The student discusses their experience using mobile technologies for learning over the course of a class. [1] At the start of class, the student's strongest learning preferences were active, intuitive and verbal while their weakest was global. [2] Throughout the class, the student found flashcard apps, podcasts, and microblogs like Twitter and Tumblr most useful for learning. [3] Going forward, the student plans to continue using podcasts and microblogs to learn as they allow convenient and accessible learning.

1. Margaux Carpenter
Synthesis Project
At the beginning of this class I scored a 1 for Active, Intuitive and Verbal learning preferences
while I scored a 5 for Global learning preferences. I still feel very strongly about all my learning
preferences and think I exhibit these the most. However, I am now more aware of learning
preferences in general and can identify when certain activities or assignments require or elicit a
learning preference not listed above. Being aware of my learning preferences has definitely
helped me succeed in other classes as I am more internally in tune with information processing
and how my mind works.
In the beginning of class, I chose two learning pathways- learning warrior and learning guide. As
the class progressed, I tended to focus more on the learning warrior pathway. I found it more
appealing and more intuitive to be a tad more introverted in this class. In this way, I found myself
to be very successful in finding broader knowledge of mobile technologies. I found great use out
of the flashcard application, and the Screencast technology in other classes the most. The
delicious.com online bookmarking was a huge help in school and other aspects of my work and
personal life.
As I stated in the previous paragraph, the Flashcard application for my ipod/iphone helped me a
great deal to understand how to take advantage of all things offered by apple. The technology is
so intuitive and self helping. This specific activity definitely helped me gain a broader
understanding of how to use mobile technology as it prompted me to explore other applications
with similar effects. Podcasts were also a great source of information and very helpful for my
Political science classes as I am required to stay updated on current events. The online
bookmarking sites were very useful for learning with others as it was a direct way to share and
store information.
The number one mobile technology I used to explore for my own learning was my iphone which
doubles as an ipod/mp3 player. Playing with iphone applications helped to favor my active
learning preference as most of the ones I downloaded required me to do some activity as opposed
to review information. The iphone can be tailored to all and any of the learning preferences as
there is essentially an application for any and every activity and individual. Again, the flashcards
and other visual styled applications helped to play toward my active learning preference.
I’d say the second most used mobile technology throughout the course of this class has
been the microblogs. I was able to extract great use out of information found on twitter, tumblr,
and the online bookmarking sites. Exploring the world of microblogs and all the learning
substance they had to offer definitely helped to assess my global style of learning. This is
because understanding the style, format and tools associated with each microblogging site helped
me to then understand the next one and ultimately a broader understanding of the microblogging
universe came about.

2. I think the microblogs and podcasts used by way of my iphone interested me the most as learning
tools. The technologies that surprised me the most as learning tools were the microblogs and the
iphone applications. The microblogs surprised me because I had only ever viewed them as a way
to vent and express personal tiny quips to the world as opposed to a tool to use for learning.
Iphone applications surprised me because before this class I’ve only ever used them to play
games, find restaurants and other mindless activities. Games and MMOGs seemed to not work as
well as a learning tool for myself because I am not a huge gamer and the idea of playing a game
as a fun way to learn did not appeal to me. However, I can definitely see how this strategy might
be useful for other active and visual learners. I am definitely going to continue to use podcasts
and microblogging as a way to improve my learning.
I think Podcasts helped to work best for all my learning preferences. Hearing a news story or
other discussions which I have already read about in the newspaper or reviewed in class
definitely plays toward my verbal style learning preference. In the same way this combination of
reviewed information helps to lock in the concepts and broader understanding of the discussions.
I’d say this is how my global and intuitive learning preferences are being helped by way of
podcasts on the ipod or even on my laptop. The iphone applications definitely helped with my
active style learning preferences which actually prompt me to do a physical activity, interact with
the screen, in response to the information being provided.
I will definitely continue to use microblogging sites in the future. I have had a couple internships
where Twitter and Facebook were used to spread and share information about the benefits of
Microfinance and the nonprofit world. I know microblogs are the future of information
technology and will continue to serve me well in any job as well as in the few classes I have left
at SF State. Having information in a more accessible and real time form is the biggest advantage
to learning that microblogs have helped to create for me. I hope to learn more ways and tools to
navigate and get the most use out of microblogs.
Podcasts and microblogs will definitely be two technologies which I explore after this class in
other classes and for learning. Again, these two technologies’ biggest selling point for me in
terms of learning at a job or any other place is the accessibility of information and in the most
convenient form I have encountered yet. I can do everything on my Iphone. These technologies
also open gates to other technologies which can be explored in the same manner and used to my
learning advantage. Ironically, I plan to use these exact same technologies to for non-learning
purposes, such as fiction novels on podcasts and catching up on gossip with friends on
microblogging sites. I think I will try to avoid using games for the sake of learning as well as
Ipads as I have not yet given them a chance but think they are completely unnecessary.