Helpful Tools for Online Learning
As an online learner, it is important to stand out from the crowd when it comes to writing effectively. No one knows your personality and it’s even more difficult to gage your academic capabilities besides how you present yourself in writing. In the online learning environment, individual differences specific to learning and instruction can be found within intelligence, cognitive controls, cognitive styles, learning styles, personality types, and prior knowledge (Jonassen & Grabowski, 1993). Each of these dimensions as described by Jonassen and Grabowski helps the online instructor understand 1) patterns of thinking and reasoning about information as described by the student, 2) how individuals process information to make sense in their world, 3) preferences for information processing, and 4) how the learners past knowledge, skills, or ability influence the learning process. Each of these dimensions, collectively, helps to describe one’s personality. More importantly though, is how it is reflected in the presentation of regurgitating the online instruction. The written word is the only way to capitulate and measure the student’s full aptitude.
A learner’s writing skills must be sharp but the vocabulary must be even stronger. Many of the United States leading online learning programs advocate the use of automated tools to conduct research. Studies have also shown that there is increasing demand for the use of vocabulary software. Global universities attribute this need to increase ones vocabulary in online forums and in asynchronous communication to effective communication. Flanagan (1996) supported this notion by explaining how a vocabulary learning resource is instrumental into supporting strong writers. Flanagan states “Development of specialized dictionaries rarely pays off in general online environments. The tendency toward topic drift and the large number of writers make for more vocabulary variability than in subject or organization-specific texts” Software developers that build automated learning tools should; therefore, concentrate on building good general dictionaries while taking care to include stable online jargon and software and hardware terminology.
One tool that mixes the dictionary oriented model with targeted instruction based on grade level or business skills is Ultimate Vocabulary. While other vendors are more concerned with vocabulary exclusively, Ultimate Vocabulary learners will develop a vocabulary that is targeted towards their age, educational level, and academic needs. The tools provide an abundant amount of reinforcement and exploratory learning models to achieve tiered levels of mastery. With over 125,000 terms included as part of the program, the learner has the ability to tie the vocabulary context with applicability such as rhymes, etymology, visualization, and interactive testing agents for a variety of testing methods. Of all the products on the market, Ultimate Vocabulary has the potential to be a superstar in any online learning community.
References Cited
Flanagan, M. (1996). Two years online: Experiences, challenges, and trends. Retrieved on April 17, 2009, from http://www.mt-archive.info/AMTA-1996-Flanagan-1.pdf.
Jonassen, D.H. & Grabowski, B.L. (1993). Handbook of Individual Difference, Learning, and Instruction. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
