Google Reader in Internet Explorer

Learn how to use the Google Reader Subscribe... bookmarklet to add RSS feed subscriptions in Internet Explorer 7/8.
Google Reader Subscriptions in IE7/8

What Is this RSS stuff, anyway?

RSS, huh? There are differing opinions as to what the letters R S S stand for. And, it's not really important anyway.

RSS is the easy, efficient way to see the new things on the web that interest you. New information comes to you, you don't need to go out and look for it.

It's kind of like the difference between Netflix and the traditional neighborhood video store. If you want to see Young Frankenstein, you tell Netflix and in a day or two you'll find it in your mail box. Or, you drive to your local video store and hope they have it on the shelf. If not, you wasted your time and gas.

All you need is a feed reader. Some browsers like IE7 and Safari have built-in feed readers. There are also numerous desktop feed readers, many free like FeedReader or Omea Reader. The best feed readers are the Web-based readers like Google Reader and Bloglines. By using one of these, you can read your RSS subscriptions using any computer any place you have an internet connection.

Listen to a podcast What is RSS, Anyway?

A brief, rudimentary, one-page explanation of RSS with links to numerous resources ...

What Is RSS? RSS Explained - www.WhatIsRSS.com

Subscribing to RSS from Internet Explorer 7

In an earlier post, I presented directions for adding RSS subscriptions to Google Reader. It seems those work in most browsers, but not in Internet Explorer 7 (Thank you, Microsoft!). I'm not an IE7 guy, so I had to do some research but I don't seem to be able to find a convenient way to add RSS feeds to Google Reader. As far as I can see, IE7 will only subscribe to feeds using itself as the reader. That's OK, but then your subscriptions will only be readable on the computer you used to subscribe to them.

Anyway, here goes.
1) First navigate to the feed you want to subscribe to, in this case, I'll use my CFF/MV blog.

2) Locate the orange RSS icon in the right side of your command bar and click on the little pointer to the right of it.

3) Choose the RSS option (not Atom). You should now see this.

4) Click on [Subscribe to this feed]

5) The above dialog should appear. Accept or change the Name:, be sure Feeds is chosen for Create in:, the click [Subscribe]. You should then see this ...

Then to read your feeds, click on the [Favorites] star, then the [Feeds] button.

From the list choose the RSS feed you wish to read.

Listen to a podcast of these directions: Subscribing to RSS using IE7

Get a better, faster, safer browsing experience. Download FIREFOX

Web sites offering RSS feeds related to Education and Teaching

A List of Web sites offering RSS feeds related to Education and Teaching to get you started. You can subscribe to any Web site that displays the orange RSS logo in the address bar.

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence
http://www.ed.gov/free/free-rss.xml

Today's Document from the National Archives
http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/rss.php

U.S. International Polar Year 2007-2008: Educational Resources
http://www.ipy.gov/rss/education.xml

U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/rss/edgov.xml

Get Technology & Learning's RSS Feed
http://www.techlearning.com/rss/index.php

RSS Feeds from PBS
http://www.pbs.org/rss/

Teaching Mathematics
http://teamat.oxfordjournals.org/rss/

Tame the Web: Libraries and Technology
http://www.tametheweb.com/ttwblog/archives/000660.html

Feedage RSS feeds on teaching (supersite)
http://www.feedage.com/feeds.php?cat=264&sb=4

Teaching with Technology@BSU
http://itcboisestate.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/first-things-first-rss-feeds/

Teaching Excellence Network
http://goldenappleten.org/help_faq/

English Teaching and Learning Tips
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/column/rss.pl?build

e-Learning Online
http://wiredinstructor2.blogspot.com/2007/08/teaching-online-interaction.html

Reading Rockets
http://www.readingrockets.org/newsletters/rss

hackademic.net journalism-learning-teaching
http://hackademic.net/2007/06/28/comment-glitch-fixed-please-retry-and-rss-feed/

These are just a few of the RSS feeds related to teaching that exist out there. There are dozens, hundreds more. How do you find them? Google for something like "teaching science rss feeds" or something like that.

How to Subscribe to the CFF/MV Blog Using Google Reader

(I have discovered that this works for almost every browser except IE7. I'll post directions for IE7 in another post)

1) First go to the CFF/MV blog site.

2) Then look for the RSS icon at the right end of the address bar.

3) Click on this icon to see the following ...

4) Be sure Google is selected from the drop-down box, then click [Subscribe Now].

Then you will be given a choice of whether to add this feed to your Google home page or to Google Reader.

5) Choose [Add to Google Reader].

If all has gone well, you will see the following ...

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To get to Google Reader to read the RSS feeds you have subscribed to ...

Bookmark the page or add it to your Favorites.

The same procedure can be used to subscribe to any RSS feed. Just look for the little orange RSS icon in the address bar.