Darren R.I.P

A friend I knew from middle school passed away a few days ago. Going to the same school with Darren in a small class of 40-50, how did I not know him better? Random conversations, attended the year 9 banquet with him, he made me CD's and got me a necklace from a trip to Egypt with his family. I was really mean to him before as well. As the years went by and we went out separate ways, a few times we just missed each other on Uni trips and visits. He was always kind hearted and smiley. Darren passed away in a fatal car crash and his friend is in critical care, as our class is spread all around the world now only a few were able to attend. I wish I could have gone to pay my respects... Darren was the second youngest in our class with me being the last, our names are even similar but he was a much better person than me. Though in public he was on the quieter side, he could talk to anyone about anything once you said hello. I had yet to reply to his message but here is my reply now: Hi Darren, the movie was good I hope you got to see it. I have just seen the facebook messages and updates and I can't believe you are gone. I remember your smiley face and the cds you burnt me...I still listen to them. The banquet too gosh, I was so mean. I still have the necklace. Thank you for always being kind and lending a helping hand throughout the years we went to school. It was always nice to hear and catchup over our facebook messages. I am sorry you were in pain in the crash, I know you are being well taken care of now. Your talent, smile and kindness will be missed but not forgotten. Hug! F

What is a wedding? Who is it for? Everyone always makes it out to be a day for the bride and groom, but lately it seems they are for everyone else. This parent wants that, that parents want this. Wedding traditions, culture, blended. "We do it this way" "That is our tradition" Does it really matter? Two completely different people, mixing into a life-long partnership. They become their own little family and will have create their own traditions... Wedding is just to show the world and to celebrate their commitment in finding and choosing to be partners for life isn't it? I love weddings, every sing I was little I used to love to see the white dress, the flowers and of course the romance. Never did I realize all the trials the couple had gone through and will face ahead. Can't believe I used to think babies were made when a husband and wife slept in the same bed long enough it would just happen.

parents

Babies are everywhere! I never realised how much parents do for their children. What do parents get in return? -Worry and waiting -Pain -Yelling -Tears -A few pleases and thanks along the way -A few laughs -Many hours of laundry and ironing -Hours of cleaning and cooking -Designated driver for at least 16 years -Very little sleep at times -Many hugs at the beginning and at the end -Less alone time -Less holidays Hopefully there comes a time when the parents don't have to worry about: -driving their child around -child's laundry -how late the child is staying out -if they brought a jacket -if they have called to say hi, even for 20 seconds! I wonder if it ever stops. Thank you parents out there, the on-going love and support never fails even at our worst times! Thank you mum and dad, after 20 some years I am only beginning to realize all the time, effort and emotion you have invested to bring this one up. Thanks for the advice, guidance and for yelling at me. I am always learning...

Today I showed a child a video of my cat Spartacus and she was captivated by the actions of this cat. Can you say "Miao" ? Her laugh filled the whole room with smiles.

Bunker Roy: Learning from a barefoot movement. Mother & Chicken Vs. Books

Which is more valuable? Why? Why not?

Victoria, Australia

copy and paste. delete. write.

Walking to school skirts up high Secretly changing once mother drives away Bag down low Pants too Talking loudly. Bags sprawled On the floor In front the doors Jumping through carriages Hair in your face and face caked Thinking this is it. Best time of your life. Making out Drinking passion pop Passing out. As good as it could ever get Dont dwell School life teaches you only half reality. It does matter a bit but When Reality hits You will see there is so much more. Some will be highly educated Some not so Do what you like No matter the trade Status update 10 year reunion Who is truly happy Is it education Clothing Cars Bags Or family and people Who has knowledge Who has skill What have you really learnt Is it theory Or books Dont dream of adventure Go Jump off roofs Learn to knit Go and fly Wine and dine Have a plan Or not Honestly, it will be all right As you grow You will change Constant learning Just be kind and smile. Taught someone to copy and paste. made them smile.

To sir with Love

I really enjoyed the movie To sir with love because it explored many differences. Throughout the movie he provided opportunities, inspired and taught believe in self-truth and purpose. The interactions between characters in the movie allowed for development and questioning to take place where everyone learns from each other in each scene. The following are a few key differences I took away from the movie: Social Status: The students were mostly rejects but because Thackarey has worked hard to obtain his education, he ended up giving it all to prepare his students for the future. He taught with love and much patience (though they really did test him and even punched him). He recognized and empathize with their social and economic status and used unconventional methods of teaching to build a bridge and create opportunities for his students where others had given up. Cultural Differences: There was only one black student in the film and most came from an anglo background (thought I saw another mixed student). Culture differences were shown strongly in the sense that that it was seen as forbidden to bring the wreath to a black students house. Thought this did make me question why the parents were quite accepting of having their children being taught by Thackeray. Gender Differences: On a high level, gender difference can be seen when Thackeray instructs the females to be called miss and the males by their last names. The way the female students were treated during the first dance scene and in the schoolyard also show dominance and masculinity. I enjoyed the movie, never would have watched it if not for this class as i'd never heard of it before. Thackeray encouraged the kids to stand up for what they believed and to think for themselves, that is what I believe education does...gives one options and information (which to me is a form of power). I did think the movie could be more realistic but overall I am glad I watched it.

Working with Difference

Educating Rita-I had never heard of this movie but when I saw that Michael Cain was in it drew my attention and then out of nowhere, Mrs Weasley pops in with pink hair! It actually took me awhile to understand her accent too. This movie shows how education can benefit someone, but knowing more doesn't always lead to greener pastures. Rita came from a low culture environment (compared to the "educated and elite") where she had a trade (hairdressing) and her husband basically wanted her to pop out children and she was considered abnormal for aspiring to more. The interactions between the characters also showed growth, trust and they learn from each other. It wasn't completely just about books and exams, but it included teaching each other about social class, expectations, and purpose. Rita saw education as a way to a different life, one that she thought was all glitz and glamour. Little did she know that the educated and higher class have just as many problems as everyone else (and if not more in some ways...too much of a good thing?). This movie led me to think of the following: The impact of this movie on education: Class and social status: Coming from a working class, Rita was not expected to do much with her life and certainly not attend Open University. She broke social norm and was rejected by her husband and others at a point becoming half-cast from both worlds. Each class has certain expectations and if you don't abide by the rules you are OUT! Perhaps at that time open university for "old, uneducated people" was newer? Accent: Rita's accent set her apart from everyone else as she did not have a posh educated england accent like the other students. She is judged by the way she talks at first and people expect her to be uneducated and surprised by her knowledge. Physical: How you look. Do you conform? Does dressing the part make you? From day 1, Rita dressed differently and she stood out from the crowd. The costume department gradually changed her dress style throughout the movie as it developed with her education. The above are just a few thoughts about the movie, I am glad I watched it.

Moongate Oriental Antiques & Gallery @ Hepburn, VIC

When sending out a meeting request, what do you include?

-Date/Time
-Attendees
-Agenda

How important is an agenda and why should you have one?

I believe in being prepared for meetings otherwise it is a waste of time. What do you think?

Simple Innovations

Why do we not have this in pizza takeaway stores?

Train

The clicking of keypad tones from the passenger next to me on the train.
Drove me INSANE.
The constant sound on the old motorola paired along with giggles to oneself was not what I needed after a day of work on a 45 minute train ride home.

Many days have passed since I last wrote a blog entry, I have been busy with working full time and my studies. I cannot say I am a dedicated student, merely one trying to pass each unit to check the boxes.
Perhaps the most exciting part of university life for me is the relationship and culture of my tight-knit class to me.

No one has dropped out. This group of adult learners is quite chatty. We talk about all sorts of things ranging from world travels, kids and even politics.
I could not have asked for a more supportive group of people to complete my first degree in.

Together, we are embarking on a two year course that allows adults to earn a degree in Adult Learning and Development. This course is one of a kind in Australia and I couldn't have chosen a more suitable course. We have people of all ages, all skin colour and varying industries...really the people spark my interest more than the content. Culture: Mauritian, Chinese, Indian, Israeli, Australia (I hope I have got it right), people from all walks of life.

I am thankful for this because the world of academia has not been the friendliest or easiest for me. It is almost like a second full time job or learning a new language (we have decided as a group to call it Swahili). I am glad that APA 6th is no longer like Darth Vadar.

Thank you

HUGGING

is an art to master.

Personal Space is important though.

Did you know there are lifestyle specialists who teach this?!

Matching

The smell of fresh laundry.

Sitting amongst a pile of socks waiting to be sorted.

Matching Every pair.

Makes me happy.

Cat Hearding

I first ran into this video in class but someone mentioned to me I will be hearding cats at work! Enjoy

http://youtu.be/Pk7yqlTMvp8

Dysania

The state of finding it hard to get out of the bed in the morning.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/25-everyday-things-you-never-knew-had-names

wisdom comes about from wise living through embracing tensions of opposites, as well as wonder, mystery, and complexity   

-e j. tisdell

BACONISM

Love is when he see's me at my worst

         yet embraces me as I am.

What I love he extends protection around 

         and helps me carry

Through sickness and in health

         silk dresses, pajamas, beer bellies

                 no makeup or heels

                        eat all the cookies in the jar

As long as it is dark

           he picks me UP

                  maybe cause I make him

BACON

Spirituality is an elusive concept.

How do biological, social, and cultural factors such as race, gender, and sexual orientation affect development and learning?

-Elizabeth J. Tisdell
The Spritual Dimension of Adult Development

Is faith the same as spirituality?

Fowler (1981) describes a six stage process of faith development.

1. Intuitive-projective faith
2. Mythic-literal faith
3. Conventional faith (conformist stage)
4. Individuative-reflective faith
5. Conjunctive faith
6. Universalizing faith

How do images and symbols help us construct knowledge and development? Do things such as art, music and creative works encourage development?

We unconsciously use images and symbols we see to construct knowledge while attempting to act within one's spiritual path.

Fowler, J. Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1981.

Arvo's in Melbourne

to be continued...

This blog was originally started for a unit I am completing at school.  Though the assignment is over, I will continue to add to this blog and will be posting both educational information and other things I find interesting to share with you.  I would love it if you continued exploring with me!

A few things have happened since I last posted:

-I have begun a Yelp account and will be reviewing restaurants and other cool hideouts

-I have begun the process of attempting to make RICE WINE! There are about 10 more days to go.

-I completed the First Glow Run held in Melbourne Australia.

Photo by Alex Bernasconi

I will share more with you soon.

Nature Wisdom

Nature seems to have its own wisdom. The world turns, the sun rises and

sets every day, and seasons change in reliable mystery as life unfolds in a

series of spiraling cycles. Most of the time we pay no attention to these

earthly rhythms and are just caught up in the tasks of daily life. But occasionally,

something catches us off guard, like the mysterious weavings of a

yellow garden spider, and we find ourselves agog contemplating the wonder

of nature and what such “nature wisdom” might teach us for daily living,

or even for our work with adult learners.

-Elizabeth J. Tisdell

Podcast and Audio files

Podcasting and Audio files are making their way into the learning environment whether it is to teach a second language or catching up on a lecture you have missed. My workplace does not currently use either of the above options but I know many students who rely on them to enhance memory, review material, or learn a subject from the beginning. 

I tried to look for a way to upload an audio file that I have created to this blog. I look up a few different ways on the internet and tried to use this link below. It does not work. 

<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://www.google.com/reader/ui/3523697345-audio-player.swf?audioUrl=https://drive.google.com/?tab=lo#folders/0B0oz38HRpFr3aG5BNVNObG1HV2M height="27" width="320"></embed>

I have since uploaded the audio mp3 files to my google drive and I am testing to see if I have enabled the correct settings and if I can successfully create a link in my blog.

Please take a look, I have uploaded files that I have created to help parents learn basic Mandarin or to play for young children. I am still unsure how to change the quality of the audio file and editing, but I used my photo booth and garageband for this experiment.

Chinese Lessons Folder

http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet26/scutter.pdf

Podcasting as Complement to Graduate Teaching: Does It Accommodate Adult Learning Theories?

Luna, Gaye ; Cullen, Deborah

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 2011, Vol.23(1), p.40-47 

Facilitating personal design to appeal to the learner's emotion

Richard E. Mayer suggests that optimal learning occurs when visual and verbal materials are presented purposefully and this is how he defines multimedia instruction (R. E. Mayer, 2009). 

After having been through many sessions both as a learner and facilitator, I have noticed that often the materials we use are trying to be too “fun”.  This brings me to think about cognitive overload and how as educators we can be making it more difficult for learners when we think we are showing them something not necessarily linked to the topic at hand.

Another piece of information I found interesting is when educating through the use of multimedia, the effect of using words such as “your” and personalizing the content brings higher retention and level of understanding (R. E. F. Mayer, Sherry ; Farmer, Lindsay ; Campbell, Julie, 2004). Using words catered and involving the leaner may appeal to their emotions and this increases learning outcomes especially if involving positive emotions (Um, 2012).

I believe some learning material in my workplace could be presented and written following the positive emotion principle. Perhaps VLE could be more personalized. If all learning is conducted via multimedia (including web2.0) are there ways of making sure that students who fit within a certain behaviour/profile have access to information designed specifically for them? This is just a thought as this would not be efficient for Instructional Design teams and would require a vast amount of information to be collated before even beginning implementation. 

I as a learner currently have access to Moodle and Blackboard, now that I am used to it these  systems could be the future of managing workplace learning for a specific role and group of employees who have the level of experience. This is a possibility for the workplace but I am sure something similar to wikispaces could benefit creativity, communication and be in a clear format as well to be used as a central learning "hub" of sorts.

Mayer, Richard E. (2009). Multimedia Learning   Retrieved from http://MONASH.eblib.com.au/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=424624

Mayer, Richard E. (2009). Multimedia Learning   Retrieved from http://MONASH.eblib.com.au/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=424624

Mayer, Richard E. ; Fennell, Sherry ; Farmer, Lindsay ; Campbell, Julie. (2004). A Personalization Effect in Multimedia Learning: students learn better when words are in conversational style rather than formal style.(Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol.96(2)(June), p.389-395. http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com.ezproxy.lib.monash.edu.au/sp-3.8.1a/ovidweb.cgi?QS2=434f4e1a73d37e8c9c245f63f5b4d54dd66bee24c3aa5232c5a46b85cca93c004e60742ebc024b16b230f4d8798137367d3c313aa81a5ae3275880a1620e1d9cb4b3d49e8dc6756af0216f756e24a5c5e67513253191eec150b8b0256bc6084ed4a77fa388941f7b46d444d57ffba8d77c1e694b0f0cd4c32e6f34628bd715f90ec81e41e7c52bae3484e568c2c48498d50b0378b34ffaf9cf86fa3e386f8a1852867cd0bd34227cad19595cf0833d34ebdc8ce5502f524309dc4de07045b6f5b596a86837436390029259617599b8933f1e811a9101493953

Um, Eunjoon “Rachel” ; Plass, Jan L ; Hayward, Elizabeth O ; Homer, Bruce D. (2012). Emotional Design in Multimedia Learning. Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol. 104(2), p.485-498. http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com.ezproxy.lib.monash.edu.au/sp-3.8.1a/ovidweb.cgi?QS2=434f4e1a73d37e8c9c245f63f5b4d54dab320afc8d58a51fd9e398a964d3d725ffb0a213e5472215ebf1d8dbf8cec3bb61a45cbccb70c209e3e9622eb77fb90943d77e3fb8a21639eb65e3350683562ffcdfef5e392e324388639e661cbae6f9fb996e469fc694cbc630c944bcc3964fc2aab3334bfff4d6fad4a85e99a4d036273389b1ebfd33282ec5aa5d89caca6cacc2708f0e465c142f5aad2a3363f57d4738274c864cb51353ecf04b12049ed53aec05e637e8f5899daf6fb8441327fea88e6f1553b45b4848d7bb46f1bafa829aef1e941b4ae2d57b doi:10.1037/a0026609

Cognitive load and Prezi

"Cognitive load theory has been designed to provide guidelines intended to assist in the presentation of information in a manner that encourages learner activities that optimize intellectual performance" (Sweller 1998).

Customer facing staff often do not have the ability to listen to a podcast in a retail branch and studies have shown that pictures can often represent and transfer information to the user in a clearer format (Sweller 1998). When designing training for customer facing staff, the instructional designer needs to the environment of the training taking place. It would not look professional to have staff with headphones on when a customer walks into the retail branch. 

With this in mind, I created a presentation using a tool called Prezi which you can sign up for free with. I found this allowed for creativity and from my point of view more engaging to a learner.  I did find some difficulty initially when learning to use Prezi however did eventually find usage easier after a few tries. I have seen some challenging and engaging Prezi's and would recommend you give this tool a try. Next time I use prezi I would probably consider using Popplet (mind mapping tool online) first so I can make planning easier. 

I believe if there was a way for an organisation to use Prezi officially in the workplace (with policies and procedures in mind) it would be more popular. 

Check out Prezi here.

Sweller, J., Van Merriënboer, J., & Paas, F. (1998). "Cognitive architecture and instructional design". Educational Psychology Review 10 (3): 251–296.doi:10.1023/A:1022193728205