Chip’s journey

The Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies in Somerset, England asked learning professionals to identify their 10 favorite e-learning tools, either for their own personal learning or for fostering learning for others. You can see the combined lists with links to their individual lists.

It was an interesting exercise. My list changes depending on situation and purpose. It’s also hard to say whether I should list a specific product or a type. I use Firefox as a web browser, but Safari works almost as well. Should I pick just one, or say “web browser”? Is Google just a “search tool”? It has enough special features to stand out as a suite of tools. For some categories, any of several products are fine. You can see my own list and I’d welcome comments or suggestions for changes.

Last week I went to the Community Informatics Research Network conference at the Monash University Centre in Prato, Italy. The theme was “prospects for communities and action.” Attendees came from over 22 countries including Finland, New Zealand, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Mozambique. There were days devoted to both community informatics and to development informatics.

• the conference papers
• photos of people and food

The next conference will be held 27-30 October, 2008.

We stayed at Villa Rucellai di Canneto, a lovely old villa situated on a hill above the Bisenzio river. The fortified tower was built in the Middle Ages, and it’s described as a villa in 1427.