George is Founder and President of Complexive Systems Inc., a learning lab focused on assisting organizations develop integrated learning structures to meet the needs of global strategy execution. He recently authored a book - Knowing Knowledge - an exploration of how the context and characteristics of knowledge have changed, and what it means to organizations today.  He is actively involved in research as Associate Director, Research and Development with the Learning Technologies Centre at University of Manitoba.  George's website is elearnspace, where he regularly blogs

George's Top 10 Tools as at 6 March 2008 and 11 August 2007

1. Pen and paper.  Perhaps not the most current technology, but vital for brainstorming and planning. There’s something about the feel of pen on paper…

2. Cmap -  I use concept mapping for planning, organizing topics, and to see how ideas connect to each other. When teaching, in order to evaluate learner’s understanding, I require her/him to produce a CMAP of how course components relate.

3. Bloglines - still my favorite RSS reader (I know many have switched to Google Reader, but I’m trying to ensure my digital life is not tied only to Google)…I follow 400+ blogs and bloglines is probably my most important tool for staying current.

4. iPod - I have a lengthy daily commute and find the time well spent listening to podcasts and (mainly) audio books. My iPod is starting to rival my computer as my primary learning tool.

5. Technorati, IceRocket and Google Blog Search - much of my learning occurs in forming connections with others – sometimes in related fields, other times in completely different disciplines. When I want to learn more about a subject, I turn to blog search engines and start forming a network on that subject. Time in a network translates to depth of understanding (engagement and reflection are important too).

6. Google Alerts - I follow a few topics – elearning, technology, pedagogy, etc. – through Google alerts. I’m finding that I’m increasingly relying on software to assist in managing information flow.

7. Blogs – I blog on several different platforms including Blogger, MovableType, and Wordpress. I blog to capture resources and force a bit of reflection and active thinking on subjects. While I use del.icio.us and Furl for capturing, I find the time reading, reflecting, and commenting on a resource translates to deeper understanding.

8. Skype and iVocalize - I use skype for small group discussions and staying in touch with colleagues. But skype has limitations, so for  more involved conversations or presentations, I use the audio, text, shared browsing and powerpoint, and whiteboard features found in iVocalize.

9. Email – whether handled with Outlook, Thunderbird, or Gmail– is still a constant in my learning and communicating. While I can’t always connect with friends/family/colleagues on skype or googletalk, chances are, I can communicate via email. Email still reigns supreme in information exchange

10. Visualization tools – these are emerging, but I find value in Many Eyes (for seeking patterns in text or exploring data sets), Quintura (for visual search), and other tools that visualize information and reveal connections not directly visible. I’m convinced that as information continues to grow in abundance, we will shift the “grunt cognition” of filtering and presenting patterns to software, so we can retain our sanity and interact with patterns instead of individual information elements.