Evaluating Key Learning Tools: A Final Reflection

Since its inception, Jane Hart’s Top 10 Learning Tools has been a significant marker in the learning and technology community. While I wasn’t involved every year since it began in 2008, it’s fascinating to see how the toolkit has evolved. With Hart’s departure from this initiative, it seems fitting to take a moment to reflect on what remains vital in our learning journeys.

My approach to categorizing these tools may indeed shift over time, but there's a clear trend: I’m seeking alternatives to mainstream options. The larger platforms often miss the mark in serving specific needs, making it a challenge for those of us navigating the nuanced paths of learning.

Writing Tools

Writing remains a cornerstone in my process, and several applications stand out in this regard. 

Notes has become an essential repository for my thoughts. Whether I’m walking or sitting at my desk, I find capturing fleeting ideas crucial. Noting down my thoughts right away ensures that I retain those insights.

For more structured writing, especially when working on books, Word is still my go-to despite attempts to switch to LibreOffice, Pages, or Google Docs. The elegance of its outlining features is unmatched, reaffirming my reliance on Microsoft for heavy-duty writing tasks.

Graphic Design Tools

While my graphic creation activity has waned, it remains a key aspect of my learning process when I do engage with it.

OmniGraffle serves as my primary tool for diagramming. Despite exploring alternatives such as Freeform, none have matched its functionality. Organizing concepts and visualizing relationships through diagrams is integral to my understanding.

When it comes to presentations, Keynote plays a significant role. I integrate visuals, including diagrams and royalty-free images from Unsplash, Pixabay, or Pexels, into my talks. This visual organization also deepens my comprehension of the subject matter.

Social Learning Tools

In alignment with Harold Jarche's Seek-Sense-Share approach to Personal Knowledge Mastery (PKM), social platforms facilitate both the search for knowledge and the sharing of insights. For instance, I was recently reminded of Dolly Parton’s passing through these channels, highlighting their personal and communal nature.

My favorite social tool has become Mastodon. Though it doesn't quite capture the liveliness of Twitter, its intimate feel and decentralized structure appeal to me, offering a safe haven free from corporate agendas.

On a more expansive scale, BlueSky resembles Twitter's earlier iterations, hosting a larger pool of discussions and ideas, albeit with some risks inherent in any social platform.

LinkedIn continues to serve as my professional network, where I engage more on business topics. It’s useful, though it only represents one facet of my identity.

For collaboration, Slack is invaluable. I leverage channels for initiatives like Learning Development Accelerator (LDA) and Elevator 9, ensuring effective communication around project-related topics.

Project Management Tools

Although project management might not typically fall under "learning tools," it undoubtedly shapes my commitments and learning experiences.

Notion has become a vital tool for managing projects within LDA, serving as both a task tracker and a collaborative space for idea sharing and feedback, aligning with the PKM framework.

For personal commitments, I rely on Reminders to organize responsibilities across various initiatives—be it Quinnovation, LDA, or family activities. If an obligation isn't noted there, it quickly falls off my radar. Sometimes I coordinate this with Calendar, but Reminders has streamlined my organization significantly.

Others worth mentioning include Vivaldi as my preferred browser and DuckDuckGo with its NoAI search option, while Wikipedia remains my first source of verification. Although these tools are fundamental, my focus here has been on applications that facilitate the learning process itself.

This reflection on learning tools is shaped by my last look at Jane Hart's list. While this marks the end of her era, it’s been enriching to assess which resources resonate with my ongoing journey. There’s a sense that informal learning remains immensely important, and I hope this continues to shape our conversations about tools and practices. So, what are your go-to tools?

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