Do we need learning tools?

We all love learning apps and learning platforms and learning tools so much we might get blind for a fundamental underpinning question: do we need dedicated tools, apps and platforms for learning purposes? I'm also intrigued with the new evolution of LMS platforms and informal learning tools. I also visit the vendor booths at various exhibitions to see what's hot in learning technology. But that's because I'm (probably like you) a part of the learning industry.

First of all: learning is everywhere. Learning is part of life, is part of work. It is artificial to lock it up in an event, and maybe it is artificial to lock it up in a tool too.

Second of all: learning is rarely a goal in itself. Especially in the corporate training world, it is a means to serve the end of productivity and effectiveness.

Third of all: people are using tools that have learning as a side-product. Since learning is everywhere and all the time, people are using 'regular' tools anyway. Have a look at the latest Top 100 list of learning tools people report using in Jane Hart's latest list: in that top 100 the 'hard core, dedicated' learning tools are Moodle (12), Articulate (21), Camtasia (23), iSpring (37), Coursera (38), Khan Academy (40), Edomo (41), udutu (50), Blackboard (71/91), Glogster (77), Canvas (78), Kahoot (81), EasyGenerator (87), Lectora (89), schoology (98), BlendSpace (99), Softchalk (100). That's a lot of tools, but still only 18% of the list. The far majority of learning tools are 'everyday' tools like YouTube, Office applications, Twitter, etc. That actually makes sense - as learning is potentially everywhere, it is potentially in the everyday tools we use as well.

Top 100 Tools for Learning 2014 from Jane Hart


So my big question is: do we need (a lot of) dedicated learning tools?
My derived question is: is it not wiser to have a look at learning middleware that underlies various apps, platforms and tools?

I only know one stellar learning middleware at this point in time, and that is the Scorm Cloud. It is a backend service that provides SCORM course hosting and Experience API tracking in the cloud and that you can link to your platforms.

I'll have a look for new tools, apps and platforms in the next time.