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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
