1. Introduction

2. Google‘s Mission
 ―Google‘s mission is to organize the
world‗s information and make it
universally accessible and useful.‖
 Anyone who has ever used the Google
Search Engine would probably agree.
Since its launch, Google has continued
to organize and make information
accessible and useful. The service
Google Reader is no different.

3. What is Google Reader?
 Google Reader is an RSS.
 What is an RSS?
 RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication.
 Syndication is when one party creates the content
and it is then published in many places. An easy
example of this would be a television show which is
produced by one network and it is then shown on
many other networks. The benefit of syndication is
that one can reach a wider range of audience for the
featured content.
 More simply put, RSS is a family of web feed formats
which are used to publish frequently updated works,
and Google Reader is one such format.

4. The 5 W‘s of Google
Reader
 Who?
 The ‗who‘ in question are Larry Page and Sergey Brin, co-
founders of Google.
 What?
 Google Reader is a feed reader, or an RSS.
 It is now the Google Reader we can see today, as opposed to its
earlier and less refined versions.
 When?
 Google Reader was launched in October of 2005.
 It graduated from beta status in September of 2007.
 Where?
 Introduced at the Web 2.0 conference in San Francisco.
 Why?
 Google Reader is a service which, it was hoped, would provide
users more time reading what was important or of interest.

5. How to Use Google Reader
 RSS in Plain English
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU
 Google Reader in Plain English
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSPZ2Uu_X3Y
 Now, having been briefly introduced to
Google Reader, take a look at the
handout and follow along.

6. Interactive Activity
 Hand out papers.
 Remind everyone to be careful not to
get paper cuts.
 Explain how to use Google Reader.
 This activity can be done with computers.
 Google Reader has many features to
use. Users will have to explore to figure
out what preferences and settings they
like best.

7. UCN‘s Use of Google APPs
 UCN uses Google APPs for e-mail services.
 The next time you log on to your UCN e-mail
take a look to the right of the sign-in box.
There you will see the following:
 ―Welcome to your email for UCN, powered by
Google, where email is more intuitive, efficient and
useful.
○ Keep unwanted messages out of your inbox with
Google's powerful spam blocking technology
○ Keep any message you might need down the road, and
then find it fast with Google search
○ Send mail, read new messages and search your
archives instantly from your phone‖

8. UCN‘s Use of Google APPs
 UCN obviously values the use and availability of
Google services. It is highly likely that other schools
will as well.
 However, Google Reader is not available for use with
myucn.ca.
 To access Google Reader you must use or create a
separate Google Account.
 This is because Google Reader is not included in Google
Apps for Education
○ The services included in this package are Gmail, Google
Calendar, Google Talk, Google Docs, Google Sites, and
Google Video for education.
○ As Google Reader is not available with Google APPs for
Education your students may find it necessary to create a
separate Google account.

9. Social Media Policy
 First of all, what is Social Media?
 Social Media refers to the use of web-based
and mobile technologies which are used to
turn communication into an interactive
dialogue, that is, communication which is
created and interchanged between users.
 Social Media comes in many forms,
including Google Reader.
 Social Media can be a powerful tool for
researching and for teaching.

10. Social Media Policy
 Secondly, what is a Policy?
 A policy is a plan or definite course of action,
such as of a government, political party or
business, intended to influence and determine
decisions, actions, and other matters.
 A Social Media Policy is then a policy
implemented to guide the use of social
media within and by a certain group, in this
case the group being the various
educational institutions by which we as
teachers will be employed.

11. Social Media Policy
 The only way you can be certain of any
existing Social Media Policies in your
employing school is to ask. Ask and find out
what, if any, Social Media Policy there may be,
and abide by it.
 Google Reader can be used for tracking news
in your field or any particular field you may find
resourceful or of interest and your students
may find Google Reader to be useful in their
work. It is therefore not unreasonable to ask
about any existing Social Media Policies
because you certainly do not want to get into
trouble because you did not ask!

12. Social Networking Safety
 Social networking is a popular way for students to present
themselves, seek approval, and share their interests.
These virtual communities are numerous and are
appealing because they provide instant
community, communication and real-time communication
features.
 However, be aware that anyone can post just about
anything to the internet and your students can run across
less than decent ―materials‖.
 Remember to show your students how to unsubscribe should
any subscription become inappropriate for school use.
 It is always important to teach your students how to be
safe cyber citizens. Teach them to be wary and to be
critical about the kinds of information they come across.
 Who wrote this? When was it written? How is it relevant? Do I
need this information? Is the information biased in any way?
 These kinds of questions are necessary, from grade school to
post-secondary education and beyond!

13. How Students Can Use Google
Reader in the Classroom
 Google Reader can be helpful to both
teachers and students.
 Students can use Google Reader to:
 Keep track of news and information both
relative to their studies and also those of
personal interest.
 Collect and share research materials for
group projects.
 Read items shared by their teacher to help
with assignments.

14. How Teachers Can Use Google
Reader in the Classroom
 Teachers can use Google Reader to:
 Keep track of student blogs all in one place.
 Read other educator‘s blogs for ideas, current
research, and tips.
 Use the ‗Shared Items‘ feature to share news
with either students or colleagues.
 Subscribe to other school blogs and share best
posts with their own students.
○ Can be annotated with notes, showing relations to
content currently being learned in class.
 Share news and current events on specific
areas of interest or units of study.

15. Why is Google Reader
Educational?
 When used properly Google Reader can be a
powerful tool for research and teaching. It helps you
keep up with current events.
 It can help keep students and teachers informed of
each other‘s blogs and interests.
 Google Reader collects your selected feeds all in
one place and allows you to share them with your
friends and contacts, if you so desire. This can be
used for collecting information for your students and
for your students to collect information to share with
each other.
 Google Reader is a time-saving tool. When used
properly the service can save valuable time for the
class day and also the personal time of both
teachers and students.

16. Why Use Google Reader?
 It saves you oodles of time.
 Instead of wandering around the internet,
trying to find out the latest news or to see if
any blogs you follow have been updated you
can have them all in one handy place. The
information comes to you automatically.
 You can collect, annotate and share.
 It‘s simple, has easy-to-use features and best
of all, it‘s free!
 What‘s not to like?
 Oh, but try not to jump in all at once if you are a new
user, otherwise you may end up with 800+ unread
items to scroll through!

17. About Google
 Google Reader: https://www.google.com/reader
 About Google Company:
http://www.google.com/about/corporate/company/ind
ex.html
 About Google History:
http://www.google.com/about/corporate/company/hist
ory.html
 About Google Apps:
http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/topic.py?topic=
29157

18. Web-Based Resources
 How to Use Google Reader:
https://sites.google.com/a/philau.edu/collaboration/Home/Home/getting-
started/calendar/google-search/blogger/google-reader
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti4FZaL_HgM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkm1aWcETZg
http://michaelhyatt.com/how-to-use-google-reader-to-keep-up-with-
your-favorite-blogs.html
 10 Reasons to Start Using Google Reader:
http://www.thedesigncubicle.com/2008/11/10-reasons-to-start-using-
google-reader/
 10 Tips for Using Google Reader in the Classroom:
http://www.edutechintegration.com/2010/12/10-tips-for-using-google-
reader-in.html
 The Official Google Reader Help Videos (YouTube):
http://www.youtube.com/user/GoogleReaderHelp#p/u/1/o1d-b8wzzMY

19. Web-Based Resources
 The Newbie‘s Guide to Google Reader:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-9745368-2.html
 The Ultimate Guide to Google Reader:
http://thesocialmediaguide.com/social_media/ultimate-
google-reader-guide
 How to Set up the Ultimate Listening Station Using
Google Reader: http://www.colinalsheimer.com/google-
reader-listening-station
 Follow Twitter by Using Google Reader:
http://www.govloop.com/profiles/blogs/follow-twitter-by-
using-google-reader-amp-other-safe-social-media

20. Web-Based Resources
 RRS Feeds – A Tutorial: http://www.press-
feed.com/howitworks/rss_tutorial.php#whatarewebfeeds
 How to Sustain a Social Media Presence in Three Hours a
Week: http://www.alexandrasamuel.com/career-work/how-to-
sustain-a-social-media-presence-in-3-hours-a-week
 Five Steps to Create Your Social Media Toolkit:
http://www.alexandrasamuel.com/career-work/5-steps-to-
create-your-social-media-toolkit
 The Five Requirements for a Starter Social Media Presence:
http://www.alexandrasamuel.com/career-work/the-5-
requirements-for-a-starter-social-media-presence
 Screen Shots Used for Activity:
http://s1130.photobucket.com/albums/m530/PCAnne17/

21. References
 Actually, we just went past majority of them…
 Definition—Policy:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/policy
 Definition—Social Media:
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/networking/g/so
cialmedia.htm
 Definition—Social Networking:
http://www.internetsafety101.org/socialnetwork
ing.htm
 How I Use Google Reader:
http://mbteach.com/?p=99