Well that brings me to the end of my posts about cooking for Participation in Occupation II. However, it will not be the end of my engagement in cooking! As I continue to cook and develop my skills I will now consider the elements which I have been posting about and discussing in class to analyse what cooking really means to me. This course has given me the means to look more closely at aspects about myself and I now have the ability to continue to build on this thinking.
Thanks for reading,
Bree :)
Saturday 22 October 2011
References and comments on other blogs
References:
Aesthetics (n.d.). In google dictionary. Retrieved from
Brown, D., Golden, K., Holleran, L. (Producers), Hallstrom, L. (Director). (2000). Chocolat (Motion picture). United States: Miramax Films.
Caulton, R. & Dickson, R. (2007). What’s going on? Finding an explanation for what we do. In J. Creek & A. Lawson-Porter (Eds.), Contemporary issues in occupational therapy (pp. 87-114). Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Green, T. (1968). Work, leisure,and the American schools. New York: Random House.
Laggasse, E. & Tirsch, J. (1993). Emeril's new New Orleans cooking. USA: William Morrow Cookbooks.
Visser, M. (1992). The rituals of dinner. London: Viking, The Penguin Group
Comments:
Hi Rhiann,
I really enjoy the different take you had on aesthetics in comparison to my own post on this, it seems cooking is a wonderful sense of family for you. I would be interested to see some pictures of your family together over a meal :)
Hi Jess,
Wow your cupcake looks very professional and delicious! I love that you chose to share this recipe with us all. Perhaps next time you could elaborate a little more on something we discussed in class such as ergonomics or affordances in relation to your cupcakes :)
Hi Grace,
Well done on your post, you thought a lot about each of the person, occupation and activity areas of your cooking. Perhaps next time you could talk about what cooking you have done in the last week :)
Well done on your post, you thought a lot about each of the person, occupation and activity areas of your cooking. Perhaps next time you could talk about what cooking you have done in the last week :)
Hi Rachel,
Nice post, I like how you used headings for your person, occupation and environment paragraphs, it makes it a lot easier to read. Perhaps next time just check over for a couple of grammar errors :)
Nice post, I like how you used headings for your person, occupation and environment paragraphs, it makes it a lot easier to read. Perhaps next time just check over for a couple of grammar errors :)
Friday 21 October 2011
Spirituality
24-10-2011
Spirituality is something I find very difficult to completely understand or explain. I guess to me it is somewhat a person's soul and personality and how they view themselves in their world (but I could be wrong). I also believe a key part of spirituality is often a person's culture and/or religion. Famous chef Nigela Lawson (2004) believes when we are cooking "we are both creating and responding to an idea we hold about ourselves, about what kind of person we are or wish to be".
I would not consider myself a hugely spiritual person, however, my culture as a kiwi and a flatmate determine some of what I might cook and what cooking means to me. Like many other kiwi's I enjoy roast veges on a more common basis than just special occasions like many overseas cultures. Therefore roast veges are a common part of the meals that I prepare.
Another culture I am a part of is being a poor student living with poor flatmates we also eat a lot of mince as this is the cheapest meat we can get. Therefore I have made meals such as nachos, burritos, spagetti bolognese, shephards pie etc as I like to mix things up as much as possible despite having the same basic ingredient.
I cannot report back on my cooking this week as this blog is due before my night for cooking, but I am sure my culture, values, beliefs and overall spirituality will again be subconsciously represented to a degree through my meal.
Spirituality is something I find very difficult to completely understand or explain. I guess to me it is somewhat a person's soul and personality and how they view themselves in their world (but I could be wrong). I also believe a key part of spirituality is often a person's culture and/or religion. Famous chef Nigela Lawson (2004) believes when we are cooking "we are both creating and responding to an idea we hold about ourselves, about what kind of person we are or wish to be".
I would not consider myself a hugely spiritual person, however, my culture as a kiwi and a flatmate determine some of what I might cook and what cooking means to me. Like many other kiwi's I enjoy roast veges on a more common basis than just special occasions like many overseas cultures. Therefore roast veges are a common part of the meals that I prepare.
Another culture I am a part of is being a poor student living with poor flatmates we also eat a lot of mince as this is the cheapest meat we can get. Therefore I have made meals such as nachos, burritos, spagetti bolognese, shephards pie etc as I like to mix things up as much as possible despite having the same basic ingredient.
I cannot report back on my cooking this week as this blog is due before my night for cooking, but I am sure my culture, values, beliefs and overall spirituality will again be subconsciously represented to a degree through my meal.
The need for cooking
17-10-2011
A discussion in class this week was based around what need is met through cooking for me in particular. Well, again I have touched on this in some of my past blogs but in this tutorial we pulled apart my needs much more specifically. It was interesting that I could not easily determine these without some serious thought which shows that my needs for cooking are muchly subconscious and not something I have needed to address in the past. With help from Mary and some of my peers we identified the following as some of my needs:
References:
Visser, M. (1992). The rituals of dinner. London: Viking, The Penguin Group.
A discussion in class this week was based around what need is met through cooking for me in particular. Well, again I have touched on this in some of my past blogs but in this tutorial we pulled apart my needs much more specifically. It was interesting that I could not easily determine these without some serious thought which shows that my needs for cooking are muchly subconscious and not something I have needed to address in the past. With help from Mary and some of my peers we identified the following as some of my needs:
- Survival and health: "Food is 'everyday'-it has to be, or we would not survive for long" (Visser, 1986, p. 12) and this is a big part of my need to cook for both myself and my flatmates as the dinner meal is a staple meal of the day. It is also important for our health that we incorporate fruit and vegetables into our diet and therefore this is another need for me to cook and think about what ways I might include these in my meal.
- To meet my responsibilities as a flatmate: this appeared to be an underlying theme throughout a lot of my thoughts around my cooking. Within this I feel the need to make a satisfying meal that also tastes fairly good is important so that I feel as competent as my flatmates in terms of providing for each other.
References:
Visser, M. (1992). The rituals of dinner. London: Viking, The Penguin Group.
Aesthetics
10-10-2011
Aesthetics is concerned with "the branch of philosophy that deals with the principles of beauty and artistic nature" (Aesthetics, n.d.). A beautiful meal is something many people appreciate. I believe it is a part of why people will choose to dine out on a special occasion and why people put extra effort into arranging food on a plate rather than chucking it all on top of each other. I agree with the quote from Lagasse & Tirsch (1993) "food that's beautiful to look at seems to taste better than food that isn't."
It is also interesting to think that some food is made purely for it's beauty, almost as a form of art which may or may not be eaten following it's visual appreciation. I specifically remember the elaborate cakes Mum used to make for us as children. We had things such as fairy castles, trains, animals, and many others, all of which were made for consumption but appreciated for their visual beauty first off.
When I create meals for my flatmates I like to present them nicely. However, I do not go to many lengths as I think at this stage my skill level requires more attention to making the food taste nice. Despite this though I generally make sure that the food is arranged on the plate without being too unappealing. For example this week I made burritoes and when I toasted them in the sandwhich press I created a criss-cross pattern on them just for fun and to make them a look a little more appealing.
However the beauty of food does not necessarily have to be visual. The taste and aromas of food can also create a sense of beauty and appreciation. This week when I was cooking the mince for inside the burritoes my flatmates were commenting on how delicious it smelt and therefore were demonstrating their appreciation for the smell of the food rather than the looks.
I think the aesthetics of food may also be interpreted through texture or other ways too and this shows that different people appreciate different elements of beauty in their food, interesting to ponder as it is something that we often do not consciously think about :)
References:
Aesthetics (n.d.) In Google dictionary. Retrieved from
Aesthetics is concerned with "the branch of philosophy that deals with the principles of beauty and artistic nature" (Aesthetics, n.d.). A beautiful meal is something many people appreciate. I believe it is a part of why people will choose to dine out on a special occasion and why people put extra effort into arranging food on a plate rather than chucking it all on top of each other. I agree with the quote from Lagasse & Tirsch (1993) "food that's beautiful to look at seems to taste better than food that isn't."
It is also interesting to think that some food is made purely for it's beauty, almost as a form of art which may or may not be eaten following it's visual appreciation. I specifically remember the elaborate cakes Mum used to make for us as children. We had things such as fairy castles, trains, animals, and many others, all of which were made for consumption but appreciated for their visual beauty first off.
When I create meals for my flatmates I like to present them nicely. However, I do not go to many lengths as I think at this stage my skill level requires more attention to making the food taste nice. Despite this though I generally make sure that the food is arranged on the plate without being too unappealing. For example this week I made burritoes and when I toasted them in the sandwhich press I created a criss-cross pattern on them just for fun and to make them a look a little more appealing.
However the beauty of food does not necessarily have to be visual. The taste and aromas of food can also create a sense of beauty and appreciation. This week when I was cooking the mince for inside the burritoes my flatmates were commenting on how delicious it smelt and therefore were demonstrating their appreciation for the smell of the food rather than the looks.
I think the aesthetics of food may also be interpreted through texture or other ways too and this shows that different people appreciate different elements of beauty in their food, interesting to ponder as it is something that we often do not consciously think about :)
References:
Aesthetics (n.d.) In Google dictionary. Retrieved from
Laggasse, E. & Tirsch, J. (1993). Emeril's new New Orleans cooking. USA: William Morrow Cookbooks.
Thursday 20 October 2011
Labour
03-10-2011
Cooking is a part of feeding ourselves which is necessary for survival throughout our lives. I believe this is what makes us consider cooking as a form of labour. Green (1968) demonstrates this in what I consider almost a poetic way, stating "the gathering of nourishment, however, it is not only necessary; it is also endless. Once done, it must be done again. Answering as it does to the requirements of life itself, it can only end with the end of life".
When I cook it is both for the need and the want. My flatmates and I need to eat to survive and therefore there must be a meal provided. The want then comes with what I decide to cook, we could live off very basic meals however our wants make us purchase and prepare food we cosider desirable.
Another quote from Green (1968) that interests me is "the food gatherer, however, does not live only from day to day. An exact vision of the future is not possible for man, yet they can attain some expectations of things to come." This makes me think of two things in particular:
References:
Green, T. (1968). Work, leisure,and the American schools. New York: Random House.
Cooking is a part of feeding ourselves which is necessary for survival throughout our lives. I believe this is what makes us consider cooking as a form of labour. Green (1968) demonstrates this in what I consider almost a poetic way, stating "the gathering of nourishment, however, it is not only necessary; it is also endless. Once done, it must be done again. Answering as it does to the requirements of life itself, it can only end with the end of life".
When I cook it is both for the need and the want. My flatmates and I need to eat to survive and therefore there must be a meal provided. The want then comes with what I decide to cook, we could live off very basic meals however our wants make us purchase and prepare food we cosider desirable.
Another quote from Green (1968) that interests me is "the food gatherer, however, does not live only from day to day. An exact vision of the future is not possible for man, yet they can attain some expectations of things to come." This makes me think of two things in particular:
- One is of being at home on the farm where this is exactly the purpose of farming, to breed stock for future consumption, this demonstrates man thinking ahead and not gathering food purely for 'day to day' consumption.
- Secondly is when I am cooking I will often consider what I may use at the present time but also what I should perhaps be keeping for future consumption. This is planning for the future on a smaller scale to the point above.
References:
Green, T. (1968). Work, leisure,and the American schools. New York: Random House.
Wednesday 19 October 2011
Affordances
26-09-2011
Last week I cooked venison steak, coleslaw and roast potatoes for dinner. I tried to have a think about affordances while I cooked the meal. My understanding is that affordances refers to 'what comes out of the activity'. Well, for me I can see how communication is brought out between members in my flat and how one's cooking can often be a reflection of their personality.
As stated in my previous blog my role as cook on Wednesday night makes me feel like I hold some responsibility within the flat which is important to me. I also get satisfaction from doing my best to make a tasty meal which I feel is a sense of giving and caring for my flatmates.
Sometimes I communicate with my flatmates regarding what I should cook and they will request certain foods, I often then cook those foods as I know this will please them and heighten my sense of giving. For example, my flatmates have expressed that they enjoy vension steak and often request this as they find it an enjoyable meal, therefore it is a meal that I make quite frequently within the flat. We also communicate in terms of the weekly grocery shop to ensure each person's needs/wants are taken into consideration and the right ingredients are purchased for each person's planned dinner meal. I find that we also communicate over the meal that has been prepared as it is generally a time that we are all home and have a chance to converse.
Because we share the workload between us I feel that as a flat we have created a 'homely' sense with each member being a fairly competent cook and providing for the flat on their nominated day. To me, the food someone prepares tells you something about their personality. This is where a quote from the movie 'Chocolat' by Lasse Hallstrom (2000) interests me. It is a character describing chocolate as "rich" and "sinful" which are terms I would consider in sync with the women who makes the chocolate. I think this is a good example of how someone's cooking can reflect them as a person.
References:
Brown, D., Golden, K., Holleran, L. (Producers), Hallstrom, L. (Director). (2000). Chocolat (Motion picture). United States: Miramax Films.
Last week I cooked venison steak, coleslaw and roast potatoes for dinner. I tried to have a think about affordances while I cooked the meal. My understanding is that affordances refers to 'what comes out of the activity'. Well, for me I can see how communication is brought out between members in my flat and how one's cooking can often be a reflection of their personality.
As stated in my previous blog my role as cook on Wednesday night makes me feel like I hold some responsibility within the flat which is important to me. I also get satisfaction from doing my best to make a tasty meal which I feel is a sense of giving and caring for my flatmates.
Sometimes I communicate with my flatmates regarding what I should cook and they will request certain foods, I often then cook those foods as I know this will please them and heighten my sense of giving. For example, my flatmates have expressed that they enjoy vension steak and often request this as they find it an enjoyable meal, therefore it is a meal that I make quite frequently within the flat. We also communicate in terms of the weekly grocery shop to ensure each person's needs/wants are taken into consideration and the right ingredients are purchased for each person's planned dinner meal. I find that we also communicate over the meal that has been prepared as it is generally a time that we are all home and have a chance to converse.
Because we share the workload between us I feel that as a flat we have created a 'homely' sense with each member being a fairly competent cook and providing for the flat on their nominated day. To me, the food someone prepares tells you something about their personality. This is where a quote from the movie 'Chocolat' by Lasse Hallstrom (2000) interests me. It is a character describing chocolate as "rich" and "sinful" which are terms I would consider in sync with the women who makes the chocolate. I think this is a good example of how someone's cooking can reflect them as a person.
References:
Brown, D., Golden, K., Holleran, L. (Producers), Hallstrom, L. (Director). (2000). Chocolat (Motion picture). United States: Miramax Films.
Sunday 2 October 2011
Ergonomics
19-09-2011
My understanding is that ergonomics refers to the 'fit' between the activity, the person and the environment. According to Caulton & Dickson (2007) occupational therapists are involved with ergonomics as they "make slight invisible adjustments to an activity to adapt to the needs of those taking part and ensure that it continues to work for its intended purpose".
Ergonomics can be an important consideration when working in a kitchen. To some extent it is a consideration I need to think about when I am cooking but it is even more relevant to those who may work in a kitchen for long periods of time, perhaps for employment or who may have a disease/disorder that influences how they can perform in a kitchen setting.
Looking at the kitchen environment in terms of occupational therapy we must remember that the environment of which the kitchen assessment/cooking group etc is undertaken may differ from the client's home kitchen environment. This incorporates the design of the kitchen, the utensils that are available and the cues which help us manage the preparation of a meal and can be considered the practical considerations of cooking.
This week the most time I spent cooking was dinner on Wednesday night which is my usual night for cooking a dinner meal in my flat. I decided to cook spagetti bolognese as we had the right ingredients and I have made it in the past so I feel confident it is something I can do. For me, the prompt to cook and try my best to do a good job of it is to satisfy my flatmates and have them feel like I am pulling my weight within the flat. My kitchen environment is very limited in space however it has the relevant appliances for me to cook mostly whatever I choose which is a time saver. As a person I find that cooking for others creates a sense of 'giving' which I is something I value when I prepare a meal.
References:
Caulton, R. & Dickson, R. (2007). What’s going on? Finding an explanation for what we do. In J. Creek & A. Lawson-Porter (Eds.), Contemporary issues in occupational therapy (pp. 87-114). Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd
My understanding is that ergonomics refers to the 'fit' between the activity, the person and the environment. According to Caulton & Dickson (2007) occupational therapists are involved with ergonomics as they "make slight invisible adjustments to an activity to adapt to the needs of those taking part and ensure that it continues to work for its intended purpose".
Ergonomics can be an important consideration when working in a kitchen. To some extent it is a consideration I need to think about when I am cooking but it is even more relevant to those who may work in a kitchen for long periods of time, perhaps for employment or who may have a disease/disorder that influences how they can perform in a kitchen setting.
Looking at the kitchen environment in terms of occupational therapy we must remember that the environment of which the kitchen assessment/cooking group etc is undertaken may differ from the client's home kitchen environment. This incorporates the design of the kitchen, the utensils that are available and the cues which help us manage the preparation of a meal and can be considered the practical considerations of cooking.
This week the most time I spent cooking was dinner on Wednesday night which is my usual night for cooking a dinner meal in my flat. I decided to cook spagetti bolognese as we had the right ingredients and I have made it in the past so I feel confident it is something I can do. For me, the prompt to cook and try my best to do a good job of it is to satisfy my flatmates and have them feel like I am pulling my weight within the flat. My kitchen environment is very limited in space however it has the relevant appliances for me to cook mostly whatever I choose which is a time saver. As a person I find that cooking for others creates a sense of 'giving' which I is something I value when I prepare a meal.
References:
Caulton, R. & Dickson, R. (2007). What’s going on? Finding an explanation for what we do. In J. Creek & A. Lawson-Porter (Eds.), Contemporary issues in occupational therapy (pp. 87-114). Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Friday 9 September 2011
PARTICIPATION IN OCCUPATION TWO
05-09-2011
The occupation I have chosen to look at this semester is cooking. I enjoy cooking both for myself and for others, which has become a typical part of my flatting life. When cooking for only myself I like to experiment with new recipes and new ingredients, however when cooking for flatmates and family I will often stick to recipes which I know work for me. Cooking is something I intend to continue doing throughout my life and I would like to grow and expand on the types of things I am capable of cooking. Cooking is also a passion of my mothers and grandmothers and I consider them both very skillful in this domain, as I develop my skills with cooking I intend to attempt recipes I liked when I was a child or that remind me of home.Cooking is something which identifies as meaningful for a lot of people and therefore should be relevant to my Occupational Therapy practice in the future, cooking can be used as both an assessment and an intervention. This week I will focus more definately on what I am doing whilst I cook and consider the processes invloved during this.
The occupation I have chosen to look at this semester is cooking. I enjoy cooking both for myself and for others, which has become a typical part of my flatting life. When cooking for only myself I like to experiment with new recipes and new ingredients, however when cooking for flatmates and family I will often stick to recipes which I know work for me. Cooking is something I intend to continue doing throughout my life and I would like to grow and expand on the types of things I am capable of cooking. Cooking is also a passion of my mothers and grandmothers and I consider them both very skillful in this domain, as I develop my skills with cooking I intend to attempt recipes I liked when I was a child or that remind me of home.Cooking is something which identifies as meaningful for a lot of people and therefore should be relevant to my Occupational Therapy practice in the future, cooking can be used as both an assessment and an intervention. This week I will focus more definately on what I am doing whilst I cook and consider the processes invloved during this.
Thursday 12 May 2011
Overview
This brings me to the end of my posts for Participation in Occupation One, I have found that it has taught me many things about blogging that I was completely oblivious to before, and I have also come across some interesting content on the internet. I hope some of the posts have been interesting for others too.
Thanks!
Breanna
Thanks!
Breanna
Tutorial Eight: Assistive Technology
"Assistive technology (AT) can be defined as any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities" (What is assistive..., n.d.). My understanding is that assistive technology can be anything from wheelchairs to computers to hearing aids and everything in between. It is basically anything which allows an individuals limitations to be overcome by aid of a device.
One piece of assisstive technology introduced in the assistive technology tutorial is the Ipad. This is a device which has taken the world by storm, it is very small and very thin in order for the easy transportation and cost around $800.00. It allows the user to do may things depending on the applications they have loaded onto the Ipad. Most useful is that the Ipad can be used for surfing the internet, taking photographs, reading, writing, listening to music, the list goes on.
Because the Ipad is touch screen it can be much easier to use for someone with limited hand funcion as they do not have to press small buttons as they would on a computer/laptop keyboard. It can also overcome access problems if someone is unable to get somewhere to use a computer the Ipad is completely transportable. It also provides zoom and voiceover for those with visual and auditory impairments.
The following YouTube video gives a great example of how the Ipad has helped in rehabilitation. This example is of a speech language therapist using the Ipad to help a stroke patient communicate with other people as he has difficulty speaking.
References:
What is assistive technology, (n.d.). Retrieved 11 May, 2011, from http://standards.gov/standards_gov/assistiveTechnology.cfm
One piece of assisstive technology introduced in the assistive technology tutorial is the Ipad. This is a device which has taken the world by storm, it is very small and very thin in order for the easy transportation and cost around $800.00. It allows the user to do may things depending on the applications they have loaded onto the Ipad. Most useful is that the Ipad can be used for surfing the internet, taking photographs, reading, writing, listening to music, the list goes on.
Because the Ipad is touch screen it can be much easier to use for someone with limited hand funcion as they do not have to press small buttons as they would on a computer/laptop keyboard. It can also overcome access problems if someone is unable to get somewhere to use a computer the Ipad is completely transportable. It also provides zoom and voiceover for those with visual and auditory impairments.
The following YouTube video gives a great example of how the Ipad has helped in rehabilitation. This example is of a speech language therapist using the Ipad to help a stroke patient communicate with other people as he has difficulty speaking.
References:
What is assistive technology, (n.d.). Retrieved 11 May, 2011, from http://standards.gov/standards_gov/assistiveTechnology.cfm
By looking through some of my classmates blogs I can see they have put a lot of effort into them and it is great to see some really interesting things relevant to occupational therapy. You will see some below that I found really great.
http://rhiannhikuroa.blogspot.com/ This is a great blog with some really interesting stuff on sensory modulation
http://rachelmareethomas.blogspot.com/ This blog is fun to look at and has some humorous content as well as some very relevant information to occupational therapy.
http://jessica-ot.blogspot.com/ This blog also looks really great as it is complemented with interesting fonts and pictures. It also has some really interesting sites linked into it such as Bluebird Vintage clothing.
http://kendylw.blogspot.com/ I loved the videos on stroke on this blog, I found them really informative at a basic level.
http://jooneill.blogspot.com/ I found it great to see someone else had information on relaxation. It was interesting to see what videos someone else came up with regarding the same topic as me.
By having a look at the above blogs you will see I have posted comments on a couple of things I liked.
http://rhiannhikuroa.blogspot.com/ This is a great blog with some really interesting stuff on sensory modulation
http://rachelmareethomas.blogspot.com/ This blog is fun to look at and has some humorous content as well as some very relevant information to occupational therapy.
http://jessica-ot.blogspot.com/ This blog also looks really great as it is complemented with interesting fonts and pictures. It also has some really interesting sites linked into it such as Bluebird Vintage clothing.
http://kendylw.blogspot.com/ I loved the videos on stroke on this blog, I found them really informative at a basic level.
http://jooneill.blogspot.com/ I found it great to see someone else had information on relaxation. It was interesting to see what videos someone else came up with regarding the same topic as me.
By having a look at the above blogs you will see I have posted comments on a couple of things I liked.
Tutorial Six: The Internet and Online Communities
The focus of this post is online communites with a more direct focus on social networking. The three specific sites below will be looked at more indepth:
www.facebook.com
www.twitter.com
www.bebo.com
These social networking sites have a main focus of encouraging interaction between people around the globe. However there are some differences between the sites too.
Facebook:
Facebook is a site which allows people to have a profile about themselves, providing their basic details and their interests. It allows people to get in touch with friends all around the globe, chat directly with friends who are online and post comments or photos on what they have been doing.
Twitter:
Twitter is a site which allows you to 'follow' people, this can be friends, businesses, celebrities, basically anyone who interests you, as well as posting your own comments and updates if you wish.
Bebo:
Bebo is similar Facebook as it is again more centred around each individual having a profile about themselves and sharing images and conversations.
Each of these sites are about people keeping contact around the globe so it is easy to see that they are all very interactive sites. Facebook and Bebo are very similar in the way that people merely contribute information about themselves and their interests whereas Twitter can also have businesses advertising their latest deals and offers. Majority of people use these website communities in order to keep in touch with friends or family, or even meet new people. The main reason why people contribute is as it is a form of free communication when perhaps there is no other alternative. People are generally just seeking contact with other people, usually friends or family. Information on Facebook and Bebo can be considered reciprocal as most comments are between 2 or more people. However, with Twitter the idea is more about 'following' a person, business etc and therefore it can be considered less reciprocal as the information is generally given without reply from followers. Examples of content shared on Facebook, Bebo and Twitter are provied below This was a post on Facebook from a friend of mine, it is a great example of how people can let their friends know what they have been doing:
www.facebook.com
www.twitter.com
www.bebo.com
These social networking sites have a main focus of encouraging interaction between people around the globe. However there are some differences between the sites too.
Facebook:
Facebook is a site which allows people to have a profile about themselves, providing their basic details and their interests. It allows people to get in touch with friends all around the globe, chat directly with friends who are online and post comments or photos on what they have been doing.
Twitter:
Twitter is a site which allows you to 'follow' people, this can be friends, businesses, celebrities, basically anyone who interests you, as well as posting your own comments and updates if you wish.
Bebo:
Bebo is similar Facebook as it is again more centred around each individual having a profile about themselves and sharing images and conversations.
Wednesday 11 May 2011
Tutorial Five: Video Production Sessions
Youtube is a website which allows anyone to upload and share videos globally, it also allows people to share their opinions on the videos or add information they think is suited to the video. Aside from these basic services you can also do many other things such as hire movies, use youtube on your cellphone, watch videos in 3D, watch videos with subtitles along with many other advanced services (YouTube essentials, n.d.).
An area which I found interesting during Fieldwork One Placement was relaxation and the different methods available. The following five videos are examples of relaxation which I think are enjoyable to listen to.
This video is an example of visualisation. Visualisation can be used with any place you enjoy but for me the beach is very relaxing and therefore I find this video is a great source of relaxation.
This video provides an example of a position which is relaxing for most people. You can use visualisation or progressive muscle relaxation in a position like this or simply just concentrate on breathing.
This video provides a demonstration of how diaphragmatic deep breathing can help relax the muscles and give the body more oxygen. This is great method to learn to improve the quality of your breathing and relax during stressful times.
This last video provides an example of meditation which is a way of clearing the mind of any thoughts with the body in a position which greatly helps relaxation.
References:
Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/t/about_essentials
An area which I found interesting during Fieldwork One Placement was relaxation and the different methods available. The following five videos are examples of relaxation which I think are enjoyable to listen to.
This video is an example of visualisation. Visualisation can be used with any place you enjoy but for me the beach is very relaxing and therefore I find this video is a great source of relaxation.
This video is an example of progressive muscle relaxation which seems to be great way to relax the whole body.
This video provides an example of a position which is relaxing for most people. You can use visualisation or progressive muscle relaxation in a position like this or simply just concentrate on breathing.
This video provides a demonstration of how diaphragmatic deep breathing can help relax the muscles and give the body more oxygen. This is great method to learn to improve the quality of your breathing and relax during stressful times.
This last video provides an example of meditation which is a way of clearing the mind of any thoughts with the body in a position which greatly helps relaxation.
References:
Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/t/about_essentials
Tutorial Two: Digital Imaging
Digital images are stored, transferred and manipulated through many methods using information technology. Ways which I am personally familiar with include:
Ethical issues can arise when photographs are manipulated without the consent of the person in the photograph or owner of the object in the photograph, as they begin to present a skewed version of the truth. Ethical issues can also arise when sharing of photgraphs through websites such as facebeook occurs as anyone can see photos uploaded by someone without the consent of those in the photographs.
Digital imaging has been integrated into occupational therapy in some ways and is likely to become more and more frequent as information teachnology advances. Examples of digital imaging within occupational therapy:
The photobadge at the top of my blog shows some digital photographs of my hometown Tuatapere.
- Digital cameras
- Memory cards
- USB hard-drives
- Electronic photo frames
- Social networking sites
- Enhancement programmes
- Imaging is a great way to keep friends and family up to date with what you have been up to and this is very common on social networking sites such as facebook.
- Imaging is great for before and after photos of things. It could be in order for landlords and tenants to know if a rented house is being looked after or to see the result of renovations
- Lastly, imaging can also be used for selling almost anything from houses to animals to chilrens toys. Trademe is a well-known site where many people use photographs to sell their items.
Ethical issues can arise when photographs are manipulated without the consent of the person in the photograph or owner of the object in the photograph, as they begin to present a skewed version of the truth. Ethical issues can also arise when sharing of photgraphs through websites such as facebeook occurs as anyone can see photos uploaded by someone without the consent of those in the photographs.
Digital imaging has been integrated into occupational therapy in some ways and is likely to become more and more frequent as information teachnology advances. Examples of digital imaging within occupational therapy:
- Before and after photographs of physical impairments
- Photographs of impairments for teaching purposes
- Can become an occupation for someone with low levels of physical functioning.
The photobadge at the top of my blog shows some digital photographs of my hometown Tuatapere.
Tutorial One: Information Technology and Ethical Issues
The focus of this post is on information technology and the fact that we must always consider ethical issues when using technological devices.
Information technology is defined as: “Information technology (IT) is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications” (Information technology…, n.d.). To me, this definition explains the process of using technological devices to aid in everyday life. For example, the modern information technology I use includes things such as internet banking, social networking, and digital photography.
It appears to me as though technology is becoming more and more prevalent throughout the world. In the past few years more and more technology has been included in the life of myself and those around me. We seem to be becoming more and more reliant on this technology to communicate with others, manage our finances etc. This YouTube clip provides a great example of the level of technology in our world today and how this had changed from the past.
There are some specific technological devices which I am comfortable and experienced using and others which I am not so comfortable and experienced using. Generally technology that is used by friends or peers expands my own use of information technology as I can learn from them how to use the devices. For example, cellphones, i pods, computers. However, with technological devices that are more uncommon or difficult to use I tend to make less effort learning how to use them.
With occupational therapy’s focus being involved with the manipulation of contexts in order for individuals to carry out their familiar everyday activities (Caulton, 2003) and with technology becoming more and more common in our everyday lives it is inevitable that the two are linked. Occupational therapists have begun to incorporate technology into their practice in two main ways. The first is to increase the independence of a client completing an activity and the second is as a therapeutic tool to improve occupational performance (Petty, 2003 as cited in Verdonck & Ryan, 2008). Issues have arisen with some occupational therapists embracing the incorporation of technology in intervention and others being more ‘stuck in their ways’ and less likely to use technology. When a client considers technology meaningful to their lives it can be difficult for the occupational therapist to include this in intervention if they have not been trained/ have no experience with technology. The cost of some technological devices can also provide an issue for occupational therapists as often funding is very limited. However, there are occupational therapists out their using more and more advanced technology to aid clients in some way. It seems that in the future there will be various ways for clients to drive their wheelchairs, do their cooking, use their computer and carry out many other daily tasks that were impossible for those with impairments in the past.
This link shows a technological device which allows those with visual impairments to enlarge text for reading. This is just one example of technology aiding in someone’s daily life.
I believe that it is important for occupational therapists to develop an understanding of available technologies, particularly for their practice as it is important they are able to acknowledge the role of technology in their client’s lives whether they consider technology important in their own lives or not.
When people capture, share and transfer information via technological devices, permission should always be sought from those who might be a part of the content. However, when photos are taken or information is posted on the internet often permission is not sought by those people and the content can be manipulated when on the World Wide Web. This poses an ethical implication.
Intellectual property is the recognition of one’s intellectual input into an intangible idea and the subsequent copyright or trademark of that idea (Intellectual property..., n.d.). For example an artist may copyright their artwork so that someone else cannot claim that the art is the work of their own intellect (What is intellectual..., n.d.). An example within the realm of occupational therapy may be an occupational therapist copyrighting their journal article so that someone else cannot claim it as their own work.
Social Justice is the idea of equal justice in all aspects of society. It is concerned with every person having equal rights and opportunities (What is social..., n.d.) For example from a political perspective anti-discrimination laws are a form of social justice (What is social...., n.d.). An example in relation to occupational therapy may be ensuring we treat each client in the same way despite their culture, religion, political views etc.
Informed consent is the concept of a client agreeing they have had adequate information to make an informed decision (What is informed..., n.d.). An example of this is a patient about to get surgery will sign an informed consent to say they understand the procedure and risks of the surgery (What is informed..., n.d.). This is similar for some treatments in occupational therapy the client may give informed consent to say they know all about what treatment is going to be administered on them.
References:
Caulton, R.F. (e.d). (2003). The best of occupation 1993-2003. Dunedin: Rogan McIndoe Print Ltd.
Retrieved March 25, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology
Retrieved March 25, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XXaZRHhmxY
Retrieved March 25, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property
Retrieved March 25, 2011, from http://www.wipo.int/freepublications/en/intproperty/450/wipo_pub_450.pdf
Retrieved March 25, 2011, from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-social-justice.htm
Retrieved March, 25, 2011, from http://psychology.about.com/od/iindex/g/def_informedcon.htm
Friday 25 March 2011
Tutorial Four: Video Production Sessions
This video was made with a group of peers during a Participation in Occupation class. We were given the theme of "Overcoming Adversity". We decided to do a fnger puppet video advertising the need to drink responsibly. It was important that we worked as a team while making the video and considered everyone's ideas. It was also necessary for us to make up a storyboard with each illustration on it to see if it would all fit together.
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