In my last post, I noted that I would be interested to see how my list compared to Jane’s 2024 list. Since 2007, Jane Hart has been compiling an annual Top Tools for Learning List from the results of an open survey. As she notes, these Top Tools lists “…now constitute an important and interesting longitudinal study not just into the popularity of tools for learning but into learning behaviour itself.”
Each year, learning professionals (and others in related areas) are invited to nominate their Top 10 (digital) tools for learning and their contributions are then used to generate the annual list. I was one of 1,599 professionals that responded to this year’s request.
And I did not have to wait long…her 2024 Top Tools list came out yesterday.
Jane noted that:
- AI has taken off
- Personal learning and productivity tools are strong
- Zoom is king of the video meeting tools
- Collaboration workspaces are back in force
- Social networks appear to be declining
In comparing my list to Jane’s curation of nearly 1,600 entries, AI took off on my list as well. My personal learning and productivity tools remain strong. I use Zoom…but less so the collaboration workspaces. (I am retired after all!) And my social media use has declined…particularly with respect to X (the old Twitter).
Despite being an “old tool user” (as playfully suggested by DALL-E’s image above), my tool usage seems to align surprisingly well with the trends observed in Jane’s list from practitioners from the corporate and education fields. This alignment suggests that effective tools transcend age and professional status, adapting to various user needs.
What about you? How does your tool usage compare to these trends? Have you embraced AI tools, or are you sticking with tried-and-true productivity apps? Share your experiences in the comments below!
{Graphics: DALL-E}