addicted
I was having a terrible time coming up with something to write today, but my friend Normandy bailed me out by asking me a question. The question was “what are the top 10 technological tools that are generally available and helpful to teaching and learning?” Never one to pass up an opportunity to repurpose content, I figured I would turn my answer into a post.
Some context about my perspective: I am in a dual degree program pursuing an MBA and an MS in Information Systems at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. Most of what is in my list comes from my personal learning and teaching experience (we do a good bit of both in my program). I take online courses, classroom courses, and hybrids.
Here is my list:
1. Wikipedia
There is no substitute for this resource when it comes to getting clarification, general direction, or simply a different take on information for which I am responsible. Wikipedia is also a fast and pretty reliable resource for background learning. For example, I use it extensively to understand foundational technical information (networking, telecommunications, fiber optics, etc.). This is assumed knowledge for my Information Systems courses and it is great to have a just-in-time and living encyclopedia. Another example is how I use it to deepen my understanding of mathematics. Again, this is assumed knowledge for, say, Macroeconomics. This semester I did a fair amount of basic calculus – I needed fast and constant refreshers and I typically got them starting with Wikipedia. Not the authoritative source for any information, but usually a very good starting point.
2. Google Reader
I am required to have working knowledge of many different emerging sets of information from many sources. Google Reader is indispensable for consuming large amounts of information on a daily basis. For example, I follow probably 50 technology industry feeds from vendors, analysts, commentators, periodicals, etc.; probably 25 feeds from financial and economic sources; probably 50 blogs on those topics and more; probably 25 periodicals (NYT, WSJ, Bloomberg, BusinessWeek, Fast Company, etc.); and probably 10 raw sources of information (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, etc.). I don’t have enough time to comb through all of those individual sites, so having all of that information aggregated into one spot is the only way I can survive and stay sane – and get any sleep.
3. E-mail
Old-school email is critical for collaboration among peers, connecting and passing documents for group projects, communicating with professors, and getting alerts for upcoming co-curricular lectures. It is hard to replace email, as much as I would like to.
4. My BlackBerry
Combine 1, 2, and 3 and put it in my pocket. My GPA would be a little bit lower if I did not have real-time and constant access to all of my critical resources. Add the phone so I can call my peers or professors and you get a total package. I occasionally go to class without a laptop but never without my BlackBerry.
5. PowerPoint
Slide decks are currency in my school life. Professors pack them with information and distribute them, students use them as notes, we present with them all of the time in and out of class. Like email, it would be nice to do away with slide decks, but it is the one vehicle that we all understand. It is visual, portable, extendable, easy.
6. LMS (Blackboard)
Blackboard is a somewhat surprising bust in my academic life. It is necessary, but not too terribly useful. It is a decent repository for information, but we have other better ways to port information and documents (#3 + #5) and better and easier ways to post and consume information (Blogger/WordPress + #2 = too easy).
7. Comcast
I have cable TV, high speed internet, and VOIP streaming into my house through one precious white cable. Very honestly, when this goes down I am sunk. I watch Bloomberg news all of the time (indispensible), am connected to the internet all of the time, and work on tough homework problems with peers over the phone – usually all of these at the same time. #7 + #4 are probably the most valuable assets in my academic life – more than books, libraries, classrooms (O brave new world).
8. Conference Calling
I am surprised at how many conference calls I am on for school. Everyone I go to school with is as busy as I am. We have tons of group projects, various co-curricular events to coordinate, and so forth. I am very often on conference calls at 9 or 10 p.m. because it is the only time people are free for 30 minutes. Also, my peers are spread throughout the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia area, so meet-ups are often very tough.
9. Google Scholar
I do a fair amount of research. I have very little time to spend walking the stacks in our library. JHU libraries are hooked into Google Scholar, so I can do research anytime 24X7 then swing by the library and quickly round up what I already know is there waiting for me.
10. Scribd
This funky thing is amazing. People post all manner of documents from all over the world – old homeworks, class notes, old exams, powerpoints, whatever. I search on the textbook versions I am using in classes and get a ton of complementary and miscellaneous material.
So, there you have my list. Thanks for the inspiration, Normandy.
