Add RSS Feeds with Google Spreadsheet

Using Google Spreadsheet , you can easily import any RSS feed into your blog or website.

Using the attached spreadsheet example, the steps are as follows:

1. Enter the RSS URL in cell A3. 
http://feeds.feedburner.com/FreeResourcesForEducation
2. Enter the following formula in cell D3.
=importfeed(A3, "Items title", False, 4)
3. Enter the following formula in cell E3.
=importfeed(A3, "Items URL", False, 4)
4. Enter the following formula in cell C3 and replicate it in the next 3 cells.
=D3
5. Enter the following formula in cell B3 and replicate it in the next 3 cells.
=HyperLink(E3, C3)
6. Select Share, Publish as a web page, Start publishing
7. Select HTML to embed in a page
8. Select Sheet1
9. Enter the cell range.
B2:B6
10. Copy the <iframe> code and select Close
11. Paste the <iframe> code into your blog or website

NB: Set widget=false and add gridlines=false to remove extra unwanted features. Adjust the height and width to suit your site.

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Original Spreadsheet:

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Resulting RSS feed:

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Google Docs & Tracking Progress Collaboratively

The whole collaborative nature of Google Docs provides a great way for students to keep track of their own progress in completing tasks for any subject area.

It is fairly straightforward to set up a colour coded spreadsheet that will allow students to change the appearance of the document by simply pressing one key.

Just select 'Format, Change colors with rules...' and decide on the rules you want to use. If you are not sure how this works then have a look at the settings on this shared document or just select a cell and 'press the delete key' to see how easily it works!



I am using the above template with my classes this year and the students have been enthusiastically updating their progress as they go along, without having to be constantly reminded to do so!!

This is also a great way of enabling parents to keep track of their own child's progress as a non-editable version of the document can be published to the web, as shown below.

First came across this idea looking at Dan Stucke's own version for his Y11 GCSE class. Many thanks Dan :-)

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Putting Your Data in Motion

Google Docs Spreadsheet provides a lovely motion chart widget which will very easily bring your static data to life! I can see this little tool being very useful for projects in ICT, history, geography, mathematics, social studies etc....

You can see the motion chart in action at Gapminder World as well as viewing many interesting videos using motion charts.

Gapminder also provides an excellent tutorial explaining how to use the motion chart widget.

Check out this interactive example, from Gapminder, to see what can be done.

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