Top 10 tools for learning 2014 - vote now!
Melissa Milloway
Designing Learning Experiences That Scale | Instructional Design, Learning Strategy & Innovation | Exploring What’s Next
I have created my top 10 tools list for learning 2014 in response to Jane Hart's post on her personal top 10 tools for learning. https://c4lpt.co.uk/top100tools/
Hart is also conducting a survey on your top 10 tools that is open to the entire learning community! The survey will close on Friday 19 September and then the Top 100 Tools for Learning 2014 will be posted on Monday 22 September. Thank you in advance to Jane Hart for providing our field with such valuable information! Now, on to my top 10 (in no specific order).
1. Adobe Connect I love Adobe Connect because it is so pliable in comparison with other VILT tools/Web conference platforms. You can customize your room by moving pods, add awesome interactive pods, and run tons of helpful reports (if you set the tool up to do so).
2. CS6 (I know this includes multiple tools but they all need to be recognized!) I live and die by my Adobe Creative Suite. I use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop almost every day. I think every learning designer needs to have basic graphics skills. I have also gotten into creative HTML5 animations with Flash and Swiffy (for converting to HTML5).
3. Construct 2 Dr. Karl Kapp got me into Construct 2, it's one of the easiest tools to construct games! Construct 2 is AMAZING because it's a WYSIWYG tool with a tiny amount of coding involved. You can create games for literally ANY platform. Check it out, you have got to. Really, you need to. Did I mention you can add the games to an authoring tool!? https://www.scirra.com/
4. Kuler You are my favorite tool for creating pallettes for the Articulate ELearning Heroes Challenges. You can search for top palettes, create your own, or even create a palette from an image. https://kuler.adobe.com/create/color-wheel/
5. Audacity I think Audacity is on everyone's list. I don't use it everyday but when I need it, it is a blessing of a tool. I wish I could be more excited about Audacity.
6. Yammer The next person that tells me they are not able to use social learning for some ridiculous reason (like the reporting stinks or their learners won't respond well) needs to just accept that fact that social learning is here to stay. The train is leaving without you and we have cake. Yammer is an amazing social learning tool for corporations because it is private, (surprise!) there are metrics, it's super modern, easy to use, and it has got all of the bells and whistles. Don't knock it until you try it and make sure you do your research and implement it well. https://www.yammer.com/
7. Microsoft Suite Microsoft Suite is like coffee because you just can't quit it. You need it to work everyday and my response to using is pretty similar to when I need a good coffee. "Ugh, I guess I will have to copy and paste some things instead of them just magically appearing all together." and "Ugh, I guess I will have to drink some coffee to keep me more alert versus my work just magically getting done."
8. Google Drive I must apologize to Dropbox because it almost made the list. Google Drive has one upped Dropbox this year for me. There's just something special about Google Drive.
9. Articulate Storyline Where would I be without you? My love affair with Storyline began in 2013 and I have not looked back since. The tool is easy to use and yet powerful. I will defend Storyline to my grave because if you are good at creating learning experiences you will create some awesome ones with this tool (It is not just a PowerPoint ribbon tool people!). Sorry, Captivate you are great too. https://www.articulate.com/products/storyline-overview.php
10. WordPress I would not be able to write this blog post without WordPress (unless I went to blogspot or LinkedIn or one of those other sites that lets me post). The best thing about WordPress is that it is extremely customizable. WordPress can be whatever you want or dream for it to be. You can have a blog, a portfolio, a online store, anything!
That's my top 10, so head on over to Jane Hart's site and vote for yours! https://c4lpt.co.uk/top100tools/voting/
- Mel
NICE! I like Yammer, but am a little hesitant to try it. I have a course coming up on 10/31 in UT in Austin and am considering Yammer. I will look into this. Google Drive, I completely agree, it is cost effective and has double the amount of memory than DB has in its free stage. Articulate SL - I am actually doing some part time contract work with SL and I think it is pretty much like PowerPoint, but on roids Adobe Connect - I have not used, but will be using it for the 10/31 eLearning course I am working on. Audacity... hmm, not sure, Sony Sound Forge seems much better....