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Tag: travel

Travel + Study 2 Personal Learning

Let’s start with OneNote. Recommended by a friend also studying externally, OneNote is a free note taking software that has cloud-based features. I particularly like this tool because of its ability to access notes offline and through the app. I can take notes, record ideas and write essays on my laptop and then access on my phone through the app. One downside is it seems to chew up the battery, so if you are going to use it for an extended period of time make sure you find yourself a power point. Handy Travel Tip: Check bathrooms, McDonald’s, behind couches in cafes and if you are super desperate the back of supermarkets, near the fridges…

Accessing, Interact2 was completely dependent on the strength of the Wi-Fi. I loved playing with http://speedtest.xfinity.com/ to see the connection strength.  If I was just accessing the text of the course content I could use a weaker, slower signal (5mbps) however if I wanted to watch the linked videos, access the CSU library or research further articles I needed a stronger signal (10mbps). Hotel lobbies and foyers usually had the best signal, however the best Wi-Fi experience was at Sey Beach Bar in Oludeniz, we stayed an extra three nights here, and I managed to get through over 9 readings, 4 blog posts and started writing my proposal.

Storing this work and my developing ideas was made easy through the use of Google Drive. Being able to save files from my computer that could be access on my phone, streamlined my work flow. I was able to work faster, with more efficiency because of the interconnectivity of the platform.

Finally I used my ThinkSpace Blog to reflect and tie my personal learning together into an accessible and user-friendly space.  I designed the layout of my blog with two purposes in mind firstly I enjoy re-reading my work and reflecting on my thoughts and secondly I intend on using the blog throughout my Masters degree. This meant that I need to organize information carefully into categories and spend time on presenting my work in inviting and engaging ways the promotes reflection.

Travel + Study 1 Staying Connected

I chose to study online because it afforded opportunities that traditional face to face tertiary learning doesn’t, such as the flexibility to learn anywhere at anytime. My expat lifestyle means I spend majority of school holidays travelling. Rarely in one place for longer than a week. University terms seldom align with our school year so the question I have been faced with this Summer is how can I stay connected while I travel?

The first hurdle I faced was deciding which device or devices to take. Travelling with a laptop can be annoying, heavy and risky; if like me, you have tendency to lose things. I have an iPhone 6 although fully functioning, using the 4.7inch screen to read articles, write responses and access the university LMS can be difficult and frustrating. So I erred on the side of caution and took both.

Image result for whynot have both

Turned out to be a good idea.

In terms of software and online tools there are several tools I decided to use to help me stay connected including OneNote, GoogleDrive, Twitter, ThinkSpace (blog), Interact2 (Charles Sturt LMS) & Zoom/Adobe Connect. These tools are not used in isolation, rather I consider them to be part of a synergetic network.  I have a feeling this is going to be long so I have separated my reflection into two posts, Staying Connecting and Personal Learning.

Part One: Staying Connected

Using Twitter is a course requirement, but also a fantastic way to stay connected with peers. Whilst travelling I found the message feature was a useful tool to communicate with my fellow learners to discuss assessments,  readings and ideas.

Although this asynchronous style of communication was convenient for me, I was also craving discussion and dialogue through synchronous communication. Using Twitter messenger, myself, Sam and Chris organised an online catch up using Zoom. I found this tool incredibly easy to use, I was able to set up the meeting and share with Sam and Chris within minutes.

The tool is remarkably more user friendly than Adobe Connect, although it gets the job done, Adobe Connect in my experience is not an easy or engaging tool. However, I did experience great success using the app version on my phone to connect with a course lecture. I was travelling that day from Soca to Ljubliana in Slovenia and was waiting for a bus on the side of the road. To my surprise, the Three sim card roaming pack I picked up in the UK worked flawlessly with zero connection issues. I was able to view all the lecture slides, hear the audio perfectly with no lag and was even able to contribute my own ideas. Battery usage was an issue but I was well equipped with travel charger packs.

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