Agile Learning Design: Tools for Learners

This is the sixth in a series of posts on Agile Learning Design:

• Post 1 - Agile Design: An Ethos for Creating Learning Platforms.
• Post 2 - Planning in Agile Learning Design
• Post 3 - Orientation in Agile Learning Design
• Post 4 - Designing Agile Learning
• Post 5 - Selection in Agile Learning Design

In the last post I discussed some of the various media for delivering learning methodologies and objects. Before moving on to the final concept of "Iteration" in Agile Learning Design, I thought now would be a good time to discuss the tools the learners require for agile learning in a dL (distributed Learning) environment.

Networked Computer

While this may seam obvious to some, we need to realize that a lot of learners in the workplace do not have access to one or to one that is located in an environment conductive to learning.

Learning Management System (LMS)

And this does not mean access to any old LMS, but one in which the learners can easily search and locate the content they need. As Nicole Fougere pointed out in a recent blog post, Aaron Silvers took a show of hands at DevLearn and discovered this seems to be the last thing that we require of a LMS, but if the learners cannot easily use it and dislike using it, then it is absolutely worthless, no matter how many other bells and whistles it may have.

iTunes/iPod (or similar system)

While there is an adverse reaction to providing this set-up to learners in most organizations, podcasting is a proven and viable means of learning. Yes they may listen to music on their iPods, but they also use email, cell phones, and internet services for personal reasons. Lets provide them with the tools they need. To increase the capabilities of the device (mLearning), consider the iTouch.

Yammer or Twitter

For networking between various learning episodes. Note that one study found that 150 followers is the magic number.

A Guide for Managing Learning

Not everything is hi-tech. Perhaps the best guide around is Getting Your Money's Worth From Training & Development A Guide to Breakthrough Learning for Managers and Participants by Jefferson, Pollock, and Wick. This book is conveniently divided into two parts: 1) start at one end for managers or 2) flip the book over and it is for the learners. It is based on perhaps the best book on training: The Six Disciplines of Breakthrough Learning: How to Turn Training and Development Into Business Results.

PDF Reader

For reading and printing PDFs.

What would you include in your learners' toolbox?