Mobile learning slides
- 1. Jaime Chavarria Describe your personal learning preferences When I first took the learning style quiz at the beginning of the class, I was surprise with how accurate I think the results where. For instance in the active and reflective scale, it concluded that I was fairly well balanced, but I did favor the active side more. On the scale for the sensing and intuitive learners, it resulted again that I was fairly balanced of both styles, but that I scored a three on the intuitive learner side. I wasn’t surprise as much with my result for the scale that dealt with being a visual learner or a verbal learner. There it resulted that I was fairly well balanced, but I did get a three favoring the visual learner region. Lastly, on the scale between being a sequential learner and a global learner, it resulted that I have a moderate preference and that I learner better in the environment of a sequential learner. Now that the class is coming to an end, I feel very satisfied with my learning preferences. One of the reasons is because I feel my learning preferences do really help me better understand any material. Also, by me knowing what I favor, makes me tend to go and learn material that teaches it in that specific learning environment. Overall, after taking this course, I have been able to see which learning preferences I can work on because in the end I think being able to favor all learning styles can make learning much easier. So, i've been trying to experiment with this class that I feel has tried to accommodate really for all styles.
- 2. Jaime Chavarria Describe the learning pathway you chose at the beginning of the class At the start of the class, I was stuck between two learning pathways. I was looking into the Learning Guide pathway because I was interested in learning about different technologies. I was also interested in the Learning Sage pathway because I wanted to learn more about different technologies and how they could be used for learning in general. I believe I was able to learn about the diversity technologies has to offer and how useful it can be to learn. When I look back into what I learn from the different mobile technologies, I know have a bigger idea of how there are so many available options. For instance, how you can use iPods and other mp3 players to study and hear lectures. I really liked how on iTunes U there is so much you can download. I also was able to get lectures from my ISYS class and listen to them while on the bus in case I missed going to class for some reason. I also was able to get some kids apps to help my godson expand his learning.
- 3. Jaime Chavarria Describe how the activities you completed contributed or did not contribute to your learning pathway While I was doing the iPods & mp3 activity there was one activity that helped me get a broader understanding of how to use a mobile technology to learn and helped me get a deeper understanding of how to use mobile technology to learn. That activity was the Spanish language lessons that came from Clip2Go. It showed me that now to learn a language you don’t need a tutor or have to be on computer somewhere stuck learning. Now you have the option to do it on your time and in your own space. Now you don’t need to be worried about someone laughing at you if you say something wrong while practicing. You can hear the phrases in English and then in Spanish and repeat. It’s amazing how on a mobile device you can try to learn a whole different language. Again, being able to take these language lessons can be useful to learn with others and realizes how easy it can be to use a mobile device for learning.
- 4. Jaime Chavarria Using one paragraph each, describe the top 3 mobile technologies you explored for learning iPods/mp3: I used this to explore my own learning, by sometimes when I missed going to the actual lectures for my Isys class I would download the audio of the lecture and put it in my iPod. Then I would go and listen to the full lecture while riding Muni from school to my house or to my job depending where I was heading to. By using mobile technology it helped me stay on track and never miss out on anything from class. As a sequential learner, I always needed to follow each class lecture from the previous one so I don’t miss out on anything. However, this doesn’t accommodate much for an active learner as I am. There’s really not much I can do while listen to the lecture but take notes. Also as a visual learner, there wasn’t anything for me to see, but again just listen to the audio recording. Microblogs: I never have been much of a blogger so this was somewhat new to me. However, I did go and use micro blogging for my Isys class. In that class we were placed in groups and we had to come up with an application that could be used in some kind of business. I decided to go and use micro blogging as a way so that everyone in our group could communicate with each other. I realized that blogging really worked well with all of my learning styles. For instances, as an active learner, I was able to actually do something with the information that was being talked about. Some of the concepts with creating the application dealt with concepts from class so it helped me retain it easier. By blogging we were able to work on the project quicker. It also gave us the ability to share charts, photographs so it just wasn’t like everything we did was verbal. Finally by blogging, we were able to work on the project step by step and helping each other complete it. There were certain due dates and as a sequential learner, it helped making the deadlines on time of the project. Ipads/tablets: During this quest we learned about how you can make your own flash cards that you could use for studying. So, I created my own flash cards to help me study for my accounting class. It helped me because I made cards that where specifically for what I need to learn. The two most important preferences that this helped me with were being an active learner and me being a visual learner. Specifically as an active learner, I gave me the power to do something with what I was learning in accounting. I had control of what to create on the flash cards so that I could learner what I had trouble wit. Then as a visual learner I was able to view how to solve certain mathematical issues. I was able to see the demonstrations and examples I had. I actually had a professor who would sometimes jump from stuff to stuff, so it was hard to keep track. However, with these flashcards I was able to go back and put everything in its order.
- 5. Jaime Chavarria Synthesize your experience investigating your use of different mobile technologies for learning The mobile technology that surprised me the most as a learning tool had to be the iPods and other mp3 players. I always viewed the iPod as just for listening to music and checking email. It also interested me the most because I found out of so many ways it can help you learn. For example, I found being able to create flashcards for studying a great tool that helped me study and do good in the class. I really can’t think of which mobile technology doesn’t seem to work as a learning tool. Technology is something that is very important in our era and it just keeps growing and developing every day. I found out that all of them have something different to offer yet they were all connected in some way. After seeing the success we had micro blogging and how much it helped with finishing our project, I want to explore this more. Like I previously said, I was new to this idea of using blogs as a way to learn. Just blogging and being able to communicate with different people and being able to get different opinions I believe is something that should be taken advantage of. It could be of so much benefit and can extremely help you learn. Personally, I believe that iPods and other mp3 mobile technology works best for my learning preferences. As I learned in the class there are so many things you can do on iPods that can help you learn. As an active learner you always want to do something with the information that is presented to you. I find it difficult to learn by just going to class, sit and take notes. You can use an iPod to communicate with others and take turns explaining different topics to each other. It just helps so much to keep the information when you do something with it. If you’re a verbal learn iPod and mp3’s can take care of you. I as a visual learn, iPods gives me the ability to remember things by seeing them and not just having to listen. I can look at videos, diagrams photographs and anything that can help me better learn as a visual learner.
- 6. Jaime Chavarria Describe how you will use what you learned in this class after this semester After this class is over, the mobile learning strategy I see myself using more is blogging. I am going to try to use it more after this class, because I think it’s something fairly easy to use and something so powerful. Blogging can be used for so many purposes that deal with school activities and non school activates. You can use it for asking help to certain issues concerning school, like asking help for homework or trying to get something explained that you didn’t understand yourself. You can also use it to get others opinions and views on different issues. I currently work for the SF Giants, so maybe I could use blogging to find out what new gear fans like or get an idea of how they are feeling. When this class is over, I will still be using the iPod for learning. One way I can see it being used to learn is to use it to study about anything. You can get on the internet and learn about different cultures and those cultures foods. You can also take pictures or view diagrams with it that can help you study. Again I will use the iPod for non-learning purposes. I’ll always use it to listen to music or to get onto Facebook or something and update my status. Most defiantly I will use my iPod to communicate with my family in Central America. Using a house phone to make a call can be so expensive, while now and days you can video chat for free, so you get to see them and talk to them. I don’t think you should avoid using any mobile technology because they all have something to offer. Instead of avoiding any mobile technology, I think the concern is how much of it should we use. How much is too much? There is so much that can be done with mobile technology, that by not using it, I think is a waste of not taking advantage of what you can.