Here are some links to websites I have talked about or may be of some interest (also have a look at "websites to look at" on the right).
Trademe: www.trademe.co.nz
Facebook: www.facebook.com
Youtube: www.youtube.com
STAR education: http://www.star-educational.co.nz
Kimi Ora School: www.kimiora.school.nz.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Tutorial 8:Youtube videos and Flickr badges
This is a quick Youtube video that explains how to embed a video - how to put it on your blog. (Something random - notice how the presenters Youtube tshirt is backward halfway through?)
Also, here is a Youtube video about how to put a Flickr badge on your blog. A Flickr badge is what I have down the right hand side - the photos.
Also, here is a Youtube video about how to put a Flickr badge on your blog. A Flickr badge is what I have down the right hand side - the photos.
Tutorial 7: Assistive technology
This week we have had Dave from Kimi Ora school (Wellington) and another guy from STAR education spend some time with us talking about assistive technology. The content was amazing, seeing what people can do with a little bit of extra help!
A reading (Cook and Hussey) defines assistive technology to be a broad range of devices, services, strategies and practices that are conceived and applied to ameliorate the problems faced by people with disabilities.
One of the devices that I played with was a "Big keys keyboard" which is a standard size keyboard with 60 enlarged keys (25mm) for those with visual poor fine motor skills, or a hand tremor. It costs a lot at $295, but can be beneficial for someone to use to be able to type. It is available in different colours, and you can choose the ABC key option or QWERT option depending on what suits.
A piece of technology that I have been interested in lately is Wii (video game console). There is a lot of news in the media regarding the uses in therapy and many people are seeing benefits.
A reading (Cook and Hussey) defines assistive technology to be a broad range of devices, services, strategies and practices that are conceived and applied to ameliorate the problems faced by people with disabilities.
One of the devices that I played with was a "Big keys keyboard" which is a standard size keyboard with 60 enlarged keys (25mm) for those with visual poor fine motor skills, or a hand tremor. It costs a lot at $295, but can be beneficial for someone to use to be able to type. It is available in different colours, and you can choose the ABC key option or QWERT option depending on what suits.
A piece of technology that I have been interested in lately is Wii (video game console). There is a lot of news in the media regarding the uses in therapy and many people are seeing benefits.
Tutorial 6: The internet and online communities
This session we have been looking into online communities. These are websites that various people contribute to. For a community to work, there must be an interest on the subject from people.
I have been looking more into Trademe (www.trademe.co.nz). Yes most people know about Tradme - and a majority of them have become addicts (high users of the community).
Trademe is New Zealand's version of eBay, a website where people can buy and sell items to one another. There are thousands of items on there, from clothes, to books, electronics, pets (who knows, one day people might even be putting adoptions up there...). Businesses also sell items on Trademe to hit a larger client base.
People can contribute to the site by creating a user profile. This enables you to list items to sell, bid on autions, ask questions. The site is interactive, but still offers the opportunity to be anonymous.
What people are seeking is generally quite obvious - they are wanting to sell something, or wanting to buy something. As I said earlier, some people have become addicts to buying online. It also offers interaction with those who have similar interests.
Ethics issues have arisen recently, with subjects such as buying guns without the seller checking for a gun license. There are also people buying tickets (concert, rugby etc) and then selling them at 3x the price. Some people do not really have any idea of the affect of their actions and that this shouldn't be happening, however most of the content is relatively safe. There is also the issue that there are not really blocks for younger viewers (e.g. accessing adult supplies, guns etc), because even though you are meant to be 18 to have an account, a drop down box of ages isn't that hard to make up.
An online community generally reaches more people than a 'real' community. For example, Trademe reaches all of NZ, where as selling in a newspaper only reaches the population that reads that paper.
You could say that an online community such as Trademe does not include 'real' contact between participants. The only contact outside of the website and email is if the seller allows the buyer to pick up their purchase, but again this can be avoided for both the seller and buyer to be anonymous (which I spose can be really good if you are buying something a bit embarrassing).
Trademe is really interesting to have a look at - you would be surprised at what you would find on there! Check out the link above and have a browse.
I have been looking more into Trademe (www.trademe.co.nz). Yes most people know about Tradme - and a majority of them have become addicts (high users of the community).
Trademe is New Zealand's version of eBay, a website where people can buy and sell items to one another. There are thousands of items on there, from clothes, to books, electronics, pets (who knows, one day people might even be putting adoptions up there...). Businesses also sell items on Trademe to hit a larger client base.
People can contribute to the site by creating a user profile. This enables you to list items to sell, bid on autions, ask questions. The site is interactive, but still offers the opportunity to be anonymous.
What people are seeking is generally quite obvious - they are wanting to sell something, or wanting to buy something. As I said earlier, some people have become addicts to buying online. It also offers interaction with those who have similar interests.
Ethics issues have arisen recently, with subjects such as buying guns without the seller checking for a gun license. There are also people buying tickets (concert, rugby etc) and then selling them at 3x the price. Some people do not really have any idea of the affect of their actions and that this shouldn't be happening, however most of the content is relatively safe. There is also the issue that there are not really blocks for younger viewers (e.g. accessing adult supplies, guns etc), because even though you are meant to be 18 to have an account, a drop down box of ages isn't that hard to make up.
An online community generally reaches more people than a 'real' community. For example, Trademe reaches all of NZ, where as selling in a newspaper only reaches the population that reads that paper.
You could say that an online community such as Trademe does not include 'real' contact between participants. The only contact outside of the website and email is if the seller allows the buyer to pick up their purchase, but again this can be avoided for both the seller and buyer to be anonymous (which I spose can be really good if you are buying something a bit embarrassing).
Trademe is really interesting to have a look at - you would be surprised at what you would find on there! Check out the link above and have a browse.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tutorial 4&5: Video Production
In these sessions we were split into groups and given a video camera to film a short film on "Overcoming adversity". We had to plan, produce and edit the 30sec film.
We also had to set up a Youtube account and upload the video. See an earlier post for my group's video on parking troubles around campus.
This was a fun activity and something a little bit different. The filming still took about half an hour, even though we had planned out a story board. I can imagine how long a movie would take and how stressful it could be!
Youtube is a type of online community, where people can upload a video and others can watch and comment. There are various videos on Youtube... some useful, some random, some funny and some not - always a good place to go for more information (or if you are bored and want a laugh).
We also had to set up a Youtube account and upload the video. See an earlier post for my group's video on parking troubles around campus.
This was a fun activity and something a little bit different. The filming still took about half an hour, even though we had planned out a story board. I can imagine how long a movie would take and how stressful it could be!
Youtube is a type of online community, where people can upload a video and others can watch and comment. There are various videos on Youtube... some useful, some random, some funny and some not - always a good place to go for more information (or if you are bored and want a laugh).
Tutorial 2: Digital camera use and applications
In this class we got to play around with digital camera's: something I am very familiar with and enjoy.
“A new technology is rarely superior to an old one in every feature”.
Digital camera (new) vs. Film camera (old).
Positives for digital cameras:wider distribution of images, the manipulation of images, storage of images, the cost is now lower, digital can save time, cameras can be easier to use than film.
Negatives for digital cameras:the wider distribution is harder to control (e.g. if the photo is hurtful to someone it is not as easy to control who sees it), it is now harder to tell if it is the original photograph (due to computer software and expertise).
There are various ways to store, transfer and manipulate images especially with technology forever growing. Images can be stored on the computer, memory stick, on camera, CD, DVD, printing, uploading to websites, and now even the likes of gaming e.g. Wii.
Images can be transferred by email, uploading (e.g. Facebook), saving files.
Images can be manipulated using software like photo programmes (e.g. Photoshop), unexpected manipulation can occur through pixilation or resizing of the photo.
There could be many ethical issues involved with taking photo's. Do you have the subjects permission to manipulate their photo or print it or post it online? Does the person know what you will use the photo for? How do they know you will only use it for that purpose? The person taking the photo or manipulating the image has a responsibility to the person in the photo (in practice this may be the client).
How does this relate to occupational therapy practice?
Digital images can be taken for record of what a client has done, or could compare two performances (before and after shots). They could be used to show particular points such as home access e.g. stairs – how many, how steep, any rails etc, or the person in their wheelchair. They can be used to show others (colleagues, client, client’s family, funding providers etc) what has been done, what needs to be done, etc.
We have all opened a Flickr account (see badge on right hand side of blog), where we have uploaded photos taken in groups during the tutorial. I have also uploaded some of my own photo's of my 8 month old Staffie Starlit. This is a good way to store photos especially if you are travelling.
“A new technology is rarely superior to an old one in every feature”.
Digital camera (new) vs. Film camera (old).
Positives for digital cameras:wider distribution of images, the manipulation of images, storage of images, the cost is now lower, digital can save time, cameras can be easier to use than film.
Negatives for digital cameras:the wider distribution is harder to control (e.g. if the photo is hurtful to someone it is not as easy to control who sees it), it is now harder to tell if it is the original photograph (due to computer software and expertise).
There are various ways to store, transfer and manipulate images especially with technology forever growing. Images can be stored on the computer, memory stick, on camera, CD, DVD, printing, uploading to websites, and now even the likes of gaming e.g. Wii.
Images can be transferred by email, uploading (e.g. Facebook), saving files.
Images can be manipulated using software like photo programmes (e.g. Photoshop), unexpected manipulation can occur through pixilation or resizing of the photo.
There could be many ethical issues involved with taking photo's. Do you have the subjects permission to manipulate their photo or print it or post it online? Does the person know what you will use the photo for? How do they know you will only use it for that purpose? The person taking the photo or manipulating the image has a responsibility to the person in the photo (in practice this may be the client).
How does this relate to occupational therapy practice?
Digital images can be taken for record of what a client has done, or could compare two performances (before and after shots). They could be used to show particular points such as home access e.g. stairs – how many, how steep, any rails etc, or the person in their wheelchair. They can be used to show others (colleagues, client, client’s family, funding providers etc) what has been done, what needs to be done, etc.
We have all opened a Flickr account (see badge on right hand side of blog), where we have uploaded photos taken in groups during the tutorial. I have also uploaded some of my own photo's of my 8 month old Staffie Starlit. This is a good way to store photos especially if you are travelling.
Tut 1: Information technology and ethical isses
The Collins English Dictionary and Thesaurus (2005) defines information technology (IT) to be "Information technology is the use of computers and electronic technology to store and communicate information".
IT is all around us and has become an everyday activity for almost every one of us. The majority of people use email, telephone, fax etc everyday, and this is not limited to those who use IT for business. IT is now used a lot in schools, workplaces, tertiary education, homes. Young people now grow up with this technology and understand more than the generations before them.
When asked what IT devices or systems I was comfortable using, I could write a large list without stopping! Some of these included: internet banking, digital cameras, blackboard, search engines, various computer software and now blogging. It is amazing how we take all this for granted and do not think twice about the 'old' ways of doing things. These 'new' ways have become the ways for most.
So what does it have to do with Occupational therapy? Why are we learning about it? Well... IT has become a big part of OT practice. We now use various forms of technology for communication, assessment, intervention, research, note writing etc.
Of course there are many ethical issues involved with the use of new technology which include the likes of finding new ways of confidentiality.
The information may not be as confidential as older methods, therefore more care must be taken in the storing of information. For example if a camera is used in a setting with one client, the photo’s may not be deleted off the camera.
On the other hand, the person who took the photo’s may not have saved them off the camera yet either and they could be deleted off without either party knowing. Also IT is not fool-proof. There are people out there with a great deal of knowledge around computers who can probably hack into the setting’s computer system.
By understanding IT, we can begin to use it in our everyday (both professional and personal) lifes. In theory, you do not need a great deal of knowledge around computers etc just some basics, however it does help to have a bit more than the basics. It is important to have knowledge around the ethical issues, so we can keep ourselves, (plus family and friends), and clients safe. We need to be aware of the content of the information we are putting out and whether it is acceptable or necessary.
IT is all around us and has become an everyday activity for almost every one of us. The majority of people use email, telephone, fax etc everyday, and this is not limited to those who use IT for business. IT is now used a lot in schools, workplaces, tertiary education, homes. Young people now grow up with this technology and understand more than the generations before them.
When asked what IT devices or systems I was comfortable using, I could write a large list without stopping! Some of these included: internet banking, digital cameras, blackboard, search engines, various computer software and now blogging. It is amazing how we take all this for granted and do not think twice about the 'old' ways of doing things. These 'new' ways have become the ways for most.
So what does it have to do with Occupational therapy? Why are we learning about it? Well... IT has become a big part of OT practice. We now use various forms of technology for communication, assessment, intervention, research, note writing etc.
Of course there are many ethical issues involved with the use of new technology which include the likes of finding new ways of confidentiality.
The information may not be as confidential as older methods, therefore more care must be taken in the storing of information. For example if a camera is used in a setting with one client, the photo’s may not be deleted off the camera.
On the other hand, the person who took the photo’s may not have saved them off the camera yet either and they could be deleted off without either party knowing. Also IT is not fool-proof. There are people out there with a great deal of knowledge around computers who can probably hack into the setting’s computer system.
By understanding IT, we can begin to use it in our everyday (both professional and personal) lifes. In theory, you do not need a great deal of knowledge around computers etc just some basics, however it does help to have a bit more than the basics. It is important to have knowledge around the ethical issues, so we can keep ourselves, (plus family and friends), and clients safe. We need to be aware of the content of the information we are putting out and whether it is acceptable or necessary.
An explanation of tutorial posts.
In each participation class we have completed a 'technical description' on that day's activity. Each new post will be labelled with the tutorial and hopefully make sense to you, explaining what has been done.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
First post
Although I am used to the internet, photo's and websites like Facebook blogging is a slightly new experience. We are setting blogs up as a class in "Participation in Occupation" for year 2 Occupational therapy, and all have different skill levels. Hopefully blogging will be easy to pick up and I will have some more interesting blogs and photo's soon.
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