2. Learning Preferences
I had always been curious about understanding who I am as a learner and finding
methods to support this. Taking the learning styles survey gave me deeper insight into my
learning preferences. I scored as follows: reflective 7, intuitive 7, verbal 3, and sequential 1.
According to the survey information, I have a moderate preference for reflective and
intuitive learning dimensions and am fairly balanced in verbal/visual and global/sequential.
I did not score high enough in any area where there was a probability I would have extreme
difficulty with a learning environment where my preference wasn’t supported. Now as we
come to the end of class, I still see validity in my score. I even see it somewhat more so now
that I have been thoughtfully utilizing strategies to discover and meet my needs. I need time
to analyze information within myself and build authentic connections within it. I believe
that learning preferences overall can be accurate but the learner needs to be aware of how
their mind works. With the combination of a survey and knowing yourself as a learner, you
can discover your preferences and utilize ways to support them to be much more successful
in your education pathway.
3. Learning Pathway
When I first started the class, I chose to focus on the Learning Warrior pathway to get a
deep knowledge of specific mobile technologies I would actually use regularly. As a
reflective learner, I often like immersing myself in information and working alone to get the
deepest learning experience. I especially chose the more individualistic pathway because I
feel that I largely prefer using technology in an individual way, to study, research interesting
information, listen to music, or do other similarly independent things. I never strayed from
the Learning Warrior pathway, sticking with it all semester. I knew that it would be best for
my learning styles and to support the styles of my other classes this semester, most being
very personal in working and studying. It also helped me discover more about technology
on a personal level, which is how I use it from day to day. For me the Learning Warrior
pathway turned out to be the ultimate way for me to learn about technology.
4. Learning Activities
Having a mix of Quests and a variety of activities that applied to each,
helped me build a firm knowledge base about mobile technology. My broad
understanding of mobile technology came largely from researching
technologies for links to post on the Delicious site. There were so many
things to discover, from how to use the technology for enjoyment, social
needs, education, and to enhance my career aspirations. My specific
understanding developed most from the lectures and quizzes, which zoomed
in on particular significant aspects of the technologies. Reading the forum
posts, replying to people’s questions, and starting my own discussions was
the greatest collaborative learning tool for me.
5. Technology Quests
The iPods and mp3 Players Quest was the most helpful in my study of technology. I always have my iPhone on me now, but because I just
got it during this semester, I was a very new user. It was great being able to study its functionalities right when I got it to be able to get the
greatest use out of it. I have now been using a flashcard app, a to do list, a note taking app, email, internet for research, book reading,
audio files, and other quiz apps. As a reflective learner this technology is amazing. I get to spend time with it coming to understandings
and studying independently. As an intuitive learner it has helped me build connections about subject matter, using a variety of study
strategies. As a balanced verbal and visual learner, I get text and images to compliment one another. I will definitely continue to use this
technology in my social and work life, but especially for education. It has been the greatest study tool I have found, especially because it is
so mobile so I can study on the go.
The iPad/Tablet Quest was very interesting because it felt like an extension of iPod/mp3 uses we had just learned about. It is much more convenient to
carry around a lightweight, slim iPad or tablet when on the go and to utilize the easy, helpful applications when compared with a laptop computer. Picture,
video, and document viewing and editing was much more user friendly on tablets than on mp3 players, largely due to screen size. Tablet use is very supportive
of my reflective and intuitive learning preferences. I am able to utilize various tools on the tablet to look over, analyze, and build connections with material.
Tablets supported my learning styles in many similar ways to mp3 players. The significantly smaller size of mp3 players is the biggest differences, making
them easy to take on the go but less capable of supporting large, deep projects.
The third main mobile technology quest was Microblogging. Microblogs such as Twitter have great functions like searching for key words and having a
feed of constant updates. These aspects and others of microblogging can assist users in education. I think that it accommodated my balance between global
and sequential preferences marvelously. Microblogging has sequenced tendencies, since people often post about current events and posts pop up immediately.
Yet, the bits of information gathered give a more widespread perspective as a starting base for research. Microblogs were definitely helpful tools for learning,
but they are just a piece of what an mp3 player or tablet can do.
6. Synthesis of my
Experience
Using an iPhone as my main mobile technology for my social, work, and school lives. This is basically an mp3
player with phone capabilities. Having the power to do almost anything I computer, camera, phone, technology
tools, or games could do all in one device makes this technology very convenient. It is also something I bring
regardless of where I am going, without making the extra effort to bring study material. This means when I get a
free moment or am rushing to school, on the Bart for example, I can study in a variety of ways on my iPhone.
Microblogging, on the other hand, didn’t seem as valuable a learning tool. Although it did offer its opportunities to
research, it was not a tangible device holding such a variety of tools for study. I am planning to continue exploring
the use of tablets in learning. I am debating getting one of my own if I end up really liking tablets, but for now I use
my roommate’s iPad on occasion, which hasn’t given me much time to truly get a grasp on tablets. With the
intensity that I love the iPhone as a study tool, I figure the iPad with a much larger screen could be equally if not
more useful for learning.
Tablets and mp3 players accommodate my learning preferences the most. Because I am in a balance between a visual and verbal
learner, this type of technology involving images and text is the most beneficial to me. You can even have audio read text or play videos for
more verbal and visual stimulation. The amount of information you can find on these devices and can definitely support my reflective style,
as I read through and analyze information within myself. Some information could come laid out for my sequential needs or give a bigger
picture for my global needs, which are both in a balance. My intuitive style is supported by all of the different apps and capabilities which
could help me build connections and relationships. Tablets and mp3 players meet all of my learning preferences on some level.
7. Continuing to Use this New
Knowledge
I truly intend to continue using and deepening my understanding of every technology we have talked
about in class, because they all offer their own unique opportunities for educational support. The iPhone
will continue to be the technology that I utilize the most, even outside of learning and studying for
school. Potential uses for the iPhone for learning outside of classroom usage include to do lists, calendar
reminders, audio study references, access to forums or groups, email, and internet or ebooks as research
platforms.
The iPhone is also fantastic for non-learning purposes. You can text, take pictures, play games, utilize
social networks, and more all for social or entertainment purposes rather than educational ones.
Although I will continue to attempt to expand my knowledge of every technology, I realize some
probably wont be as useful as other. I don’t think I will be using microblogging much, as I do not believe
I get enough material from such short bits of information. Also, there is a lot of subjective material and
opinions on microblogging sites. Overall, they just don’t yet seem as useful for my life.
