Carmen Sanchez took a class that assessed her learning preferences and found she prefers active learning in groups, is a sensing learner, has a moderate preference for visual learning, and falls between sequential and global learning. Throughout the class, Carmen explored various multimedia tools for learning including screencasts, podcasts, and eBooks. She found screencasts especially helpful as they incorporate both visual and auditory elements that match her preferences. Going forward, Carmen sees opportunities to apply what she learned about multimedia strategies to improve learning and communication in both academic and job settings.

1. Carmen Sanchez
At the beginning of the class my learning preferences between active and reflective
were mainly at a 1. This was saying that I preferred studying in groups, in which
the members take turns in explaining different areas of the assignment to each
other. This also meant that I should not over study the material too much and to
try to think about a whole picture. For the sensitive and intuitive learners, the
test showed that I have a strong preference as a sensing learner. As for visual
and verbal, I tested to be at a moderate preference for visual. And lastly for
sequential and global, I showed to be between the two. At the end of this class, I
feel that my learning preferences have not changed much, which shows that I
truly do prefer these preferences in studying and learning. In the beginning of
the class, I scored a score of 2 on the Active learner side. I like to work in groups
so we could share our knowledge. I learn a lot better doing hands-on work than
sitting in a lecture room listening to the instructor teach. I like to learn through a
straightforward process where it’s organized and simple. Hands-on work is how I
learn. I scored a 9 on visual. I definitely remember pictures, diagrams, and charts
more than through text. I scored a 3 on the Sequential side. I love learning
sequentially, but at the same time, I do not always understand it right from the
start. My thinking hasn’t really been changed that much by the end of the class
so my learning preferences are still the same. Carmen Sanchez
Learning Path ways
The pathway for learning for this class that I chose I wanted to be a Learning
Warrior. I wanted to look deeper into technologies for personal growth and
better knowledge. I felt I fulfilled this pathway by obtaining new knowledge that
can help me in this class, and will help me in future classes. And it can also help
me when I am at work. I may have leaned a little towards the Learning Sage
pathway a bit because I did learn about a lot of new devices and web tools I
didn’t know existed. The devices that could help me learn by reviewing and
sharing content with others such as podcasts, screencasts, youtube, etc. There
are many tools out there that I didn’t fully understand until this class. Since I
mainly used the social material I learned in this class to better myself I believe I
stayed a warrior. Carmen Sanchez
4. Activities for my Learning Pathway

2. The activities for using mutlimedia to learn, such as lessons on learning new
subjects such as math, literature and history , really helped expand my
knowledge on how I can utilize screencasts and podcasts. The multimedia
learning activities where you listen to streaming lessons or even short stories
such as Voxopop and VoiceThread showed me how to learn in a whole new
perspective. I had never used any of these multimedia tools, especially not for
learning but now I see the importance and learning you can get from a simple
click of the mouse. To get a deeper understanding after exploring these different
tools it was time to try them out. I listened to the various podcasts and
screencasts from class to explore new subjects and some for fun. I found that
these tools can keep you up to date on your favorite subjects as well as teach
you something new. You could most definitely use this as a collaborative learning
tool for group work and study sessions. Carmen Sanchez
5. Multimedia Top 3
The first mobile technology that I explored for learning was screencasting. I was
not really familiar with this certain multimedia, but after exploring it, I can
definitely see how this technology can help people’s learning preferences. I feel
like this accommodated my learning preference well. My learning preferences are
I learn better visually and by hearing things. This however, is a great mixture of
both. I can visualize things and hear them at the same time, so this was a win, win
situation for me.
The second mobile technology that I explored for learning is podcasting. I think
that this technology is very useful for students. Before taking this class, I have
never heard of podcasts before, but overall it seems like it is becoming more
convenient for a larger crowd. This technology accommodated my learning
preferences which in this case are just hearing, because I learn good by hearing
just as well as I learn by visualizing things and podcasts consists of a lot of hearing
to be done.
The third technology that I have chosen to explore for learning is multimedia. This
was an awesome opportunity to get more familiar and learn multimedia. Over the
years multimedia has become very important and it has become a part of
everyone’s lives in one aspect or another. There are a lot of forms of multimedia,
including: the TV, internet, the radio, etc. I feel like this quest has overall helped
me find a better purpose for multimedia, and it has accommodated my learning
preferences tremendously. The learning preferences that I used are visual and
hearing. I was able to use the visual by seeing the different multimedia, and I
used the hearing by hearing all the different multimedia for example on the
different podcasts.

3. 6. Synthesized Experience
I was most interested in screencasting and eBooks. I’ve heard a lot about eBooks
because many teachers use them for their classes now, since they are cheaper
and can be convenient to both teacher and student. I was most surprised that
digital comics can be used for learning because usually the digital comics we see
are non relative to school or learning. Some multimedia technologies do not
work for us such as the digital textbooks. Although digital textbooks give us the
freedom to not have to carry around all those heavy books. And reading off of a
computer feels different than reading from an actual book. However, I do prefer
reading from a book. Some technologies that we are interested in exploring
more are media sharing sites such as Flickr to improve our learning.
Screencasting worked best for my learning preference, because it shows the words
and talks about the screencast verbally as well. Therefore I am being verbally and
visually stimulated. The screencast shows sequentially what is going on and that
helps me as well. Carmen Sanchez
7. What Now?
The strategies for multimedia are pretty simple. The main idea is that
there are several types of platforms for providing content. I think that this can be
useful to any part of life. One has to understand that people learn things
effectively in different ways from each other. I think that at a job, to
communicate with others through a few different ways to get your point across
can ensure mutual understanding. Just because you understand a project
explained one way, does not mean that your coworker will. I think that the use
of screencasts can be used for learning outside of this class. Obviously, I found
the screencasts provided through out the activities very useful, and I think that
this form of media can be applied to learning in many fields other than
classroom education. Presentations at work can be done through screencasts,
making it more involving and entertaining. People respond positively to a well-
structured, pleasing, and engaging presentation. I will probably not make
podcasts of my own, but that does not necessarily mean that I will avoid them. I
think that they can be useful, so I will try to use them and learn from them as
much as I can. Carmen Sanchez