Of the technologies available to improve learning in Category 1, I think those that will help me do it best include sharing content audio through social bookmarking, podcasts, and YouTube; sharing text through IMs, chat, blogs, and wikis; sharing audio/video through vlogs and Skype; and multimedia through Flickr. Social bookmarking is especially helpful for sharing where information can be found, while podcasts can be audio lectures similar to what I would hear in an ordinary classroom. YouTube is excellent for explaining and demonstrating concepts that are difficult to pick up just from reading about them. What might take several pages to explain in a textbook can be demonstrated on YouTube in a couple of minutes, and the addition of the visual aspect makes it easier to understand and put into practice myself. IMs and chats are an excellent way to exchange quick information, and blogs and wikis provide a themed resource and repository for information on a particular subject. Vlogs offer the same advantages as YouTube in terms of sound and visuals, while Skype is a great multimedia way to communicate that allows me to see others while I talk to them online. Flickr provides access to multimedia materials that can be used for learning, as well.
In Category 3, all of the tools would be excellent to help me improve my learning. If I had to choose just three, they would be virtual labs or simulations, intelligent tutors, and online presentations. Virtual labs or simulations provide the same advantages as a hands-on lab or a real experience with the scenario. They walk me through the scenario and force me to make the same decisions I would be making if the scenario were actually occurring. Intelligent tutors are excellent because they can adapt to my needs just as a person would. Online presentations are very similar to a live class.
This class taught me that I am essentially balanced in all of the
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