The world is continually experiencing transformations in technologies, and this continuing advancement means that we are able to organise our lives. According to the video on the LearningWiki Website, a Russian named Vygotsky said that people use cognitive tools in order to accomplish tasks they need to do. He referred to this process as “offloading cognitive burden”. The range of technologies on the market today means that people are more able to undertake these processes. Mobile phones, PDAs, laptops and wireless Internet connections means that people are more connected to one another, and are able to store important dates and information while on the go. I know that I have personally done so. While travelling on the train, I will suddenly gain an insight onto an assessment and record my thoughts and ideas onto my mobile phone, reducing the risk of forgetting the idea by the time I get home. I guess this is one of the advantages of e-learning, and in particular mobile learning. The learners are given the opportunity to learn and process thoughts at a time and place that is convenient to them, potentially leading to a higher knowledge of a topic or higher grades in the subject.  

The video regarding the “Sociocultural Approach” gave a brief mention about “school concepts” or “scientific concepts”, things that were learnt at school but not generally used in everyday life. However, these concepts allow the person to develop more complex ways of thinking. I believe that this is the concept behind the university experience. While the theoretical topics taught during lectures and classes may be interesting and useful in the workplace, what they are really trying to teach us students is not the actual theoretical content of the subject, but the processes involved in the topics. These include working individually and in groups, learning to question and analyse tasks and situations, communication skills, time management skills and people skills. I think that it is these skills that will ultimately enhance the student’s success of gaining entry into a graduate role, and these skills will enhance the student’s ability to remember and apply the theoretical knowledge taught during classes.