Life and Learning

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Cardiovascular Disease Video II

Okay so here is my video again with at few bugs worked out, so watch this one :)

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Multimedia Project: A video made my ME!

I really hope this works and that enjoy my video!

I also hope it is a bit educational and interesting :)

I hate technology!

I have been working on a multimedia video for my tech class. I taught myself how to use imovie HD (it would have saved hours to have someone around to help me out).

Not so difficult, but TIME consuming.

There is nothing I hate more than being tied to a computer for hours and hours and having my life pass as I wait for the computer to process, transfer, upload, save, and work.

7 hours later and I have almost earned a whole what, 10 points?

Bleh.

Technology.

Can't I go back and live before we used it? like what a whole 30 years ago?

I love my computer it does so much. But I hate it because I have to rely on it for so much.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Video Communication

ichat

skype

Whatever you use, it is cool :)

I have used this kind of synchronous video communication before, most significantly to "visit" with family. I love chatting with my little niece this way, especially since she hates phone-talking.

This week I "skyped" with an old classmate and friend who is currently living in Paris France. Emma actually skyped with my entire class of study abroad buddies as we discussed her writing in a workshop. I was like any other workshop we do for someone in the room.... except she was in PARIS!

It is crazy how you can communicate with someone so far away so quickly, it is almost, ALMOST like being in the same room ... .except for the limited scope of vision seeing only what the camera sees....But we remedied this, Emma was grateful to Whitney for being her "neck" and turning the camera to face people :).

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Starting my "multimedia" project on CVD

I am getting started on a multimedia project for the same class that I am writing this post for :)

My project is going to be a sort of educational video/tutorial thing on the cardiovascular health and disease. If that doesn't work out it will be on non-communicable diseases in general.

I have been searching around for resources to use in my video. I found there is a lot of stuff on this topic out there. Long informational as well as testimonial videos, pictures and my favorite are interactive diagrams. I think I can find good sources for my project. What will be most fun will be picking out background music.... there are so many cheesy love songs about the "heart" to choose from!

I am excited about this project I think it will be very useful. Heart health, CVD and cardiovascular disease really need to be taught with visuals so this will be great.

One other note. Before I decided on this topic I was thinking of doing STD's and reproductive health. Wouldn't that have been fun? ha ha, I will put off that difficult to teach subject until I really have to teach I think.

Heart health is just as good a topic ;)

Monday, October 12, 2009

Technological tools of collaboration

So recently I have discovered beautiful uses of technology. With a gmail account the whole world opens up to you. You can connect your own life (e-mail, calendars, blogs/websites you follow), and connect with others (google groups). AND within all of this there are cool little tools like google docs which I have been using to save and convert documents sent to me from classmates (I can save them here always accessible on either a mac or a PC, and it doesn't take up room on my computer). Another cool tool I have just found is the google wiki sidebar. You can comment on any website and read other's comments. Like having a human being's input as you search the web. Pretty cool, but kind of too much for me.... you can make a profile and everything and I don't want to do that. Not everyone searching the web is my friend, sorry.

Among all of these cool tools the best by far is just google groups in general. You can connect with specific groups of people, communicate to everyone via e-mail, share calendars and documents and discussions. I have found it pretty useful to have with groups of people I know. Being informed, sharing and staying connected is just this easy: check your gmail.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

A Cultural Snapshot: refugees and the newly impoverished

I have been doing some snooping around for articles and "current event" type evidence to pin-point one of these groups, but they keep intermingling in my mind and so they are intermingled in this thoughtful post:

Refugees and the impoverished both suffer from a form of situational poverty. These groups of people had no power in deciding their situation. Abrupt and unwelcome changes in macrofactors (external factors over which an individual lacks control) forced them into a new life.

I found the following 20/20 report very eye opening. Is follows the story of two very wealthy families suddenly gone broke and homeless in the economic downturn;

20/20 Report: A look at families coping with recession-from hedge funds to pizza delivery

Also listen to this audio clip and check out the article below. It gives a little insight (for those who may not have realized it) of the impact economic crisis has on children in schools.

Audio:

">[Homeless children, hidden victims of recession -Ana Marie Cox]

[News Article: In Tough Times Ranks of Homeless Students Rising]

The following news article and video demonstrates the reality of a sudden homelessness and the impact it has on families and children in Florida. [News Article with photo gallery: ">Homeless Children find Stability in School]

Both groups (refugee and homeless) are seen as "the other," categorically different because often they do not assimilate to dominate culture (refugees in particular keep their cultural identity). They are not someone we align with. They are the odd foreigner or the smelly poor kid in class. The strangely dressed and ignorant person shopping at the dollar store. They are the kind of person we stare at and give service to, not a person we associate with.

But with the current economic recession the stereotype of the homeless and is being challenged as neighbors and once wealthy businessmen slip into poverty. As such this group is going overlooked, seen but unseen.

The cultural capital (load of cultural traits) of these disadvantaged groups (impoverished and refugee) instigates prejudice. Their apparent differences can elicit conscious and even subconscious discrimination translating into active as well as passive racism.

[Article:Refugee stereotypes are not always accurate]

Sometimes this discrimination can be a positive recognition of differences and results in acts of aid and service. For example a teacher may recognizes an impoverished or migrant student's extra academic or emotional need and will give them extra attention.

Differentiation of refugees and other impoverished individuals can also be negative. Students seen as different are often bullied or excluded by other students at school. Maybe their parents feel ostracized by the dominant culture and are uncomfortable invervening in their child's education.

Higher-class people who believe meritocracy (the idea that worth is based on merit) devalue and have preconceptions about situationally impoverished and displaced individuals. The poor condition of their situation is wrongly attributed to microfactors (factors the individual has control over). As a result refugees and the homeless are labeled as “ignorant” “lazy” seen as unimportant members of society.

[Article from college media network: Homeless speak about being homeless and defy stereotypes]

[Blog Post: Stereotypes of people that are homeless]

In the classroom a teacher may see refugee student (particularly one who has never had formal schooling before and does not speak English), as a “lost cause.” Such students may be neglected or overlooked and usually end up fulfilling the teachers’ prophesy to not succeed.

[Take a look at a post written by an immigrant: Dealing with ethical and racial discrimination]

Community members, neighbors and teachers need to give individuals from these disadvantaged groups “a chance.” Teachers, as stewards of their schools and communities are particularly responsible for this. A good teacher, with a genuine concern enveloped in a nurturing pedagogy can have a profound impact in the life of a student.

[This was a very interesting and inspiring website, especially for ELL teachers: [Education Article: How to support refugee students in the ELL classroom ]

Keeping up on current events and being mindful of the way cultural minority groups are being depicted in society is important. Because of their role as a mentor, leader and deliberator in the classroom, teachers should be well-informed on the societal representation of their students. It is important to know how a culturally diverse student (such as a refugee) is being seen by society, the community and peers. Teachers who are aware to the societal perception of culturally diverse students in their classrooms can watch for peer discrimination mediate between students.

For both refugees and the impoverished, economic status is key to their “exclusion” from society. This exclusion trickles down to the classroom even translating in a child being ostracized because of their lack of nice clothing or other material things. According to the “resistance theory” individuals may respond to denied acceptance either positively (embracing differences) or negatively (antagonism because of denial).

Another concern is for a teacher to exclude disadvantaged students by requiring them to use resources (internet, project materials, a parent’s time) they may not have. This is another reason for teachers to be well informed and aware of the general perceptions and specific conditions of such a student this concern can be alleviated.

Discrimination, both active and passive can drastically affect the life and learning of disadvantaged students. It is my hope that we as teachers (and individuals) will be aware of the struggles of culturally diverse sensitive to the needs of individual students. It is a hard but rewarding job: the work of a teacher.

Below I have included links and references to sources depicting and discussing the situationally impoverished (e.g. those suddenly evicted in current economic downturn) and new immigrants finding refuge in the United States.

Refugees in America graph: