Diane Luu
Kevin Kelly
ITEC 299
December 10, 2012
Multimedia/Interactive
Learning
Almost every device I find on the
market today can use podcasts, which means anyone can use it for learning. It’s
pretty simple and there are feeds about nearly everything. I don’t think this
technology really accommodates my learning preferences. I generally find it
hard to take in new materials when I am only hearing it, or seeing the words transcribed
even. I prefer using flashcards to help me remember, but when I listen and
re-listen to audio, I get really distracted doing other things. I suppose the
best way I can use this strategy is to summarize and paraphrase the text and
audio.
Screencasts provide visual and
usually audio video files that I use in my learning. I like using screencasts
because I often miss things when I am writing notes, especially when the
teacher talks to fast or changes the slides too quickly. Sometimes I am hearing
and thinking different things and I can’t catch up or don’t have time to
process everything. This tool allows me to rewind and learn at my own pace. I
like being in control of the information I am trying to learn. It’s also good
for reviewing materials and sharing with classmates. Although I haven’t yet
made one, I think it would be neat to create a tutorial that other students can
follow.
Multimedia is used in every
classroom I have been in. It is useful because it integrates a multiple medias
to create a learning environment. This technology can accommodate all forms of
sensory input learning styles through its variety of medias. This then also
makes understanding in terms of global and sequential variable depending on the
learner. Since I prefer a combination of visual-audio input, this technology
works for me best. I like looking at text and pictures when I am trying to
understand new material, that way I can make sure what I see, hear and read are
all consistent.
The technology that interested me
most as a learning tool is multimedia. I never realized that even a textbook is
a multimedia, but now that I realize how versatile this technology is, I see
how effective it can be for learning. I never knew so many people and
institutions used podcasts for learning. For me, podcasts would not be as
effective as the other technologies we have covered in this class. I would be
easily distracted. I like multimedia because it keeps me engaged. I enjoy the
hands-on/interactive element the technology has the potential to incorporate
and I will definitely be exploring it more in the future.
The reason why multimedia works out so well for
me is because I am not only a visual learner, but I like the concise audio to
complement it, as well as sensory and intuitive learning. I like having things
explained to me step by step, from specific to general. I also like the
opportunities that multimedia has to make connections to everyday life (for
example the boxed in textbooks that associate pop culture with the readings!). I
like quizzing myself using multimedia as well. I do matching with pictures and
texts. Multimedia helps me take notes and study for exams.
The learning strategies I will be using in school are: practice questions,
summary, personalization, association and paraphrasing. I use practice
questions to study before exams, and when I take notes I always try to make
connections and shorten the material so I won’t be bored going over them in the
future. In my career, I probably won’t be quizzing myself anymore since I don’t
really think I need to retain any information that I don’t need to know.
However, I think personalization and association is important always because
that’s how we make learning relevant. Summarizing and paraphrasing is what I do
when there is a lot to take in, so that I can get the main ideas.
I don’t think I will be using podcasts for neither everyday life nor
learning environments. They don’t really work well for me, since I’m not the
most attentive listener. However, I think I can better my skills in making
screencast tutorials. Maybe I will use them when I share things with others, but
sometimes making tutorials reinforce what I know. I will definitely be using
multimedia in my career since I plan on being an educator. It’s great for
summarizing main ideas and making connections. It would engage the students. I
also think that multimedia will always be used in my future classrooms, which
is neat because I think I prefer a combination of visual, audio and text to
learn.