Here are some learning tools/trends news items that didn't get posted here last week, but should have done!
No sooner had Google given notice they are no longer developing Google Notebook, then everybody, notably Zoho, Evernote, and other notebook providers, have been producing Notebook importers.
Adobe announced its new E-Learning Suite, software "that integrates best-of-breed tools for rapid eLearning, courseware authoring, simulations, and media editing", as well as Captivate 4, which you can use to "rapidly author professional eLearning content with advanced interactivity, software and scenario simulations, quizzes, and other engaging experiences".
Josh Bersin declared Informal Learning becomes Formal, saying "an informal learning strategy saves money. By empowering people to publish their expertise and learn from each other, you can cut spending on content development, external content, and formal training - focusing your energies on the “upper right” training programs in your organization". His research suggests that organisations are finally understanding the importance of informal learning within an organisation - as Jay Cross has been advocating for years.
The Horizon Report, a collaborative effort between the New Media Consortium (NMC) and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative, identifies and describes six areas of emerging technology likely to have a significant impact on teaching, learning, or creative expression in higher education within three adoption horizons. The 2009 report highlights the following areas: (1) Mobiles (i.e., mobile devices), (2) Cloud computing; (3) Geo-everything (i.e., geo-tagging); (4) The personal web; (5) Semantic-aware applications and (6) Smart objects.
A number of social networking tools came onto my radar screen this week, e.g. Buddypress and Jomsocial . The trouble with calling them "social networking" tools, I find, is that often managers are put off by this, thinking they are simply Facebook-in-disguise, or only offer trivial functionality. I think these tools need to be positioned as "social media applications" or engines or similar, otherwise they risk being overlooked by decision makers.
A few other tools that I thought were interesting this week: Masher - a free and super-easy to mash a video from photos and video clips; WebbyChat - to chat across your website and YourGlobalGrid - to create unique views of information with an emphasis on time and space.
I have received information about a couple of other interesting new tools, but I am keeping them to post about in full this week!
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