a more singular focus simply because I have a young business and it consumes most of my attention.
What about you, have you started adding blogs to your professional development practice? If so, how do you make the time and keep them organized?
Other posts on similar topics- Why Blog?
- Learning from an impromptu online community
- Social Learning SIG - Push vs. Pull and How RSS Changes Learning
- Training Blog Portal
- New training blogs
Topics: - Social Learning SIG |
October 1st, 2007 at 6:56 am
This is a great post, Christine–I like seeing inside your thinking processes.
Like you, I find that reading blogs has replaced a lot of my other professional reading. The information seems more targeted and relevant and i like being able to interact with the materials and the author, something that isn’t available with a magazine subscription. It’s also a lot easier for me to find information again because I can tag it into delicious and find it any number of ways later on.
Since really getting into the feed reading process, I’ve found myself even more engaged with my professional interests and learning more–I think because of the interaction. And of course I’m loving the friends, like you, that I’m developing in this incredible online salon.
October 1st, 2007 at 7:43 am
This line is classic: “I have a backlog of unread magazines. The pile sits there and taunts me, reminding me I am ignoring them. I’m learning to just flip through them and throw them out.”
You said this perfectly the way I have been feeling. My feeds are much more poignant and relevant. The magazines are good, but I just flip through to find what is interesting to me. It is a totally different way to get information.
One great part about it is that I don’t need to search for the information. It comes to me!
October 2nd, 2007 at 3:51 am
Well obviously I am pleased you are using Google Reader. I have not organised mine into folders because I like to quickly skim read from both my iGoogle page and within Google Reader.
In terms of information I find that my blog feeds and twitter often keep me more current than traditional media which is why I willingly spend time reading blog posts.
Sue
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:54 am
It always fascinates me how we each use the same tools differently. Its another reason why the idea of a creating a personal learning environment is so exciting. We each get to customize it to work the best for us.
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Sue, who do you follow when using Twitter?
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Kevin, I don’t know who she follows, but I follow her with the goal of learning about Twitter. She is truly a multitasking wonder.
October 4th, 2007 at 6:55 am
Sue posted an example of how she used Twitter today…..pretty eyeopening. She’s utilizing it for conversations with educators across the globe. Even dropping by in real time.
http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2007/10/04/are-you-using-twitter-effectively-for-your-personal-learning/