RSS Feed Instructions

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It provides a means for you to subscribe to the latest news that is important to you. RSS feeds are written as XML files. The path or URL of the .xml file is what you will enter into the software program that is your RSS feeder. You will need an RSS feeder if you decide to start subscribing to RSS feeds. There are many different RSS feeders available today. Browser based methods are available in the Google Toolbar for Firefox 1.5.0.7, Internet Explorer 7 and Safari. Standalone applications for subscribing to RSS feeds include: FeedDemon, NewsGator for Microsoft Outlook, or NetNewsWire (for Mac).

Below, I'll describe a method of getting started subscribing to RSS feeds using the Google Toolbar in Firefox 1.5.0.7. These downloads are available for both Windows and Mac.

1. If you do not have the Firefox browser, or need to upgrade, download and install Firefox 1.5.0.7 from: http://www.mozilla.org/download.html
2. Download and install Google Toolbar for Firefox from: http://www.google.com/tools/firefox/toolbar/
3. Open Firefox and notice that there are a couple extra rows beneath your main menu. It will look like this:
   
   Google puts some preloaded RSS feeds under the orange icon in the third row, next to "Latest Headlines." You can ignore these or delete this list by right clicking on it.
4. Look at the orange icon next to the word "Subscribe in the bottom row.
   This icon/command will be available when you are on a web page with an RSS feed link, or if you are on the .xml web page that is the RSS feed. Click the orange icon if you want to subscribe to the site's RSS feed.
   
   
5. Next you will need to click on the "Add it now" button.
   Your Personalized Google Home Page will open and show a heading for the site's RSS feed along with the individual news items that are recent. You can click on the individual news items to go straight to that content.
   
   
   
6. If you ever need to access your Google Personalized Home Page, you can do so through the drop down arrow next to the rainbow colored word "Google" in the bottom row of the Google Toolbar.
   
   
   
   
7. You can remove an RSS feed from your Google Personalized Home Page by clicking on the "X" icon in the upper right corner of the heading for the feed.
   
   
   
   
8. The link to the Educational Technology site's RSS feed is: /administration/information_technology.