trendy tools of 2010

Tools of 2010

This is my second posting covering last weeks Learning Technologies conference. The biggest UK conf' for e-learning types to sell their wares, and prospective customers to zoom around obtaining intial ideas of what's hot or interesting, in the middle of the deepest recession in our time!

 This posting covers some of the tools we can use to improve distance learning/training. Whether they are platforms, authoring tools, or content.  There's something here for all. I either visited these stands or watched presentations. So on with the show.  Before I move on, the training zone have an excellent video that also does this, well worth a look. And I'm glad to see Clive Shepherd (elearningnetwork.org) thinks that 2010 will be the year for webinars, whether DimDim, Webex, or Elluminate, they offer VFM.  and let's not forget the micro chunking of learning into mini courses.  Elliot Masie also advocates this trend. I also bumped into Rob Hubbard who has created the most excellent Rapid elearning Development course (RED) - take a look, then sign up - it's bang on the quality rapid e-learning agenda.


Platforms

• http://twitter.com/ - microblogging platform - good for networking and knowledge sharing and finding out what a random stranager had for lunch!
• https://www.yammer.com/  - like twitter but can be just for your organisation - knowledge sharing is the key
• http://www.huddle.net/ - see above
• http://etherpad.com/ - real time collaborative text editing - like a wiki - but in real time. This is now Open Source.  I was given an alternative by Andy Black from BECTa - i'll chase that up.
• http://wetoku.com/ - record short vids for your blog - or use it to meet up online using a web cam - like OovoO or ??
• Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro - when you join Macromedia with Adobe only good things can happen - and this Learning management system/authoring/live presenting doodah - has it all (for a price!)
• Moodle - Kineo offer some good support solutions
• www.xyleme.com/LT  - collaborative authoring platform using open standards. A neat approach.

• http://www.thinkingworlds.com/  - 3D engine to create immersive worlds - good for games based learnign and mor realistic scenarios/simulations
  
• http://www.myknowledgemap.com/ - a capable assessment based eportfolio platform, that's being reworked into a PLE - expect more from me on this in the near future -as it's in alpha at present.
• http://learn.gotomeeting.com - online webinar tool - like dimdim
  
• http://www.seminar.co.uk/ - manage your training provisionfrom this platform - simple, and very effiicient.

I recently created a mind map covering some of these tools on offer - see below - click on the links in the map to visit the websites.





Authoring (rapid is the buzz word)

See also Brighton's Brightwave for their useful case studies on rapid elearning tools, and so do Kineo - check out their rapid e-learning page.

• http://prezi.com/  - create engaging zoomy type flash presentations (with videos), A steep learning curve. Alternatively use Buzan's imindmap - much easier.

• Adobe Acrobat Acrobat 9 Pro(extend) - a bit of a mouthful! But.. this version allows you to create PDF documents with ease, including embedded videos and assessments. If you get this version, you automatically get the PowerPoint plug-in, that gives the same functionality as Adobe Presenter.    - like Articulate or Lecturnity

Content

• http://www.datpresenter.com/  - synch video with slides - like viddix
• http://animoto.com/ - create simple video slide shows - like MS Photo Story
• http://www.xtranormal.com/ - create simple 3D movies/scenarios
• http://www.comicbrush.com/ - create fun strip cartoons - like http://stripgenerator.com/
• http://www.e-learningwmb.co.uk/ - green screen video production technology, creates high quality video training vignettes. Quality product at an affordable price.
• http://wwww.videoarts.com - high quality video training clips/course from an industy giant - now they can be streamed into your VLE
• http://www.trax-uk.co.uk/ - they scan paper based hig hstakes assignments into digital format for further analysis, storage, etc. A neat solution.
• http://goodpractice.com/ - provide toolkits for work based learning - looks V useful
• http://www.dtvuk.com/ - digital training videos - good quality
• http://www.digitalpublishing.de/de/press-releases.html - language learning solutions
• www.bitesizeltd.com - as it suggests - excellent nuggets of self paced , self contained tutorials on how to use most Microsoft products.  Quality stuff.

• Don't forget I have a wiki page entirely dedicated to the use of video in education. Case studies and technical aspects  are all covered in some depth. Please  take a look