Technological Tools

GEN105 Week 3 Checkpoint

1. CheckPoint: Technological Tools

You may have noticed that certain course resources have been made available to you in digital and Web-based formats. For example, you can download some of the audio appendixes to your desktop or to a portable device like an equipped cell phone, MP3 player, or PDA, and listen to them later. You can access an extensive online University library, view digital stories about course activities, and use tutorials about Axia College resources to be academically successful. Locate the University Library by logging on to your student website, selecting the Library tab and clicking the University Library link.

 Resources: Course audio appendixes, tutorials, and the University Library

 Due Date: Day 4 [Individual] forum

 Take a moment to explore these technological resources by downloading an audio appendix to your computer or to a portable device, by perusing the library a little more, or by reviewing one of the tutorials. Audio appendixes are located in Week One (Appendix B: Audio) and Week Two (Appendix D: Audio) of your student web page.

 Post a 200- to 300-word response to the following:

o Describe your opinion of the technological tools provided by Axia College, including the audio appendixes, the digital stories, and the tutorials. Explain why you feel the way you do.

o Does the option to download appendixes in an audio format improve the quality of your educational experience? Does it make learning more convenient because of its portability? Does it help you to learn in different ways? Or is it something you will not use? Describe your attitude toward this option.

I would have to say, I love all the tools available to a student through the library and course materials section.  I used the audio digital stories as resources before completing my assignments.  The ability to download the resources and look at them later I find extremely helpful.  In fact, that is how I complete my assignments.  I download all resources onto my computer hard drive and I read them offline and complete all writing assignments in my Microsoft word offline.  Since I have a laptop, I can take my assignments with me to work and complete a lot of school work on my hour lunch break.  I used both the audio and the written stories to review the reading assignments I need to read before completing my assignments.  I found having both greatly increased my ability to affectively complete my assignments.  I did not have to guess at tone or voice inflections.  The audio digital stories gave me what the written ones did not.  I will continue to use both in future assignments where available.

The tutorials definitely help a lot with getting to know how to use the library, the CWE and the CME.  Without the tutorials it would be much harder to learn how to navigate the websites, possibly to the detriment to the student’s ability to learn. I went thru the library tutorial more than once since there was a lot of information in there to assimilate.  The second time was just as helpful as the first.  I doubt that will actually be the only times I use the tutorial.  I will probably use it several more times before I remember everything it showed me.  The school’s library is very interesting tool for researching papers.  It should be a valuable tool in my future assignments.  I have not had the opportunity to look through all the library resources as there are quite a few, but if they are all as uniquely useful as the Articles Databases – Major, they are sure to be a delight to use.  Research is one of those areas I happen to love to do.  I have done searches online on my own time for many years and have learned many tricks in getting everything I can from the internet.  I am looking forward to using the library resources in my future research.