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The essential tools for elearning?

Back in September 2008 I posted about the basic tools I needed to survive the teaching week. We have new Teacher Learning Communities at school this year. It's a collection of teachers that have a common professional development need. I have been asked to facilitate the eLearning group. The first session can be found here. For the next session I want to share the top 5 eLearning tools that help to facilitate learning - this includes in the planning of lessons too. This is in part inspired by Tom Barrett's new e-newsletter, especially the 'Tom's Tech Tip' section.

This isn't settled yet but:

First - decide whether technology is the best way forward. Is there a better, more appropriate tool. For example, I love my Moleskin notebook as I still write (and spell) quicker with a pen - a product of my education that was not centered on technology. In addition, it is often more useful and productive to speak over the phone or face-to-face rather than via email or Twitter. This is particularly the case for colleagues that are not ICT competent or literate.

In no particular order:

1. Evernote for iPhone - this app has revolutionised my life - I now plan and take notes anywhere and they automatically sync with my online account. (Hat Tip, Ollie Bray)
2. iCal (or Google Calender) - I now plan and track my lessons using this tool (hat tip - Doug Belshaw)
3. Google Reader - moved away from bloglines. This tool facilitates continuous and effective professional development by allowing me to read what other people are up to. It is also useful to model the use of other people's work to students - they are more likely to adopt productive practices if they can see a benefit
4. Digital Projector - still one of the most important tools in my view for eLearning.
5. Twitter, most of my ideas are adapted from ideas that come from elsewhere. Regular readers will know that I don't believe in reinventing the wheel - with Twitter I can stay abreast of recent developments. Indeed, these 5 tips have been collated from a number of other sources and ideas.

Of course, there are many, many more. What would be in your top 5?
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  1. SteveWiilliams24 October 2009 at 18:43

    1) iPod Touch/iPhone. Like a computer in your pocket, you can use it to keep track of the time, date, make timetables and calendars, keep track of where you are using the 3GS' compass, map apps and augmented reality apps, check up on friends and family and even students via social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Orkut etc and practically do anything you would want to do.

    2) A laptop and a projector. These two together can totally do away with the graphical limitations of a whiteboard and boardpen. Instead of writing, which can lead to cramp in the hand, illegibility and graphical limitations, you can present data in new ways and input new information that may be required throughout the lesson in quicker, easier and more painlessly.

    3) MAYBE a netbook. More limitations but added portability.

    4) A camera. If you ever go on a fieldtrip with the students or outside of school, and you see something that can be used in coursework, homework or during a lesson to demonstrate something, what better tool to have than a camera. After all, the iPhone's camera is VERY poor ;)

    5) A PAN setup. Who needs Bluetooth when you can touch your phone to a student's and automatically transfer all the homework data into their storage?

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