I am with Mark Oelhert this morning in his all day workshop about the tools of the Social Learning Landscape. Mark's focus is to look at social media tools, their impact on an organisation's culture. So it's quite pointless to use new tools in an old fashion. We're looking at Mark's social media implementation at Defense Acquisition University and while the tools don't look like they're the best designed from a visual standpoint - they definitely look quite awesome from a utility perspective. is a set of tools, social media is a different way of working. MORE >>

If all you want to do is create a walled garden where along with your course resources, you can provide students an opportunity to have discussions, collaborate using blogs, wikis and collective databases, you're better off using one of the modern LMS's such as Moodle. OTOH, if you're keen on being in tune with the state of the art in social learning, you're perhaps better off using a full-fledged social collaboration platform. Ever since I think SocialText has discontinued that particular option and you can instead sign up for a full-fledged 30 day trial. Ready? has it. MORE >>

I'll start by noting that she has quietly kicked off her annual Learning Tools Survey, wherein she asks industry experts and practitioners to list their top ten tools for learning (broadly defined). And back in early December I commented on the results of her 2009 survey—see my posting The 2009 Edition of the Top 100 Tools for Learning. Her tools survey is interesting on its own, and it has generated a massive tools directory that Jane dutifully maintains for all of our benefit. Which Web 2.0 / social media tools does it provide your organization? MORE >>

Many organizations have a legacy LMS but they also may have an intranet, wiki, blog system, video portal, discussion forum, ERP, evaluation/assessment/survey application, records management, content/document management system, network shares, micro-blog service, skills inventory, employee profile system, instant messaging service, certification tracking, idea sharing application, or they are thinking about implementing these tools in the near future. The tools and processes mentioned above, and many more that I have not mentioned). Let the fireworks begin. Period. the LCC). Bingo. MORE >>

During each I was asked about some of the tools I use personally to get the most from social media–and ultimately learn as much as I can. Because the names flew by fast, here’s a recap of the tools that I use personally and some additions I didn’t have a chance to mention. I've made bold links to the primary social tools that I use. The other links are either not quite as popular or they are tools supporting those main ones.]. Bit.ly – A link shortening tool that also allows you to track the popularity of the links you share. MORE >>