Sysnthesis mobile learning
- 1. Sythesis Project Mobile Learning Dalia Marin-Macias
- 2. Learning preference testing At the beginning of the semester when I took the learning style test I realized I had a high score in visual and sensing learning. My results were visual-5 , sensing- 3 and the rest were all 1’s. I think this was an accurate way to test my skill because as the semester winds down I have noticed that the classes where work is visual I have done better. Over the semester my learning style didn’t change too much however I did notice that I did really well in class where my teacher lectured more then give readings. At the end of this class I have a better idea about why certain people study in different ways and I also learned that learning styles can change depending on certain assignments and classes. Knowing about learning preferences doesn’t really affect me in a negative or positive way, I have noticed that I can adjust to many different styles at any given point and my performance is usually the same. Dalia Marin-Macias
- 3. Learning pathways My learning pathway in the beginning of this class was a learning sage. I choose this because so many of my friends are so familiar with technology I would like to be the same. I want to learn how to use different types of technology that can be used for learning as well as to connect well with friends. One of my favorite technologies used to help me learn in various accounts was the ipod. This technology involves video,audio and visual aids for discussing. It also involves in reviewing information to add important key notes. At the start of the class I tried to stick with one pathway but I found that trying the others was more beneficial. When I tried the warrior pathway with my other class I realized I was able to understand more information when I studied by myself rather then with the learning sage. Dalia Marin-Macias
- 4. Learning Pathways (cont) When I talked to my classmates to discuss the class lecture we would end up getting more distracted with side conversations about our personal lives. With the learning guide I did notice that in my biology class from last semester it was a lot more useful to share ideas and exchange and compare class notes but for the classes I was taking this semester I personally didn’t think it would have improved my learning. Over the whole semester I was very happy that I changed my learning pathway because if I would have stayed with the learning sage I might have not done very well in the class due to distractions with classmates. With the learning warrior I also had more time to study class materials since I was alone I could do it on the bart,muni,my breaks at work and breaks from class. Both of these pathways helped me with my studying throughout my time here at San Francisco state. Dalia Marin-Macias
- 5. Activities Since in the beginning of the class I choose the pathway of a learning sage the quest that really helped me to learn was the ipads and tablets. I felt that with my switch over to the warrior pathway it was really helpful to have an ipad because it allowed me to download apps that were created as study tools. As I was looking over the forums I noticed people with ipads knew several apps that were free and created to learn a foreign language or memorization. Since I was taking a course about learning to speak Spanish the Ipad gave me several fun apps to practice my speaking and see if I was improving over the semester. I feel that the ipad offered me a lot more help then a friend because I didn’t have to wait for a phonecall or anything to practice my speaking. With the Ipad I could go straight to my ipad and get immediate feedback whenever I had time. Dalia Marin-Macia
- 6. Activities pt.2 The technology that helped me work better with others was the micro blogs this quest helped me interact with my peers best because it allowed for easier access to research about a certain topic. Since I find that a lot of my friends use twitter very frequently I could just hash tag a phrase and I would get a huge list of comments and posts relating to the phrase. This makes sharing information easier because people get directly to topics they are looking for. Once the topics are found it is easy to read all the comments and feedback to expand your understanding. This makes twitter not only a socializing sight but also a place to collaborate what you know and share your knowledge with others with the similar interest.
- 7. Exploring The technology that I explored this semester the most for my learning was the ipad and tablets. As before I didn’t have a tablet or ipad I felt that when I purchased it I was able to take my learning on the go. While being in college full time and working full time I feel like I am always on the go so I felt having the ipad was such a convenient tool for me. When I took the learning preference test I got the highest score on visual so the ipad is perfect for me. The fact that I can see everything so clearly with the ipad makes my learning abilty at the full capacity. It is so sharp with its effects and high resolution that pictures and video on the ipad become very useful to my learning. It also allows for earphones, which I personally really enjoy because I can see and listen to lectures almost anywhere. After exploring with other learning preferences I also really enjoyed using the ipad because I learned that I learn really well when things are in a sequential order. With the ipad there is an app that is flashcards and they are numbered so you can switch back and forth from number one to number twenty, which really allowed me to memorize terms I needed to know for my exams. Dalia Marin-Macias
- 8. Exploring (cont.) The second mobile technology that really accessed my learning as a visual learner was the quest about multimedia. This quest allowed me use my computer and other outside sources to learn information through audio,visual, sensing,sequential and global. I was able read in the local newspapers and inform myself about things going on all around the world. For example in my sexual studies class we had to research aids in Africa and I just picked up the newspaper and read a whole article that talked about the epidemic of HIV/AIDS in Africa. If multimedia didn’t exist I would be limited to only local news then I wouldn’t be able to pick up a news paper and find out what was going on in Africa without doing extensive research. It also helped me through sensing which when I tested my self for learning preference I scored high in. I was able to touch it and hold it while I read the article and in newspapers they usually include pictures that helped me to remember what I read for the quiz I would have later on. Dalia Marin-Macias
- 9. Exploring (cont) The third technology I used was the games and MMOG’s. This one helped me visually and actively because it allowed me to play games to understand a concept or theory. As in my sexual studies class I had to write a long paper about natural selection playing a game that I found about natural selection in birds helped me to visually understand what my professor was talking about in lecture. I remember he said that only the positive mutations get passed to the offspring and in the game I was able to see that the birds with the longer beak were able to crack more nuts then the ones with short beaks. The game really helped me understand that concept because I was able to see it rather then just reading it from a textbook. It also helped me learn because other then just seeing it happen I was having fun doing it so I spent more time playing the game. Dalia Marin-Macias
- 10. Synthesizing my experience If I had to pick a mobile technology that helped me the most throughout the semester I would have to say it was the ipads and tablets because since I bought the ipad I really enjoy using it for socializing and now that I can use it to help me learn. With the ipad being so compact I use it almost everyday and take it with me wherever I go. I learned that with the ipad I could use it for fun as well as for studying and doing homework. I learned a lot about how to use it to help me learn so I’m really excited to see how this will reflect on my grades at the end of the semester. Since I am a visual learner the ipad allows great access to pictures and videos so I can see everything I need to learn and retain all the important information. I also had a good experience with micro blogs and mobile devices because with micro blogs like twitter now you can take it on the go. I really enjoyed twitter because you can use it on any smart phone and keep in touch with friends and family. It also helped me learn because if I was wondering what something meant I could always hash tag it and twitter would send me links about people who comment on the topic or blogs relating to the topic. It was also a way to reach out to a really wide audience based on anything that came to mind. If I typed ways to learn Spanish it would send me a long list with apps and study tools that people feel work well as well as feedback and tips about learning Spanish, what works and what doesn’t. Dalia Marin-Macias
- 11. How I will use what I learned to move forward I think with everything I have learned in this class I will be able to use in my next classes to help me study. A lot of the things I learned about mobile technology’s I didn’t know before taking this class so now I have an advantage in my favor that will help me use my personal learning preference to learn and study for my future classes. Before taking the preference test I thought everyone learned the same so I felt like a dumb student because I didn’t do as good as my peers on test when I just read the books. After I took the preference test I realized that I do better with studying when there is visual aids so I began using visual aid such as the ipad and I made great improvement over the semester. I plan to take everything I have learned in this course and apply it to my future. After taking this class I learned that with the new shortcuts I have learned I can use my time better and learn more wherever I want. With technology always improving I can continue to get used to using my smart phone and ipad to enhance my learning and as a visual learner use my technology to suit me in my specific learning preference. This will make my career here at sf state a lot more productive because I know what works best for me when It comes to learning and I know how to use technology to enhance my time spent studying. Dalia Marin-Macias