Top 100 Tools for Learning 2008: the first cut

It is time to reveal the first cut of the Top 100 Tools for Learning 2008 list - and it makes interesting reading.

First some introductory facts

• There have been 63 contributors so far mentioning over 240 tools.  84 have been mentioned more than twice - and these are the tools that have reached the Top 100 list so far
• I introduced a few guidelines this year which has had some effect on the list, notably that only 1 tool should be named in each choice rather than a combination of tools (although where more than one tool was named, then the "vote" was split over the tools, hence some 1/2 points); and that all the MS Office tools and Google tools should be treated separately. 

So what is different from the list 6 months ago? Here are a few notable changes

• Firefox has been knocked off its No 1 position - just!
• Only 7 of the Top 10 are the same as last year - 3 different tools make it onto the list (in 8th, 9th and 10 positions)
• A number of tools have significantly improved their position from last year
• Many tools from last year have not yet made it onto the list
• There are 20 new entrants on the list (in the shaded rows)

What is the same as last year's list?

• The importance of managing one's own personal learning as demonstrated by the high rankings of tools like Firefox, delicious, Google search, Google Reader, etc - it is not just about creating learning experiences/solutions for others.
• The wide range of tools being used for BOTH managing one's own learning and creating different types of learning experiences

You can view the full list here: Top 100 Tools for Learning - Interim list

But of course, this is only the interim list; it is changing all the time - whenever I receive new contributions I update it.  So if you want to have an impact on the list, please share your Top 10 Tools.  Here's how  (Entries close 31 March after which the Spring 2008 list will be finalised, and then re-open 1 July - 30 September for further entries and updates).

One thing has, however, struck me about the Top 10 Tools lists this year, and that is that although practically all contributors mention the value of free, Web 2.0 tools for their own personal learning, it is educators (in schools, colleges and universities) who seem to be leading the way by making far more use of a wide range of free, Web 2.0 tools for creating learning experiences for their students - corporate training professionals seem to be focusing on the use of commercial, Web 1.0 (albeit rapid) tools for creating learning content.

This is clearly a significant point which requires fuller consideration and discussion, so I will write more about it shortly and also include further evidence as well as observations and conversations with recent conference participants which seems to support this position.