Top 10 favourite learning tools

Take a look at the Top 100 Tools for Learning. What are the tools you use most for learning? Here are mine.

1. Firefox. – I was initially dismissive when I saw this listed as the top tool (a browser??), but then I realised that I use this browser for access to most of my learning resources. And without it I would be stuck with.. IE.
2. Google Reader. – I used to be a Bloglines fan, but now I have Google Reader. I no longer browse the web, it’s all filtered.
3. Google Search. – I don’t know any librarian who doesn’t use Google 😉
4. WordPress. – Excellent blogging tool that gets me writing as well. Even before I migrated this blog over from Blogger I think I would have included WordPress, because LINT is a WordPress blog.
5. Twitter. – I learn a lot from the Twitterati I follow… Lately I have kept Twitter turned off completely for most of the day because I am trying to change my work routine (more on this later), but when I browse the tweets later I am always amazed by the wonderful stuff that people share on it. (See Sue’s excellent presentation for more information.)
6. EndNote. – Freedom from referencing hell! I can’t imagine writing academic papers without this tool. This is the bibliographic management tool that MPOW uses and that I have to support, so using it also helps me ensure I know how to help users. I also vaguely use del.icio.us and Connotea (with LINT folks) to keep track of stuff, but EndNote is the tool I use extensively.
7. Wikis. – At work: MediaWiki. For extracurricular collaborative projects: PBWiki. I wish everyone would stop using Word to work on group authored documents!
8. Paper journal. – I love the feel of fountain pen nib on good paper. I seem to write most when I’m on the train.
9. iPod. – For language learning. On the train I’m just as likely to be listening to a language podcast or recording as I am to be listening to J.S. Bach or Tracy Chapman.
10. Gmail. – I refuse to subscribe to email lists, but I do still use email for detailed, one-to-one, one-to-few conversations. I love the way Gmail lets you tag email. (I have a fraught relationship with my Outlook email at work. The only way I can keep up with it is to be ruthless.)

I like the concept of the personal learning toolset, as well. I guess this is mine.

Via Lorcan Dempsey.