Thing # 8

• What do you like about RSS and readers? I like the ease to which I can subscribe to things that I see and "think" that I might have an interest. I like the way that these subscriptions are automatically assembled into my reader. I like the way the process of aggregating ALL this information forces to you to categorize - lest you become overwhelmed in a matter of moments. This process in itself is valuable in that you are creating little "mind palaces" and training yourself to be organized. For example, in reading Daniel Pink's A Whole New Mind, I had been busy "discovering" the resources he suggests in each of the Portfolio sections.  In subscribing to many of these, I soon discovered that I had too many new feeds to do me much good - meaning that I really wanted to delve into the concepts of Design, Story, etc. I spent about 30 minutes trying to figure out how to categorize them. It was this Library2Play exercise that helped me create folders. Well enough for categories that spoon-fed, but the real value of creating folders arises in the sorting of sites that one happens upon in the process of building the Conceptual Age aptitude of Symphony (Pink). Not only is the process building organization in the web presence and in the mind, but it is like a workout for your creativity.
• How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your school or personal life?  There are numerous categories of information in which I want/need to keep abreast in my "work" life: Reading/Writing strategies, Pre-AP lessons, Lesson Planning, Edu-Advocacy, Professional Orgs/Journals that I don't necessarily need clogging up my other "lives". Overall, the paramount benefit is the time saving aspect. To borrow form Simon & Garfunkel, "Ahh, I can gather all the news I need on the Reader Report"
• How can libraries/teachers/administrators use readers or take advantage of this new technology? In addition to the comments above, I can see using readers and in particular, the sharing aspect to facilitate a topic study - 21st Century tools in the classroom, RTI, edu-leadership, ,etc.