Dr. Holtman (the course presenter) introduced us to her PhD student A. Daniels who utilises technology everyday as a teaching, sharing and an information gathering tool. He was very eager to share how he uses his blog in culmination with various programs to relay concepts and forming the information in a way that will allow maximum uptake by the engager of the content.
He used Audacity a free audio recording and manipulating program to record songs and lectures in convenient mp3 format and was ready with suggestions to how this free tool could give access to many possibilities. Such as home studio projects, sharing relevant segments of a lecture with fellow students etc. He really helped the part of the class not as interested in technology to understand that with using technology, you are open to many possibilities of expressing urself and learning. Werther it be through media, video sites like youtube, or using things like podcasts to listen to discussions and views of others.
With the current uptake of mobile phones, 99.9% of people I know are in the possession of a smartphone. This allows them instant access to the internet and by extension media streams, social networks and other parts of the digital universe. With their advanced handsets they can listen to and download, lectures, podcasts, office documents etc. on the fly. I, myself typed the majority of my reports and assignments on my trusty Nokia N82. And even studied my power points and pdf's for my EWS tests from my phones medium sized screen. Its all about using methods you are comfortable with and that works for you. Taylor making the learning experience, resulting in the learning experience and the content you are trying to uptake becoming more memorable.
Mr. Daniels gave a brief introduction "prompt" a kind of teleprompter software that enables you to use your webcam to make video casts with complete prompts running up the screen. Just like audacity the program gave great control, versatility and ease of use. Picasa was also touched on using it to make collages and story boards at a click of a button. With tech' becoming so vastly available and easy to use I can truly see the digital frontier dawning upon us even though the people with the fancy tech' don't ever really think about fully utilizing it. They keep to the most basic of basics which always gets me question "why they own it in the first place".
To touch on how powerful technology was in the past and how that same technology can still be relevant today. I decided to type this post and to post it using my N82. But one must remember technology is not only your gadget. Its the software your gadget uses or the bright new way you thought of using something someone else never thought of using or at least never thought of using it in that way it before. The crux is technology allows for the most flexible way of learning and engaging with the world around you..... currently at least...
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