TOP 10 TOOLS 2007, 2008 & 2009
Janet Clarey

Janet Clarey is a Senior Researcher at Brandon Hall Research. She writes about (and researches) learning technology tools and systems, and organizational best practices. Janet blogs at Brandon Hall and at Workplace Learning Today.

Janet's Top 10 Tools as at 14 April 2009

1. Twitter, once my productivity nemesis, has become a valuable learning tool. Over time, I have built up a small network of strong links and a slightly larger network of weak links. I think the primary value comes in two forms: (1) a wider network and, (2) immediacy. I couldn't manage it though without TweetDeck, a Twitter desktop application built on Adobe AIR. It helps me manage my Twitter stream through the use of columns. I am able to separate followers into different groups and more easily monitor subject matter, replies, and direct messages. 
2. iGoogle is my personalized Web start page. It's easy to customize and  it serves as a hub for nearly all of my other daily activities - reading, searching, researching, chatting, scheduling, trending, collaborating, and email. 
3. Wordpress has been my blogging platform of choice since 2007. Along with a template called Thesis, I am able to do much more than simply publish content. I use it to manage content and communicate across other platforms (via widgets and plug-ins).
4. Skype is my primary tool for voice communication, video communication, and small group meetings. I like it for its ease-of-use, price, and consistency.
5. Dreamweaver is the tool I use to design, develop, and manage general websites. I like the check-in, check-out feature since I use it to collaborate with several others. 
6. Adobe Acrobat Pro is the tool I use to convert research reports and presentation slides. I like the professional version better than free converters due to additional functionality.
7. LinkedIn is my professional social networking platform. I didn't use it much until it added some features like groups and other applications a short time ago. Now, I find myself using it more to ask and answer questions and to seek out expertise in particular subject matter areas.
8. Microsoft Office is still a staple in my work. I use Word and PowerPoint often and Excel and Outlook less so. I have a ton of documents and spreadsheets 'in the cloud' but still find my desktop a better place for non-collaborate writing projects that are still works-in-progress.
9. Saba Centra - In the past 4 months I have primarily used Centra to deliver web sessions, virtual workshops, and access training content. It's been reliable and has a pretty good set of features including VoIP, video, breakout rooms, etc.
10. Google Reader  is my aggregator for all content I monitor via RSS. I like it because it lets me manage subscriptions easily including mobile access. Without it, I couldn't keep up-to-date.

Janet's Top 10 Tools as at 24 August 2008

1. WordPress: I use WordPress for educational blogging and as a personal content management tool.
2. iGoogle: I use iGoogle to manage my personal learning and work environment. On my home page, I have Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Bookmarks, Google Reader, Google Docs, and of course Search and use each daily.
3. Skype: I use Skype to IM, video chat, and collaborate with others.
4. Facebook: I have been using Facebook as my primary social networking tool and aggregator for other web-based services like FriendFeed
5. Wikispaces: I am using Wikispaces to manage content from multiple facilitators for our upcoming conference.
6. Ning: I am using Ning as a social network for our upcoming conference. I am using it to mashup and create a Web 2.0 platform that incorporate widgets for Twitter, Google calendar, social tagging links, LinkedIn group, Facebook group, badges, blog, wiki, etc.
7. MS PowerPoint:: (Still) my primary tool for presenting information at educational workshops both face-to-face and online is PowerPoint
8. SnagIt: Screen capture tool and photo editor for blogging, wiki, Ning, documents
9. Twhirl: Microblogging desktop client to collaborate and communicate
10. Blackberry: For mobile learning and working

Janet's Top 10 Tools as at 14 January 2008

1. WordPress: I use WordPress for educational blogging and as a personal content management tool.
2. iGoogle: I use iGoogle to manage my personal learning and work environment. On my home page, I have Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Bookmarks, Google Reader, and Google Docs and use each daily.
3. Mozilla Firefox: After years of using IE, I recently switched to Firefox. Browsing is efficient which make me more productive.
4. MS Outlook: The email platform I use for corporate communication.
5. Skype: I use Skype to IM, video chat, and conference with others.
6. Facebook: I have been using Facebook as my primary social networking tool.
7. Wikipedia: A starting point and ending point for most of the things I research.
8. MS PowerPoint: My primary tool for presenting information at educational workshops both face-to-face and online is PowerPoint
9. Blackboard: The LMS that Syracuse University uses. This is my “formal” learning environment.
10. SecondLife: My 3D online virtual environment

Janet's Top 10 Tools as at 23 July 2007

1. WordPress: Why I like this blogging tool over others: It works and it's easy to use. That's it. If something's not easy to use, I just don't use it.

2. Google: I like the Google Reader because I can get through a lot of reading quickly and usefully tag blog posts for future use. I like Gmail because it groups my mail and catches a lot of spam. I like Google Mobile (chat, mail, maps, search) because it works well (quick, easy) on my device. I like the search options Google:  offers (Scholar, Images, etc.). I also like Google Talk because it just sits in the background quietly waiting to do its job. Oh, and I like iGoogle and tabs. I also use Alerts to keep me informed about a topic I'm researching or interested in

3. HTML: Still using it as a tool to make things more readable...10 years later.

4. SmartFTP:  I like SmartFTP for transferring files from my computer to the server. It's been reliable for a couple of years now

5. SnagIt: Simple way to capture anything on the screen.

6. Adobe Acrobat Professional:  I work with a lot of large documents in other formats. I like the Search capability and it's an easy way to read and organize large documents.

7. Skype: It's cheap and has worked well so far...although this is a relatively new tool for me.

8. Inspiration: I like this simple tool for brainstorming.

9. Dreamweaver: I use DW for Web site creation and management

10. Social networking tools: Explode, Facebook, and LinkedIn have been the most useful social networking tools I've used to date.