Who are you, and what do you like to learn about? (academically, professionally, and/or personally)

I am a graduate student at GMU and I am pursuing a Master’s degree in instructional Design and Technology to leverage my international and professional experience and knowledge in Lusophone countries in Africa. Technology can deliver low footprint, low cost, immediate results learning to many corners of the world. I would like to continue to learn about the international environment, especially those parts of the world where there is war, hunger and suffering. I want to be part of the community that plays a role in helping people and governments to build stable communities. We can do it from the comfort of our universities in a meaningful way

What hardware do you use to learn? (Eg. smart phone, tablet, laptop, desktop)

I use all the above. The information age has given us incredible tools to make the world safer and our lives better if only we change our thinking and adapt to innovative and purposeful ideas in a world that is being broken apart by failure of imagination and old thinking patterns.

What software do you use to learn? (Eg. search engines, mobile apps, social networks, eBooks, digital libraries, wikis, blogs, videos, podcasts)

I use most of the above tools. As a baby boomer, I gravitate to the printed material but I am beginning to use the plethora of published material in wikis, blogs, videos and podcasts. It’s easier, cheaper, and some of it I remember.

What digital tools do you wish you had access to for learning? (Eg. any graphic organizers, mind-mapping tools, resource management tools, progress tracking tools, design tools, etc.) Why?

Our education institutions are largely organized for the industrial age. The majority of our professors are tied to old methods of instruction. It takes courage to make a change and the comfort of a stable job is not often conducive to make the needed changes. Fortunately in the program I am participating leads the way in innovative instruction strategies and real world learning. I am lucky.

What might your ideal Personal Learning Environment (PLE) look like?

I want an environment that is student centered, promotes real learning with intellectual challenging content, and facilitates the class without being overbearing and condescending towards learners.

Candido Mendes at GMU EDIT 730

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