We spend a lot of time talking about tools for learning, so it\u2019s not surprising that several members of the\u00a0learning design\u00a0team follow Jane Hart\u2019s\u00a0annual survey of top learning tools<\/a>\u00a0[link opens in new tab].<\/p>\n However, many of the tools we talk about are\u00a0part\u00a0of the\u00a0OU\u2019s VLE.\u00a0It\u2019s been a while since\u00a0we\u00a0reflected on the learning tools we use for our own learning,\u00a0whether that\u2019s in our jobs or as part of study. In the last year, while we\u2019ve been working from home,\u00a0we\u2019ve all needed to find new ways of working and learning online.<\/p>\n Jane\u2019s survey prompted us to\u00a0spend some time doing that as a team. Thanks Jane\u00a0– it\u2019s always good to have the chance to reflect. Here\u2019s our\u00a0list and our observations – plus some thoughts on how we can use\u00a0the interactive\u00a0qualities of these tools\u00a0to enhance students\u2019 learning.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nOur top tools for learning*<\/h6>\n
| Tool and why we like it<\/th>\n | Prompt questions for learning designers<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
We use Canva<\/strong> to create shareable images such as infographics, slides and posters for use within the team and outside it. We like the fact that we can keep our look consistent across the team.<\/td>\n| What opportunities are there for students to create visual artefacts as part of their study and assessments?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | We use Padlet<\/strong> to capture and map out ideas. It\u2019s simple to set up and a great way to map out ideas as a group (a significant part of our role).<\/td>\n | It\u2019s important that students have the chance to collaborate. What opportunities do students have to interact? How do the tools used help them do this?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | YouTube<\/strong> is great for dipping into to find quick solutions and for catching up on recorded webinars. It’s a good source of background music while working and studying too.<\/td>\n | Video is a go-to way to learn something quickly. Are we making the most of existing videos? What opportunities are there for students to share their learning via video?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | We use Mentimeter<\/strong> to gather opinions quickly \u2013 often as an icebreaker. The word clouds generated are good tool for discussion.<\/td>\n | How can we prompt discussion among students?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | MOOCs<\/strong> (such as FutureLearn<\/a>) help us explore new topics and learn from other students as well as experts. They\u2019re easy to dip into for quick reminders or deeper insights, and prompt us to reflect on what we already know.<\/td>\n | Connectivist MOOCs often prompt students to reflect on their discoveries and share their learning. How can we build in opportunities for students to learn from one another?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | We\u2019ve found the consistency of user experience across Google<\/strong> Search, Google Docs<\/a> and Jamboard<\/a> helpful. It smoothes the learning curve and helps us focus on finding and sharing insights.<\/td>\n | A consistent and simple user experience is essential in online learning. How can we make sure students get to grips with our tools quickly and feel confident using them?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Twitter<\/strong> is an alternative to YouTube when we need to find tips and tricks that\u2019ll make work and study easier. It\u2019s also a source of new connections \u2013 always good for a team who need to keep up to date with research.<\/td>\n | Many researchers and experts share their work via Twitter. How can we apply this more widely to ensure that students explore wider viewpoints?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Instagram<\/strong> is an engaging way to keep up to date with what organisations and individuals we like are doing, whether that\u2019s art galleries and museums or other institutions.<\/td>\n | Visuals and other artefacts can be great sources of learning. How can we prompt students to explore them?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Zoom<\/strong> is a now-familiar way of catching up with others online.<\/td>\n | Students often tell us (for example, via our curriculum design student panel<\/a>) that they value opportunities to talk to tutors and peers. How can we help students build and sustain connections?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Miro<\/strong> helps us map out ideas and show connections between them. It\u2019s also a standard collaboration tool in many industries so some of our module teams like to use not only to share their own ideas but also to build students\u2019 employability skills.<\/td>\n | What opportunities are there for students to create their own maps and share them with others?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | *Standard competition ranking applies.<\/p>\n Reflecting on our top picks<\/h6>\nOur top tools are\u00a0slightly\u00a0different from those submitted to Jane\u2019s survey, which reflects the nature of our roles. We work with module teams to\u00a0visualise and\u00a0map out ideas, create connections and generate ongoing conversations about learning design, so it\u2019s not surprising that\u00a0these top our list.\u00a0Another clear trend is our fondness for tools that help us collaborate \u2013 possibly not surprising for a remote team whose aim is to advise on interactive learning.<\/p>\n We also like tools that we can\u00a0learn from ourselves \u2013 whether that\u2019s finding \u2018just in time\u2019 help or taking more time to explore others\u2019 insights and experience via MOOCs.<\/p>\n Over to you<\/h6>\nIf you haven\u2019t yet voted in the survey, you can do so\u00a0here<\/span><\/a>\u00a0until 26 August. There are categories for personal and workplace learning as well as education.<\/span><\/p>\n Building aspirations: embedding employability into learning design<\/a><\/p>\n |