Purpose & Objectives = GeoRSS, Geographically encoded objects for RSS, is a new innnovation in technology.  GeoRSS allows you to add geographic information to an RSS feed that can be used to distribute blogs, podcasts, images, and other digital media.  This geographic information can be used to display the origin of an RSS feed as a point on a map.  Alternatively, GeoRSS can be used to provide a location of media, such as an image, tied to a point, line or boundary/polygon.

GeoRSS can be used in the classroom to collect and share data for projects.   An example of classroom use of GeoRSS is tracking a journey of scientists or other travelers through their geocoded blog entries and image postings.  Students can collect information and analyze geographic questions related to the journey.  Students may also create their own georeferenced projects, journals, trips.   GeoRSS adds a new dimension to the collaboration and communication students have with others in their community and the world.

Outline (for BYOL) =

I. Introduction of presenters (2 minutes)

II. What is GeoRSS and how does it differ from RSS?  (10 minutes) Presenter Overview and Audience Poll

(This is intended to ensure that those who are new to RSS have a basic understanding of the concept.)

II. How/Why is RSS used? (7-10 minutes)

Brief brainstorm with audience and examples will be provided.

III. What is an aggregator?  What is an RSS generator? (10 minutes)

This will be hands-on exploration of basic RSS aggregators and RSS generators.  Advanced users will be asked to share with others their subscriptions and creation of feeds.

III.  How do you access a GeoRSS feeds? (10-15 minutes)

Hands on exploration of GeoRSS materials such as Flickr images, Google maps, etc.  This will be an "I do, We do, You do".

IV. How do you geocode an RSS feed? (7-10 minutes)

This will be hands on experience with guided practice from the presenters.

V. How do you integrate GeoRSS in the classroom?  (10-12 minutes)

Examples will be provided by the presenters and participants will be asked to brainstorm and share concepts.

VI. Questions (time remaining)

Supporting Research = This emerging technology has anecdotal presence on the internet:

GeoRSS.org (http://georss.org/)

Fun with GeoRSS (http://www.directionsmag.com/article.php?article_id=2197&trv=1)

Connecting microblogs (i.e.Twitter) with GeoRSS (http://digitalurban.blogspot.com/2007/04/twitter-live-maps-with-georss-and-atlas.html)

Trip Tracker.Net (http://transamazon.triptracker.net/)

Exploreourpla.net GeoRSS Feeds (http://exploreourpla.net/georss/)

World Kit Users Manual - GeoRSS (http://worldkit.org/doc/rss.php)

Wikipedia Entry for GeoRSS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeoRSS)

Presenter Background = Dr. Shannon White is the Assistant Director for the Florida Center for Instructional Technology (FCIT) at the University of South Florida.   At FCIT, she is the Program Director for the Florida Digital Educator Program and works closely with other emerging technology projects for the K-12 classroom. Shannon earned her Ph.D. in Instructional Technology and her M.Ed. in Social Studies Education from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at North Carolina State University. Her research interests are in the areas of Instructional Technology integration in K-20 education, educational professional development, and Geographic Information Systems. Her teaching experience in middle and high school classrooms, universities, and museums, such as Colonial Williamsburg, bring a unique perspective to her work.

Luis Perez is a doctoral student in the Instructional Technology program at the Univerity of South Florida in Tampa, FL.  His research interests include the use of emerging media such as blogs, wikis, RSS, and podcasts in the K-12 classroom.  He also works for the Florida Center for Instructional Technology at USF.  He maintains Tech-Ease, a technology support website for teachers that includes video tutorials on GIS and other technologies.