Blog Topic #3: What is RSS?

On Blogger, you have the option of publishing a site feed (which you should set to "yes" btw) which will create an XML version of your blog for RSS syndication. What is RSS? How is it useful and/or being used? How can you use the RSS feed to track updates to your fellow student's blogs? What's an aggregator?

Useful resources:

• http://www.bloglines.com
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rss

Possible points: 15 points

Blog Topic #2: Can I get a resource?

Design and development for the Internet is a dynamic and constantly changing field. As technologies and practices change, designers need to be able to keep up. The fact is, nobody can know everything. And, there's always someone out there who knows more than you. Given this, the Internet design community has always been very open to sharing information and inspiration. As a designer, it's important that you learn where to find sites of information, inspiration, and resources.

Your task: find a resource and share the love. Find a site that provides information, tutorials, forums, stock resources (photos, audio clips, movies, etc.), scripts, downloads, articles, advice, design tips, or links to well-designed and inspiring sites. Tell us what the site is about and how it is useful and include a link to the URL.

Don't know what kind of sites are appropriate? Here's a very short list of resources that I like:

• Adobe Support Center (lots of tips, tricks, and tech support right from the horse's mouth)
• Blue Vertigo (lots and lots of links to great resources for designers)
• Flashkit (for Flash tutorials and sound loops)
• Ultrashock (forums, fla source files, cool sites)
• Actionscript.org (great source of actionscript tutorials and articles)
• CGI Resource Index (great source of CGI programs and scripts for the Web)
• Lynda.com (video software training)
• CSS Zen Garden (Cascading Style Sheet info and inspiration)
• Dope Awards (links to inspiring and cutting-edge sites)
• Fcukstar Awards (links to inspiring and cutting-edge sites)
• Favorite Website Awards (links to inspiring and cutting-edge sites)
• Rhizome.org (new media arts and artists)

Possible points: 10 points | Can be repeated: 1x

Blog Topic #1: Dude, this site is the coolest!

Find a site that you think is cool or cutting edge and well designed. Explain what this is about and why you find it compelling. What makes the site cool or cutting edge and how does it differ from most sites that are out there? Are there special, unique, or interesting features to the site? Can you determine how the site was made and/or the tools and techniques that were used?

Possible Points: 10 points | Can be repeated 1x