My Learning Styles

Many of the distance learning courses that I have been enrolled in for my masters program have included content presented in a variety of formats. A large part of my work involves research and learning about new technology in groups. From my experience with these courses and my work groups I have found that I use a variety of learning strategies, choosing styles that work best with the particular type of learning that I am engaged in.

For the majority of my learning I like to have a visual representation of the material. Seeing a visual example of the content helps me to understand the content. I then write down notes as I review the material, making my own interpretation, adding examples and pulling material from other parts of the lecture to tie things together so it makes more sense. So according to the learning style chart that also makes me a reflective learner.

However, when there is learning involving complicated topics that involves multiple layers of construct or learning which involves issues that are not clear cut then I thrive on auditory learning.

But when I am working on research at work I enjoy working in groups so that problems can be discussed and more solutions can develop, which incorporates elements of the active learner.

Then I have found that if I am able to read content that is difficult to understand and then listen to an audio lecture that reviews the written content and explains topics by using descriptive examples then I can better grasp the content. This sounds like a verbal learner.

So I really do use a variety of learning strategies depending on the content and the learning environment. I wonder if others do the same?

However, there is one learning style which I definitely do not fit. The sequential style of learning uses logical steps and progresses in a linear format. My learning tends to wander in many directions - it is anything but linear.

I would think that because we cannot teach using all of the learning styles that we need to focus on the visual style and then reinforce that with auditory because those two styles cover 95% of the population.

Changes in the classroom

Photo Attribution: 
Original Image: White Pine Village Marchido School. Ludington, Michigan. 
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/WPV_One_room_schoolhouse.jpg
By Doug Coldwell

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.



I was thinking of using this image at the start of a workshop on the introduction of lecture capture tools to provide some perspective on the progress that has been made in the development of the classroom. I especially wanted a picture with the large chalk board at the front of the room and the small individual slates on the student desks to discuss the improvements in tools for education. 

Here is a link to my Flickr page 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31183242@N08/5108794735/

Getting Things Done...

1. How did you organize your process? (are you using paper and pencil, a phone, a piece of software)?

My review of the Kelly Forrister system reminded me of a system that I used years ago when I started my career as a professional. The system had similar steps for organizing but did not work effectively for my type of work. I improved on this system by customizing it for the kinds of information that I handled, the speed that I needed to make decisions, and the other people working with me.

My system actually combines collect and organize together so that I am always sorting info as I receive it right away. I do use a variety of “buckets” to sort – projects, calendar and next actions. I also have an idea bucket.

So here is my new and improved system:

1. Collect: I am currently using a variety of collection points which are determined by their function.

a. Projects – projects have electronic folders and physical folders. I am a member of a variety of committees and there are always handouts at the meetings.

b. Docs - I also use multiple types of documents for each project. These are collected in folders on my office computer.

c. Fences – software on my desktop that helps me to group similar folders under one grouping or surrounded by a “fence”. This helps me to keep current projects visible and organized on my desktop.

d. Next Actions - Project pads – I have a variety of projects in various stages of completion. I keep track of the next steps for each project on separate pads to organize the thoughts and logical flow.  Some of the pads are paper, some electronic, depending on how I need to access and who else needs to access.

e. Calendar –   a. work: electronic shared by all staff.

b. personal: paper calendar in a binder for quick access of schedule and fast changes.

f. Ideas – note pads / voice recorder – my subconscious mind works on problems when I am driving every day to work or home (about 20 min each). I keep a small note pad and a voice recorder in my car just for this reason. When I arrive at my destination I transfer the idea to the suitable collection point.

2. What was it like for you going through the process the first time?

Since I used many of the elements already listed it was not too difficult for me to adjust to the new and improved system. The biggest change was in the “Do” step. I was forced to really think hard about what I can do based on time, energy and the priority given. I am still working this step into my system but I think that if I can refine this step this would be very good for me.

3. Do you think that this process will help you? Why or why not?

The process already has been good for me. I am a organized person but some of the steps

 in this process helped me to improve my organization ideas. I want to further develop the action steps.   

4. Do you think you will continue this process? If not, what will your process be?

I will continue the process and look at ways to improve on it. 

PC Maintenance and Security workshop - tutorial review assignment

Video 1:

Downloading and using Hijack This!

I had heard about this software and saw it on some work computers but I was not sure it was supposed to do. This is a last resort software when others fail. The software completes a scan and displays data that can be posted on a variety of websites where serious geeks hang out. These wonderful folks review your data and diagnose your problem for free. I was surprised that this was a free service and I will share this with others

Video 2:

Types of Back-ups

After I watched the tutorial I learned that there are two basic types of backups: Full and partial. The full backup creates an image of the entire hard drive and makes “an exact replica” of everything on your computer. A partial back-up you can be selective of what will be duplicated. There are a variety of locations to back-up including online sources and in Gmail. I was not aware that the full back-p option was available. I know a person who I can share this with.

Video 3: Where to Back-up

My experience with backing up files was usually using a flash drive to make copies of important files. I developed a habit of doing this on a regular basis because I use a variety of computers at work between different facilities and I also use my own personal laptop for a variety of projects related to home, school, and work. These portable flash drives are small and easy to carry around on a key chain and I have used them since the first generation emerged years ago with only 28 MB storage. In this tutorial I learned that there are also laptop hard drives that plug into a USB and can provide from 40 to 80 GB of storage. This could be very good option for folks like me who have some large media files that need to be moved around easily. I will recommend this option to some of my staff who have laptops.

RSS Reader Reflections

My screen shot from Google Reader

RSS Feeds

I selected a number of sites that I visit at a variety of times from week to week but without any regular consistency. I figured that if I had the sites all located in my reader that I would check them more often because they were easier to access. The EDUCAUSE feed was one good example of this. There are a variety of podcasts on the feed with interesting guests about technology and education.  The Popular Science feed provides a wide range of technology stories that appeal to a few of my colleagues so we often talk about these stories when getting together to tackle a issue or solve a problem. The Engadget feed has a lot of news about the latest portable technology, from portable media players to mobile devices and much, much more. The other sites such as a Hamburger Today and the Jeep blog I just choose out of personal interest.  I did notice right away that updates to the sites vary. Some sites like Engadget are updated as soon as some new interesting technology news is released – averaging about 1 per hour. Other feeds like EDUCAUSE are only updated a few times per month.  I think that I will continue checking these feeds and adding more technology feeds to my reader because I see how this information can benefit my professional development over time.

I added a comment to the Mobile Learning Blog:

I have found that mobile devices can make my life as a student a little easier. They offer me accessibility, mobility and flexibility. I can access a variety of content, from a variety of location when I am mobile thus giving me more flexibility to plan my own schedule.

A summary of what I learned from a few of the feeds:

EDUCAUSE

William Rankin is Associate Professor and Director of Educational Innovation at Abilene Christian University. He explains in a podcast how the university has been giving out iPhones and iTouches for two years to incoming students. They are now at 49% saturation of students and 96% of faculty. Encouraging experimentation: for uploading to blogs, instead of clickers, searching the web, creating art drafts, and moving away from the classroom.

Rosalyn Metz, shares her thoughts on this trend toward the cloud. Metz is systems administrator for curricular support at Wheaton College. She provides her insights on how small colleges may benefit more from cloud computing and that some institutions may create their own hybrid cloud with their own data.

Melissa Martyr-Wagner, Assistant Director for Academic Tech Services at the College of Education & Human Development at the University of Minnesota. She talks about using social media and networks at the university level to complement goals. She believes that all IT leaders need to be networking using social media. Take time to map out a network that works for you.

Popular Science (a little diversion to spark thinking outside the box, or outside the globe)

I learned that astronomers have discovered a second asteroid that contains water. Asteroid 65 Cybele is between Mars and Jupiter contains both water and organic molecules. Scientists think that this is significant and that there might be more water in the universe than they expected. Therefore, the chances for life out there just increased.

Engadget ( another little diversion)

Reuters and the New York Post and CNET  have both reported a rumor that Apple may be planning the launch of an iTunes subscription service. The $10-$15 monthly service that would offer unlimited access to music, adjusted by how much music is actually used.

 

Flickr

I love the Flickr feed because I have a long time interest in photography, I have a new digital SLR camera that I have been experimenting with. The Flickr feed sends me some very beautiful and inspiring images with a variety of perspectives and a very creative use of light and color.