In class this week we spent time reading and discussing the idea of multi-tasking. What were your overall thoughts about this topic? Has your view about your ability to multi-tasking changed? Why?
We also spent time discussing the topic of learning styles. Hopefully, I was able to emphasize that there's no such thing as a "good" learning style or a "bad" learning style. Success can come with many different learning styles. There is no "right" approach to learning. We all have our own particular way of learning new information. The important thing to be aware of is the nature of your learning style. If you are aware of how your brain best learns, you have a better chance of studying in a way that will pay off when it's time to take an exam or retain a new design method.
What is your preferred learning style? Why do you believe this to be so? Based on the various strategies we discussed in class this week, what are some things you may do differently when trying to learn something new? Are there times when you feel you have to use a different learning style then the one that you prefer? Please give an example.
Since I have posted this blog assignment so late in the week...it is not due UNTIL 3:29PM on Tuesday, March 6, 2012.
Have a great weekend!
The topic of Multi-tasking was quit interesting in my opinion because I had not realized that my brain is only able to focus on one thing at a time. My view about my ability to multi-tasking has changed drastically because of this new information and I realized that at times I should reconsider trying to "multi-task" when it come to certain things. For example if I have an important assignment that requires all my attention I will limit things that might be a distracting or not related to my work.
ReplyDeleteLearning Style
Honestly I do not have a preferred learning style I am the type of person that adapts different styles of learning depending on the content that is being taught. I believe at this age there aren't many new things that I would alter or contribute to my learning habits, specifically because I am already aware of the type of technics that help me retain information from my classes. For example if I need to learn new vocabulary I prefer to write the word and definition receptively until I memorize it. On contrary when I am learning how to strategize for a race I use a visual technic which helps me imagine what my coach is saying rather than seeing it. Overall there are many technics that I use not only because they work for different situations, but also because my personality is similar to my learning habits.
I completely agree that there is no "right" learning style. It's all about the quality of the sensory information being put in when it comes to memory. I'll try to explain that with an example:
ReplyDeleteWith the auditory learning style, if someone were to lecture at me for an hour in a voice that suggested that they themselves lost the significance of what they were saying a long time ago, I would hardly remember any of it. But if someone made an epic song about whatever the topic (time management let's say) then I would probably be much more interested and able to retain exact words and phrases. In both cases all I would be doing is listening, but in the latter situation my mental response to the information would most likely be drastically enhanced.
Still, I realize that in the real world professors -even music professors- don't always write epic ballads of a didactic nature :P . So usually I resort to note taking and flipping my pen in my hand because of my tactile nature.
About multi-tasking: I think that if employed carelessly and unselectively, multi-tasking is detrimental to work efforts. However, work isn't always a one-sided beast. One task may be comprised of various facets, and even though it seems like you are getting one specific thing done, in reality you are juggling all the components in your mind all the time, tweaking things here and there. That said, it is important for your focus to be as concise and unswerving from your ultimate purpose as possible.
One thing I need to do differently is remember to take breaks, because I tend to stay in the labs all day until I notice that its cold and dark outside. Here's a point by Isaac Asimov, regarding the way your mind absorbs stuff and acts upon it: Sometimes it's important to STEP BACK from a project, problem, or idea and not think about it at all for a while. Your consciousness becomes saturated with new information sometimes, and requires time for the details to sink into your subconscious where your mind can do additional processing and thus maximize your work effort. That isn't a rationalization for slacking, but a reminder that even the most active minds need to unplug from time to time.
When It comes to multi tasking I would have to say that to each is own. Yes the human brain can reach capacity fairly quickly, but each persons capacity rate is different. On one of the notes from the reading in class, the older generation can't even listen to music while studying yet the M generation finds it much easier to get things done while music is on in the back round. kind of like im doing at this exact moment in time Did my views on multi tasking change since the class or not Id say no. I still feel the same way i just know information about it and what comes from it.
ReplyDeleteAs for Learning styles, Learning styles are something I have been concious of for many years now and I actually have been aware of my one specific style since I did the same study back in middle school. I am a tactile/kinesthetic learner, I love to be hands on I don't think i just do. I learn from real life experience much better than anything else. when it comes to watching someone do it or doing it for the first time myself Ill step up to the plate any day. I know this because its my first instinct take what ever it is I'm trying to learn and figure it out. I don't think i've ever read an instruction manual in my entire life haha and I still will get things right.
As far as the topic of multi-tasking, it can only work for so long. I think that people can skim through things and get a minor understanding of whats going on. It definitely wont last for long. That is if your trying to focus on something of a great importance. My views of multitasking has absolutely change because I now realize that I have not been focusing like expected.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to learning styles, I believe my results came out to be pretty accurate. I am a tactile/kinesthetic learner because I like to get in a rhythm and complete things myself. I feel better watching someone do it the first time and actually practice it myself afterwards.Yea, that's fast learning for me aha. I also believe there are other traits in different learning styles that relate to me. I normally don't use flash cards at all but I do find that when used, my grade or assignment typically come out better.
Last week we have discussed about multi-tasking and I thought it was fun to learn about. When I read the article about the multi-tasking, mostly based on negative sides. However, I think it depends on person and I'm okay with multi-tasking like playing music and writing essay. But also, concentrating on one thing is the best.
ReplyDeleteI also think that there's no 'right' to the learning style. Depends on which makes you much comfortable to the learning style. My learning style is visual/verbal. This came the most high score which was very accurate. Visual/verbal learning prefer presented in written form. Such as taking notes from the class. I realized that whenever I had to revise for tests, I always take notes on other book and highlighting important things. While writing, i get to remember stuffs. Lastly, there's another different learning styles i could try. The other style that came second was tactile/kinesthetic. I heard that when you chew gum, it helps you to focus more. Maybe I should try to chew to get focused on.
I personally think multitasking is possible, it all depends on what the person is focusing on and how much attention they are putting on whichever tasks they're trying to accomplish. The topic did help me change my views a little, to think a little smarter of what exactly I'm multitasking with, if it's of importance or not.
ReplyDeleteLearning Styles were pretty simple the categories were all common so it related to many in the classroom. I myself have always been more of a tactile hands on type of person, that is why I decided to come to this school instead of online classes again. I like my learning style as it is, but to get more knowledge doesn't hurt, I may apply some of the things we learned to it at times, in Architecture it is all hands on work, these pointers will help me simplify my work. I prefer it all the time, it's how I grew up and I don't plan on changing it any time soon.
My preferred learning styles would most definitely be Visual/Kinesthetic, or as I know it, Visual/Spacial.
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple of reasons I know this to be true, the first, being simple experience. I have a much easier time learning things while I am doing them, thus the Kinesthetic part of it. For that reason specifically I have always taken to self-teaching very easily. For example when left alone with a computer and a program I’ve never used before, it doesn’t take me long to figure it out simply by messing around in the program, and trying new and different things.
As for the Visual aspect, when Kinesthetic isn’t an option, the next best way for me to learn is by seeing something done. Preferably in person, as it is easier for me to get a feel of what I am observing, however other visual media, such as drawings, pictures, and videos are a great help as well. I have a pretty good photographic memory, which is why I take to visual media much more easily, compared to something Auditory, which is usually much harder for me to remember, as I don't have any images in my head to connect the words to, so I usually forget anything I only hear pretty easily.
Well, for me I have known and been practicing this for quite a while, so new things in terms of learning styles are a bit hard to come by. If I still had to try to improve something though, it would most likely be finding a way to come up with some sort of visual aid myself while listening to an only-Auditory presentation, such as a lecture.
Time that I feel that I actually must use a different learning style? Not really, I find that for the most part my Visual/Spacial learning style works extremely well. I haven’t encountered many situations yet that require an only Auditory style of learning, so I don't really think I have to use any other learning styles.
I didn't see the first question, regarding Multitasking. My answer to that is:
DeleteI quite often find myself multitasking, for better or worse. I personally think that multitasking is a good thing, as it help keeps my head focused, when I'm trying to manage more than one thing at a time. While that may sound strange, when I'm only doing one thing, my mind tends to wander, and I have trouble truly focusing on what I'm doing. I usually rectify this by listening to music, but sometimes Ill watch a movie while working. As for working on two assignments at once, that is usually more of switching between two things.
My view on multitasking hasn't really changed, I still believe I can do it, and do it well, and that it doesn't harm my brain in any way, rather it helps to sharpen it, by taking on more at once.
I multitask all the time, but of all the things I do at once, only one (if any) of those things are actually important. I can't be productive with multiple things at once, that just seems impossible. If I'm working on an assignment then I can only have music or the television playing in the background, nothing more. In my opinion, multitasking only works when you're doing multiple things that aren't exactly productive like checking your facebook and twitter while talking to someone on the phone etc.
ReplyDeleteI agree that I'm more of a Visual and Kinesthetic learner. It helps me to see how things are done through pictures, examples, or trying something for myself because I rarely forget how to do things after seeing it happen once. I only take notes when it comes to things that you can't learn by doing, like memorizing words, names, dates. Occasionally I'll be the auditory learner, but I find things are much easier to learn through personal experience rather than notes and lectures.
I think than when it comes to multi-tasking, you have to use some common sense. I dont think it matters if you are multi-tasking by watching tv and talking on the phone at the same time. But I dont think you should try to write an essay and talk on the phone. If its important, just focus on that one thing.
ReplyDeleteAs far as learning styles, I would say I am probablly a mix of two that we talked about in class. Visual/Verbal & Tactile/Kinesthetic. at first I said that I was a visual learner because I like to see things being performed, and I learn from that. but then I thought about it more, and I was learning something new at work and I realized that I also learn really well from performing a job and learning how to do it, hands on. And I thought back to other occaisions and I realize I learn really fast when I am doing it hands on, instead of just reading about it or something. Like in my sewing class the best thing for me to learn is just to sew often, practice on the machine and etc. Some of my classes I cant don't really have a hands on opportuninty, like maybe say my Buying class. We use lots of formulas, and charts, and abbreviations, which just need to be memorized. This is probably why math has always been one of the hardest subjects for me. So I'm trying to think of a useful studying techinque that would cater to my visual/hands on learning. Would doing practice problems over and over be helpful? it would [in a sense] be hands on, and acting out the problem. Or do I just do the basic learning style for math and memorize. hmm..
I like things in presentation form (powerpoint etc), it keeps my interest and helps me focus. i will try to do more audio learning (speakers, podcasts). sometimes having the work written down is helpful for me, and I do enjoy reading but sometimes it ca also be frustrating.
ReplyDeleteAfter our discussion of multi-tasking, I have changed my mind about doing it even though I can 'pull it off.' Multi-tasking is a good tool because it allows you to process many things at once regardless of the criteria of what you are somewhat paying attention to, however it can make you side tracked and not put your focus where it needs to be, making it so you retain only a small percentage of the information you are trying to learn. Likewise you retain the same percentage of information from the entertainment sources (i.e. music, netflix, Facebook, twitter, etc.). From my own experience, the more things you try to balance, the less of an understanding of each you receive. If you are writing a paper, drafting, sketching, what have you, along with listening to music, chatting on Facebook, watching a movie or reading an unrelated article you are exposing yourself to other information that your brain processes just the same as what you want to be doing, essentially filling your brain with more 'filler' and less substance. Until recently I multitasked assignments with Facebook, and a movie in the background to have something to listen to that wouldn't steal my attention completely from my work, which does not work. Now I do my work either silently, or watching/listening to video's that are aligned with my assignments (for example doing product drafts while listening to a lecture on sustainable design) so I not only do my work with what I understand and want to bring to the field, I also look to see what more I can learn about what I want my profession to be and how to execute it to the best of my ability. I believe that what you expose yourself to when you are studying/working should be related to what you need to be doing, that way your mind doesn't bounce from homework to filial/friend drama to OMG CUTE KITTENZ =^.^= to work to music, it focuses on the work then bounces to an interesting perspective on something related to your field of study to another idea on something close to what you are working on and then back to work, giving you an added benefit rather than stealing your attention.
ReplyDeleteMy preferred learning style is a combination of kinesthetic and visual learning. I have always been a builder/gear head, so naturally watching and learning through the act of building whatever it is I want to build is the best way for me to learn. Granted, reading and listening to lectures and notes people have recorded on the subject matter that I am attempting to learn helps build the picture in my head, but when it comes down to it the only way I can fully comprehend a subject is by visualizing and/or building it. Regardless of the way in which the information is presented, I make visualizations of it in my mind which allow me to understand more clearly.
Of course, I run into situations where I need to use other learning styles if there is not a visual representation or a way for me to build it hands-on. In those situations I enjoy reading or listening about the subject -and going back to what I wrote earlier- I translate it into a visual projection in my mind so, essentially, I am watching a narrated movie/CAD drawing oft whatever I am reading/listening to.
the multitasking lesson was interesting because it was new to hear that even tho we may thing that we are multitasking while we are doing what ever we are doing, we are not. we are actually just toggling back and forth.
ReplyDeleteWhat's Your Style?
my style was tactile/kinesthetic.
i believe that my preferred learning style is in fact tactile/kinesthetic. i believe this to be because i hate sitting in lectures, listening to someone talk about something, talk about how to do something (with out a example). i hate reading a manual or instructions on how to do something, unless i am actually doing it while reading the instructions. i like to be hands on, and i like to do it. i hate sitting back watching someone else do something, while they expect me to learn it without me actually being able to do it. yes there are times that i do use other methods of learning from the other groups, but i think thats the same for everyone. the groups that we were put in, are not concrete. there are somethings that require a certain way to learn it. and the groups that we were put in, are just the ways that we prefer, not what we only do. one example would have to be math, i need to read the book, study the equations, look at the examples, watch the teacher do the examples. then finally try to do it. but i can't do the problem, unless i first read, look, and listen first.