Freshtech Friday

Freshtech Friday by Steve Guengerich

One of the most amazing “learning” tools I saw recently was on the The New York Times website.  I’m guessing it was a  sophisticated, customized application of Flash.  (If anyone knows precisely, please add a reply and let us all know.)  It was produced for the recent election, specifically for the Obama/McCain debates.

What you will see if you run it is a terrific combination of text, voice, search, video, color and packaging in an intuitively easy-to-use and information-packed frame.  One of the stunning aspects is the speed of the video, which must clearly be taking advantage of the new generation of video-to-the-browser technologies like that provided by our good friends at Veodia.

The NYT example is just another reminder to me of the revolution we are experiencing in the way we consume information and learn.  Just spend a few minutes (or hours!) on communities that have sprouted like Elliott Masie’s Learningtown which he threw up on Marc Andreessen’s Ning earlier this year.

On the software-side, the expensive, complicated ERP-like applications that were Learning (Content) Management Systems (L/CMSs) are going out the door and being replaced by on-demand applications, like those from Cornerstone OnDemand to light-weight applications like Digital Chalk.

And, there are all kinds of innovative productions, like the custom-developed simulations and games for learning produced by groups like Enspire to the conversational learning nuggets you can create with Jellyvision.  I recommend the Oracle/BEA conversation about Enterprise 2.0 on the examples page as especially relevant, if you are trying to get your parents or friends to understand what it is that you do these days.

Kids with an XO Computer

And, in terms of learning devices, the range of innovation is just starting to get to market:  from the ipod Touch, to the Amazon Kindle, to the OLPC’s XO for kids.  In an age where the competitive primary race between Obama and H. Clinton, followed by the general election, were visible signs to millions that “anything is possible,” I can’t wait to see how primary, secondary, higher, and continuing education evolves.  Let us know what you think!