Monthly Archives: August 2012

Top 100 Tools for Learning 2012

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It’s that time of year again so just in case you haven’t heard:

  • Voting for the Top 100 Tools for Learning closes on 12 noon GMT Sunday 30 Sept 2012
  • Top 100 Tools for Learning 2012 will be revealed on Monday 1 Oct 2012

The following is an excerpt from a post published on the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies blog

This is the 6th annual Top 100 Tools for Learning list [Jane Hart of C4LPT] is compiling from the contributions of learning professionals worldwide – and over 300 votes in so far.

The 2011 list has had over 160,000 views on this website and over 560,000 views on Slideshare, which shows there is huge interest in how these tools can be used for teaching and learning.

Please share your Top 10 Tools for Learning to help [Jane Hart & C4LPT] build the 2012 Top 100 Tools list. Continue reading →

Re-evaluating the LMS

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The LMS is 20+ years old. It is time to re-evaluate it, get back to its roots and see things from a new perspective. Technology shifting towards the Cloud, Mobile and the Lean approach to software development are key factors in building the new LMS. We envision it as a tool that emphasizes results over functionality.

This process will not be an easy one and the new LMS, unavoidably, cannot be a perfect fit for everyone. But is better to start making a few people very happy than keep a lot of people somewhat happy.

Getting LEAN

Our LMSs are FAT. We, the technology providers, have driven buyers to choose based on functionality matrixes rather than core needs. And the typical result is the creation of bloated, forgettable software dripping with mediocrity – software that is rarely used.

This needs to change. We need a mind shift regarding how to build and select an LMS. We need to make the LMS lean. We need to be smart and practical in what to keep and what to remove.  We need to concentrate on not getting in the learner’s way. We need to concentrate and improve on the real value that LMSs bring to the world. Continue reading →

The mobile future

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Mobile learning has been defined as: any sort of learning that happens when the learner is not at a fixed, predetermined location, or learning that happens when the learner takes advantage of the learning opportunities offered by mobile technologies.(Wikipedia) In other words mobile learning decreases limitation of learning location with the mobility of general portable devices.

But mobile learning is more than just using mobile devices to learn – it is also about the mobility of the learner. According to Mike Sharples, a leading authority in the field, mobile learning can be defined as, “the processes (both personal and public) of coming to know through exploration and conversation across multiple contexts amongst people and interactive technologies.” (Sharples, M., et al, 2007) Continue reading →