Between semesters, I have time to catch up on some reading and returning to unfinished tasks. Since one of my readers, TJ, indicated that she'd like to see some more of my observations on technology tools for facilitating learning, I thought that I'd share my experiences with the tools identified on Jane Hart's Top 100 Tools for Learning. I have mixed feelings about such lists, where a tool may get a high ranking merely because it is well-known to the users rather than for its merits relative to similar tools. However, I have the highest admiration for Jane Hart (who dumbfounds me with the rapidity and graciousness of her responses to my emails).
Her Top 25 Tools informed what and how I taught a freshman seminar in 2008. Her work has introduced me to a diverse range of learning professionals . But I am chary of embracing a tool just because it is endorsed by others since that endorsement may be irrelevant to my personal learning and teaching needs. Still, I want to be an "agile teacher- learner" where such agility increases my effectiveness.
Here, then are my initial thoughts and experiences after two years of experimenting with the tools endorsed by Jane's list of learning professionals.
- Twitter (Why I don't give a Twit). My present students have found little value in using Twitter (they fail to see differences between it and the update function of Facebook). I personally read two books about it, consulted with three Carroll alumni who DO use it (Thanks Chris G. Lori S. and Fred K.), and thought about others' twittering experiences described in publications I read and value. Since I have no particular interest in having "followers" and I have been annoyed too often by come-ons from pornographic purveyors in the guise of potential followers, I presently see no value for Twitter in serving my teaching and learning needed.
- Del.icio.us (Much more to my taste.) Though there are many similar social bookmarking tools available, my students (including my 2009 Red Hot Researchers Group)found this particular tool useful. My latency in using it more and using it better has probably been my not being used to SHARING bibliographies and my concerns about quality control of shared information.
- YouTube (Is it time for Curious David to Go Video?). Without doubt this tool has played a major role during the past two years in enhancing my lectures with both timely, classic, and merely entertaining ancillary materials. I have actually found less value in the sections "dedicated" to education than in other sections. I can easily see my using this tool to enhance international components of my courses and to "publish" some of my own material currently under development.
- GoogleReader ("Kindling" my interests in many---too many--- directions.) So much to read; so little time. At least an aggregator such as this imposes some structure filter/order on electronic information flow. Definitely a tool I need to better use---and plan to.
- GoogleDocs (What's up, Docs?). Motivated by problems using Microsoft Word since installing Windows 7 and Microsoft's recent law suit loss, I'll probably expedite my move to this resource and teach its features to my students.
- WordPress (Making the Writer's Choice). I still prefer Typepad (my reasons are here) and, knowing that I have at least a readership of 3, I'll renew my account in January!
- Slideshare (PowerPoint on Steroids?) I'm still failing to find value in producing things with this tool, but that no doubt reflects my animadversion to PP.
- Google Search (But is Google making us Smarter, More Agile, or More Stupid?). I use this tool time and again but I could use it far more wisely by mastering its intricacies.
- Audacity (a Sound Choice) but I am experimenting with others ---stay tuned for CuriousDavidTunes--and Firefox. (Extending the Utility of Browsers---But look out, here comes Google Chrome)
