Brian Mulligan is the Open Learning Project Coordinator at the Institute of Technology Sligo where he has lectured since 1984.   He is responsible for the rapid growth in online learning in IT Sligo since 2002  and significantly involved in the growth of e-learning in Ireland since 1999, organising the EdTech series of conferences since 2000 and as a founder of the Irish Learning Technology Association. His website is  here.

Brian's Top 10 Tools as at 3 May 2009

1. I live in Gmail - most of my work comes in via Gmail and I organise and prioritise my work there. Large storage, powerful search, conversations, tagging. I have stopped using the GTDinbox Gmail add-on for Firefox as it is too slow and many of the improvements in GMail allow you to implement this easily yourself using tags.

2. I use Google Docs for documents and spreadsheets, which I can easily share or publish. I use Forms to easily create surveys and bring the data into the spreadsheets. I also use it to get distance learners to collaborate.

3. I'm using Google Chrome more and more as I need Firefox add-ons less and less. It is fast and works well with Gmail and Docs.

4. Moodle is the CMS in our Institute, but I also use it to organise groups and provide support.

5. Google Search should probably be higher up the list, but I tend to take it for granted. It seems you can easily find anything with it.

6. Having used PowerPoint for years, I can do it with my eyes closed. It may be a while before I move to Google presentation software. This is the only tool I have listed that does not operate via Firefox. I think all I need is a machine that runs Firefox.

7. We acquired Adobe Connect in our Institute for live online classes. However, it is so easy to use, I can can use it for online meetings with people who have never used it before.

8. Camtasia is really easy to use for screen capture and fast generation of content.

9. When I'm a bit muddled, I use Freemind to organise my ideas.

10. Linkedin is the first social networking tool I have found that is useful and relevant and not intrusive.

Brian's Top 10 Tools as at 2 January 2008

1. I live in Gmail - most of my work comes in via Gmail and I organise and prioritise my work there.  Large storage, powerful search, conversations, tagging and my GTDinbox add-in (see below).

2. Of course Gmail and most of the tools I use live in Firefox

3. GTDinbox is the Firefox add-in that I use to organise my work in Gmail - as you might guess it allows you to implement the GTD system in Gmail

4. Moodle is the CMS in our Institute, but I also use it to organise groups and provide support.

5. Originally I thought that I just wanted the 'edit from anywhere' feature in Google Docs (and Spreadsheets).  However, with a laptop that is not often an issue.  What I really like is the easy of distribution and updating as well as the collaborative features.  It is now part of my Online Learning Study Skills course.

6. del.icio.us is great for bookmarking links in a way that you can actually find them again and I have not even tried it on a collaborative basis yet.

7. Google Search should probably be higher up the list, but I tend to take it for granted.  It seems you can easily find anything with it.

8. Having used PowerPoint for years, I can do it with my eyes closed.  It may be a while before I move to Google presentation software.  This is the only tool I have listed that does not operate via Firefox.  I think all I need is a machine that runs Firefox.

9. Clippings is a Firefox add-in for boilerplate text. Great for answering the same questions over and over again in staff support (even if you do post it in the FAQs)

10. We acquired Adobe Connect in our Institute for live online classes.  However, it is so easy to use, I can can use it for online meetings with people who have never used it before.