Google Reader is a must have for educators trying to stay informed in the constantly transforming world of education. For those of you not yet set up, here is a quick overview of how Google Reader works.
How to Set Up Your Google Reader Account
1. If you already have a Gmail account, login and click reader on the top left corner. If you do not have an account, click here to create one so you can get started with Google Reader.
2. Add blogs or news by clicking the “Add Subscription” button on the left side of the screen. You can enter the actual web address or simply search terms.
3. Edit your subscriptions and be sure to remove any default subscriptions that you do not need by clicking “Feed Settings” in the top right hand corner. Here you can create customizable folders for your blogs, news, and websites.
Now that you are all set up and ready to get started, check out this video from former Blogger of the Week, Mary Beth Hertz on using Google Reader in education.
Mary Beth Hertz suggests organizing your subscriptions into folders for specific things you may need as an educator, such as resources, favorite bloggers, student bloggers, Diigo links, etc. This is a good way to stay up to date with your subscriptions.
You can also search your subscriptions within Google Reader. For example, if you are designing a cause and effect unit, you can search all your subscriptions for cause and effect articles, ideas, or resources.
Blogs to Follow
Click here to see our featured bloggers. This is an excellent place to start when adding bloggers. You can also check out some of your favorite bloggers home pages. Usually they include a blog roll of their favorite bloggers too. Happy adding!
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