Think Different

Widgets and gadgets are small applications that run on your desktop or in your web browser which enable you to keep track of things like the weather forecast or share prices. But widgets and gadgets can also be used to add additional functionality to existing applications to create flexible and personalised learning environments. We spoke to Scott Wilson from JISC CETIS and the Institute for Educational Cybernetics at the University of Bolton about the potential for using widgets in educational technologies. Introduction Widget is a funny word. For some people it means a small device at the bottom of a can of Guinness for others it’s a character in Marvel comics. In technology terms desktop widgets (or gadgets) are small programmes that run on your desktop to give you useful information. The Wikipedia definition of a desktop widget is: "a small specialized GUI application that provides some visual information and/or easy access to freque...