Inspired to blog

Find resources on the internet is easy, just type a word into Google and a myriad of information is at your fingertips to sift through.  I have used Google many times and have come to realise that too much is not necessarily a good thing.  Using advanced search, however, enables you to filter your results.  I think the best way to learn this process is to play with it, and of course it becomes easier the more you do it.

I already had an SSKS and Open Athens account created so this made “Thing 7″ relatively straightforward.  I have also completed a degree online and used many libraries and searches to find information.  I think I have said this in a previous blog, the difficulty for me is staying focused as I tend to find things of interest and go of on a million different tangents.

For this exercise I searched for aggression in childrens residential and came up with Client Violence Against Youth Care Workers: Findings of an Exploratory Study of Workforce Issues in Residential Treatment.  I chose to read this one as it was up to date and seemed relevant.  Of course anything in this field is relevant as I work in Childrens Residential and all learning is good in my book.  On Google I did a different search regarding relationships in childrens residential and this was one of the first pages I found Attachment Theory and Residential Treatment:A Study of Staff -Client Relationships.  Again this is totally relevant to my field of work.  This was a great read and I found it really easy to relate with what was being said. 

OER provides a multitude of learning materials free to distribute, access, adapt and use to promote learning.  The SSSC OER was easier to find something directly linked to my interests.  The search in the OER Commons covered a wider subject area and therefore had a wide variety of materials.  This made my search harder, I guess this would take practice or some sort of library catalogue would be helpful.  On each site I was able to access something of interest which linked me to a free Open Univeristy training course (one of which I think I may have completed already). 

I think that because these resources are free that would be of great benefit to students and also any individual with any interest in a variety of subject areas.  I have not explored them enough to find out if they would stand up to all requirements of academic writing.  But they certainly would be an additional, easy to access source of information.  Until today I had never heard of OER so this may be another issue if people are not aware that it exists. 

If it is free; free from copyright; allows you to adapt training materials to suit your organisation, I would think that is a good thing and a tool to be utilised whilst everyone is trying to reduce expenses including training budgets.

Changing the mindset and practice of how learning and training is delivered will probably be a consideration regarding its popularity or suitability. 

I think I have found this one of the easiest badges to complete.  I have complete a six year part-time online degree course through UHI which was all online with no physical class attendance other than for exams. 

I think the biggest attribute to my success was motivation.  I was completely focused on the end goal as I had wanted to do it for such a long time.  After the initial first poor grade essay, I only improved and consistently got grades I was happy with.  The confidence came in bursts, with the first A came a huge burst of motivation and confidence.  Another huge factor in maintaining the self confidence was probably the anonymity of it all.  I never met a tutor or other student face to face which made it easier not to fear failure I think.  Of course it was not always plain sailing and at times it was difficult and I would have gladly been in a classroom with others to debate things with.  I think this is the only thing I missed, a good conversation in the presence of other people.  Contradictory views, I know, but for the most part I like being able to work at my own pace with all resources electronicaly/digitally (not sure what the difference is - that will be a Google search for later) available.  The only downside to this is of course information overload and the distraction of finding information which leads you on another information trail to satisfy your curiousity or is it learning?

Collaboration was probably an area I didn’t enjoy as the conversation was sometimes hard to read and it felt like you  were not being listened to; misunderstood or criticised.  I am sure that in a face to face conversation the social cues, body language and tone of voice would have made this interpretation inaccurate.  However, we managed to get through the group work and I guess that shows that collaboration is achievable, however difficult it may seem at the time.  Working with others is a skill and I find that as the years pass this is something I have understood more and more.  It does not necessarily make it easier but I can recognise the individuality of others and try to respect this.

I have been using digital technology it seems like forever, I am not scared to give anything a go and in a past life used to administer a computer network. Although that is a distant memory I am sure it boosted my confidence for dealing with new advances as they became available.  I, of course, am aware there is stil much out there I have never looked at or touched on and therefore, much more I can learn.

Working through 23things digital is an opportunity to increase my knowledge in a user friendly format, at my own pace and when my motivation kicks in. 

The SSSC badges have also been promoted in a staff meeting and I was ecnouraged to join the Aspiring Leaders course which I throgoughly enjoyed.  I think my organisation could probably do more to promote the use of SSSC badges, I feel at the moment it is down to individual motivation as it has not been mentioned again.  But then I guess that clearly shows the motivation of the individual.

Thing 15: Video chat/webinars

I have experienced video chat such as Facetime and Skype and have found them both to be a good way of communicating especially over a long distance.  I have family in Australia so it is a great way to feel more connected with them.  However, there are sometimes issues with connectivity which makes it  a bit slow or the video function only works on one half of the conversation.  That said I still think that it is great to be able to see family so easily.

The disadvantages apart from poor connection I would suggest would be privacy. There could be opportunities for people to be watching and listening to your conversation that you were unaware of.

I  have also participated in webinars, again there were a few hiccups with the technology but when it worked again it was a good way to communicate as you could see the people and their body language and expressions.  I think that these are as much part of a conversation as the words used.  Also it is good to put a face to the person you are speaking to, especially if you are going to be in contact again.  For me it makes a much better connection with that person and how knowing them just that little bit better by seeing what they look like makes the communication different.

Thing 14: Email

I have used email, it seems, forever. I can hardly remember a time in my working life when it wasn’t there.  But unfortunately, my age is showing as I can remember my first office job and using Telex machine and fax machines to send messages.  

How easy it is then to send an email, you open one programme, start typing and send, then it is gone and received within seconds.

The amount of emails received and sent can be quite vast.  Thinking where to store them in some sort of order is also quite daunting.  I have different folders for work and personal mail.  Within each of these I have sections related to different subjects.  For work I have sub folders: Training; meetings; SSSC; PIN forms; personal; payslips and more.  For home I have: holidays; training; college; bank; cars and more.  The list needs of course to be useful in order that you can find information.  However, the search function across all folders is great if you can’t remember.  I guess the hardest thing to do with all those emails is to decided what to keep and what to delete.  I have to say I transfer files into years, and as they accumulate delete older years, especially at work.

The MOMO app is available for the AppStore.  It is for Young PEople and also care workers and is another tool to engage with young people.

The app allows communication between a young person and a care worker in a format which may be easier for them to use rather than a face to face conversation.  They can send a message to a worker  and this can be from anywhere and in any setting. 

The idea of the app is to allow children to be heard and listened to, and the message sent through the app can be downloaded as a pdf which means that this is an accurate account from the young person.  The worker is not having to write anything down or their interpretation of what has been said.  Of course the App can be used working alongside young people.

I could go on and explain much more but I will provide you a link which provides more MOMO information but also askes us to become “Unfearties” - what a great word.  Check it out:

My first blog ever so I will start peerie wyes (cautiously).

I am wondering why so apprehensive to blog initially, it has been a painless journey so far.

It’s easy to research recommendations and find a wealth of information, however, for me a typical Llibran, weighing up the options took an exceptionally long time to choose.

Creating and editing my own blog theme and having a quick look at how expert others are at posting interesting blogs is inspiring.  Hopefully my motivation will be to share, reflect and appreciate.  A whole new world to engage with and enjoy.  Wish me luck.