Top Ten Tools 2010

It was interesting for me to reflect on my top 10 tools for 2010. In previous years that I’ve participated the top 10 were obvious to me. This time I found it difficult to identify just 10. So many tools so little time!

Here they are

itunes; for syncs to my iphone and ipad as well as access to music

Tweetdeck and twitter; a great way to keep up to date, share with others and engage in conversations

Google search; to search and filter on the web

WordPress; for blogging and engaging in conversations

Facebook; for keeping in touch with family and close colleagues. Mostly use this via my mobile

igoogle; my personalised homepage where I can easily access resources I use on a regular basis as well as my reader

Mobileme; for backup of contacts &  diary as well as an extra email address

Ning; for setting up and participation in various groups. Am just exploring transfering over to grou.ps since free access to ning is due to end soon

Firefox; web browser

Google groups; have used this a lot for workplace groups when other providers have been blocked by organisations

Other tools that I use regularly are googlemaps, LinkedIn, Youtube, google earth, GPS, microsoft office and outlook.

I’ve recently started using some other tools which I think by the end of the year will be higher up my list. They are Dropbox, Docs to go, pages and keynote.

Changing mental models from training to learning by Brigitte Jordan

Some food for thought from Brigitte Jordan

“Changing mental models and paradigms from a focus on training to a focus on learning involves a series of moves:

from individual learner		to learners in social settings
from individual skills		to the practices of a team or COP
from process orientation		to practice orientation
from didactic teaching		to activity-based learning
from linear thinking		to systems thinking
from school-based learning		to learning as a life activity
from one-shot learning		to continuous adaptation
from curriculum		to total learning environment
from top-down information dissemination		to lateral networks + peer communication
from product focus		to customer focus
from design from fantasy		to design from work practice
from requirements analysis		to work practice analysis
from implementation as delivery		to implementation as growing the practice
from providing training		to providing learning resources
from what employers want		to what frontline practitioners need”

Social media tools for learning Janet Clarey

Using Social Media Tools To Improve Workplace Learning

View more documents from Janet Clarey.

Jane Hart Twitter Workshop

Twitter Workshop

View more documents from Jane Hart.

Brain Friendly learning. Dr Itiel Dror

Dr. Itiel Dror brain friendly learning, technology and learning, enhanced cognition, e-learning

Personal Learning Environment Stephen Downes

Beyond Management: The Personal Learning Environment

View more presentations from Stephen Downes.

Sharing

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” Buddha

Blended Learning 2.0

Clive names the partnership of blended learning and informal learning ‘Blended Learning 2.0′

He says……

“…. blended learning and informal learning are not actually mutually exclusive concepts; in fact I will argue that they make very compatible bed-fellows. Blended learning can integrate informal learning methods; it can also act as a bridge to true informal learning; well beyond the scope of the formalised training course, in that area of our lives where real work gets done.”

Professional Knowledge

Some interesting predictions here including this one;

“Professional knowledge will become obsolete almost as quickly as it’s acquired. An individual’s professional knowledge is becoming outdated at a much faster rate than ever before.

Most professions will require continuous instruction and retraining. Rapid changes in the job market and work-related technologies will necessitate job education for almost every worker. At any given moment, a substantial portion of the labor force will be in job retraining programs. -Marvin J. Cetron and Owen Davies, “Trends Shaping Tomorrow’s World, Part Two,” May-June 2008, p 41″

elearning

A great post here from Janet Clarey on elearning design. Some good links too