Kelly McGonigal: How to make stress your friend

This talk inspired me because I believe I suffer from stress. Stress is a person's response to a stressor such as an environmental condition or a stimulus. Stress is a body's method of reacting to a challenge. According to the stressful event, the body's way to respond to stress is by sympathetic nervous system activation which results in the fight-or-flight response. Stress describes a negative condition or a positive condition that can have an impact on a person's mental and physical well-being.

I often worry too much with regards to university work and I have a fear of failing so I become stressful, which sometimes causes me nosebleeds and also lack of sleep. However this video has opened my eyes to the fact that I can view stress as a positive contributor to my work. As my heart rate increases I can say that it is trying to meet the demands of my action and my heavier breathing is improving oxygen transportation to my brain. This talk has taught me that how I view stress matters, because if we can change our perception of stress we can change our response to it and view it as a positive influence that can be controlled. In this video Kelly talks about  a stress hormone in the brain known as OXYTOCIN. It is a hormone that strengthens relationships, which makes us crave physical contact and enhances empathy all of which improves sociability. So, by talking to others about our stresses we can protect our cardiovascular system and vasodilation of our blood vessels which will improve blood flow. Now that I have heard a different approach to stress I can try to relax more and worry less about coursework because I trust myself to handle life's challenges because I don't have to face them alone!

Cameron Russell: Looks aren't everything. Believe me, I'm a model.

Cameron Russell is known globally as a model. This Ted Talk inspired me because in todays society there is a fixed stereotype that girls must be a size 6, be very tall and slender and must wear make up to be seen as "beautiful."

I totally disagree with this statement because I strongly feel that who a person is defines them not what they look like! Cameron Russell argues against this fixed stereotype and says everyone is beautiful in their own way, we should see past the physical stuff and look inside to see true beauty.
She talks about her modelling career from a young age and states that one day she'd be modelling for vogue and the next she'd be playing soccer. She states "Image is powerful, but image is superficial..." By this she means that being beautiful can help you get a job,  however it is insignificant to our lives. There is also a stereo type that you have to be a white girl to be attractive. However, take for example Tara Banks; she is an obvious exception to this rule.

We shouldn't be judged on our appearance based on skin colour. I think the very important message to take from this is that models tend to be the most insecure people of all as they always have to worry about "what they look like" and "what to wear" as they are constantly in the public eye. We all have our insecurities and we should all embrace them because that is what makes every individual, being different and not afraid to show it!

Tag Galaxy

Tag Galaxy is a fantastic tool that helps students explore relationships between words and ideas, as well as view pictures associated to the original word. 

How to use Tag Galaxy?

You can type any word into the search bar and shorty after a galaxy will appear with the original word at the centre and the associated ideas orbiting around the word.  If you hover around a word, pictures will appear related to the word from the social networking site Flickr. Tag Galaxy  is a very fascinating way to view information and is designed with attractive features in mind.

How to integrate Tag Galaxy into the classroom:

Tag Galaxy is a brilliant way to visually explore words and their associations, together with the help of pictures. This tool could be used by students by aiding them with writing work like poems, creative writing and stories! The connection with Flickr helps students to visualize words, ideas, and concepts through guiding them with pictures. Tag Galaxy could be used for classroom activities such as starter games including word association to increase brain activity before the lesson. I believe this will be a beneficial tool within the classroom because from personal experience I learn better through pictures and diagrams because it aids my understanding.

http://youtu.be/iiDX-wIiZ80

Educationeye

Education Eye is an online webpage that is free, engaging and easy-to-use! It provides a wide range of exciting, meaningful and useful innovations that are selected from the best webpages. The education eye provides a method to discover, explore and share new ideas that can improve work and knowledge. It creates a type of 'map' from the best educational websites, blogs and forums and draws it all together in one. Education Eye provides up to date information about innovative ideas being explored in the educational community which is presented in a mind map form that is interactive.

With reference to the educational context, education eye provides fast search results that finds content relevant to education. It is an effective method that provides you with correct information with regards to the work and is a very quick process which saves you the time and effort of searching through numerous pages of information as it provides it all on a webpage.

TED: Geoffrey Canada: Our failing schools. Enough is enough!

Geoffrey Canada is an inspiration to me because he wants to see changes within education as he believes the educational system is failing us drastically! "America is willing to spend trillions on the protection and safety of its country however, its against spending money on education for future generations as they deem it 'unimportant' This talks main focus is INNOVATION. Innovation is the act of introducing something new. This needs to be done with regards to education. Geoffrey refers to 0-3 years of age as the most important time of a child as this is the starting point to learning, desires and future. Geoffrey frequently studies data regarding the provision of education and it has come to his attention that education is the same year after year however, we don't do anything to improve it! why is that?
We spend a ridiculous amount of money testing children's knowledge however, we never try to improve it! By the time we get the result back its too late to help the children because we're already in the next academic year. Educational system needs to be changed to improve better standards of delivery. As I want to become a teacher my main priority is to provide education in the best way to give each child a good start in life, as this is my career path I have one duty... that is to offer the best I can but enabling that it benefits the child in the future otherwise its pointless.

Wordnik

Wordnik is an online dictionary that provides explanation and context for a word or words. Nowadays students tend to avoid using old, dusty books older than their grandparents, however the availability of the internet has transformed the way that students study. The use of Worknik is excellent because it allows children to use the internet to help them with school work! The beauty of using Wordnik is that it does not only provide two small, slight definitions but ranges from a variety of different definitions from wide sources and also provides a sentence in which the word is in context to make it more understandable for the individual. I admit I do NOT use my dictionary very often as I don't like the hassle of flicking through pages and pages searching for one word, I would much rather use Wornik as its fast and easy! A word I often have difficulty spelling is Inquisitive and I would also use this word in the wrong context however, through using Wordnik I have understood the word due to the various definitions available. inquisitive means: someone who is... Too curious; overly interested; nosy or Inclined to investigate; eager for knowledge.

 A synonym would be:

curious

inquiring      

intrusive

I believe that Wordnik should be used in school lessons especially in English as it allows children time to use the internet resources available but they are still being educated in the process.

Wordle

Wordle is a visual representation for text data used to portray keywords, tags on websites, or to visualize free text.  Wordle is a tool for creating a cloud or branch of images that use the size of the text to represent the most common words! Wordle is fast, simple and easy to play with which is why it is a suitable tool for education.  You can also tweak the layout, colours and font until you are satisfied with your final image. With relevance to education wordle is an appropriate tool to use as it is quick and easy and can be used for a variety of things. If pupils want to study for tests, wordle provides a programme that allows students to type in any key word for the subjects they are studying and any other words that are associated with the subject.  Therefore Wordle can be an effective way to create spider diagrams and mind maps. Wordle can be used as a simple revision guide which saves pupils time as they don’t have to 'look through pages and pages of work' as all the information will be in one place. Recently, whilst being at university I have used a method of Wordle called “Taxgedo” which allowed me to type in a key word and in seconds appeared a branch of words which had a connection with the initial key word. I believe this will be an effective way for me to study in the future.

Voki

VOKI    
                       

Voki is a web programme that allows you to create a talking Avatar and is considered an effective, educational learning tool within the classroom. Voki is essentially an animation providing information to students.  Voki characters can be customized to resemble historical figures, cartoons, animals, and even a clone of yourself which will make the information more valuable! I believe Voki is a very exciting, modern way of teaching pupils.  Voki can be used by teachers or educators to introduce courses or topics in a simple manner. It can also be used to aid and instruct those who are more audio and visual learners as it involves looking at the avatar and listening to the information it provides.  I think that Voki is a very supportive method of learning which helps shy students develops their confidence. Through using Voki students can practice oral and listening skills which do not require interaction with the teacher. Voki can also help foreign language students to feel more comfortable talking within the classroom and also it can help pupils proofread their papers.

Using Voki?

You can give your Voki a voice by recording with a microphone or uploading an audio file. Voki characters can be emailed, shared on social media, and embedded on websites ! Voki is particularly easy to use which will appeal to students because no student likes a “complicated” task.

Here are two videos which suggest why Voki is beneficial and how it is seen as useful in the classroom:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/ao9KQltMkP0

http://youtu.be/pZwQTm_5s6Q

Glogster

Glogster is a form of social networking that allows users to create interactive posters for free!  A Glog is an interactive multimedia image, that resembles a poster. However, readers can interact with the content. Glogster allows texts, images, photos and audios to be imbedded on the poster which makes it more attractive to learners.  Glogster EDU allows teachers and pupils to use glogs as instructional aids and share their Glogs in private virtual classroom. Glogster is a simple application which is easily accessible to staff and students and is a smart tool to use in classrooms.

The benefits of using glogster for teachers is that its  creative, collaborative and innovative digital programme  makes teaching and learning more fun. It is a private and safe platform that is monitored directly by teachers. Glogster is a valuable teaching tool that integrates diverse core subjects including math, science, history, art, photography, music and much,  much more!

For learners glogster is a  fun, imaginative, and powerful learning experience that fosters independent and creative self expression, positive teacher-student relationships, and teamwork on class projects. It is a vibrant, multi-sensory learning experience that integrates student knowledge and skills with traditionally text-oriented subjects, and inspires intellectual curiosity.

I found this link very useful in helping me learn how to use Glogster as an educational tool http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/glogster/

Pros and cons of a web2 page

Facebook is an online social networking service. Facebook was founded in February 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with his college room-mates at Harvard University.

• Registering on the site is an easy process.
• It transcends all physical boundaries, and lets you connect with long-lost friends and distant family.
• You can share your thoughts, post photographs and events on a daily basis.
• The site offers you the freedom to choose who you'd like to share your 'updates' with.
• You can stay updated with all the current affairs of the world.
• You can be well informed about what goes on in the lives of the people who are close to you.
• You can interact with people with similar thoughts and ideas across the globe. You can even choose to be a part of groups with people who have a common cause or merely just a similar interest.
• The site provides you with a virtual time-line of your life through your Facebook updates over the years.
• The site gives you an opportunity to express yourself, and  'to be heard.'
• Facebook serves as a platform to message and even video chat with your friends.
• The many online games that are a part of the website, let you unwind and even promote social interaction with their many multi-player functions.
• You can watch and share your favourite videos and photographs.
• You can 'promote' your product or even your updates if you choose to do so with other users.
• You can even organise events, it is an easy process
• Facebook and its features are all free

• Although a lot has been done to improve the site's security, it still has a lot of loopholes.
• Privacy is a major concern for most Facebook users, and you need to take care to see who you share your social feeds with.
• You can be bombarded with updates about things that don't really interest you or are of your concern; these could be updates about your acquaintances or even about the pages that people in your friends list may randomly like which is a major disruption
•  Often there seems to be very little that separates your personal life from your social life.
• There is always the possibility of identity theft on the site.
• There are loads of fake and bogus accounts on the site, with people looking to steal your personal information.
• The games and the site itself can be very addictive.
•  In spite of the many security settings in place, your images can still be misused.
• There have also been several instances of online stalkers.
• The frequent updates can be irritating
• On the rise are a number of commercial adverts on the website, which can be quite annoying, and hampers the overall user experience.

Pros and cons of a web2 page

Twitter is an online social networking service that enables users to send and read ‘tweets’ which are limited to 140 characters.

·  Twitter allows you to follow your favourite celebrities and get the latest news on their everyday lives
· Twitter provides verification of true and false celebrities so you know you are following the real “Celebrity"
· Twitter provides an advertisement for businesses and prompts your company across the world which will increase commercialisation 
· Twitter provides security which only allows your followers to view your page and pictures
· Twitter can be used at home or on the go! Via Ipad, IPod, Tablet, Laptop or computer
· Twitter provides the opportunity to communicate with celebrities by replying to tweets
· Via using your blog you can imbed your twitter profile and increase your followers
·  Twitter is a very simple application to use for social reasons
· Small/Local events can have a higher impact as it gains more awareness and support online through the use of twitter
· Discussions about the 'event' on Social Networks is possible through groups, chats, #hashtags, search and more
· The general population is able to get up-to-date information about the event, quite often faster than they can through National/International Media
·  Tools to help filter, aggregate, and share social media messages in time with delayed/different time-zone broadcasting is under way

 

·   Twitter only allows 140 characters per tweet/post which limits you

·   Twitter is sometimes valued too highly, a very high percentage of teenagers use twitter non-stop preventing their concentration and causing a decline in educational motivation

·    Twitter is highly built around ‘ads’ which is a great frustration and a total annoyance

·    Some reports of bullying have been discovered through the use of this social network

·   With regards to celebrities they are often penalised and written about in the media if they have commented on something over twitter which often causes speculation

·   Time-Zone lag time allows viewing of the event in different time zones to be ruined by fans announcing details online

·     Rumours can develop and spread quicker as well

·   Social Media participation and reactions to re-screenings, coverage, and delayed broadcasting of events is significantly lowered due to the amount of spoilers

·   Events can escalate quickly with many fans jumping on the bandwagon, for better or worse

     

Say it in seven

This is a rough version of my 'say it in seven' video. Here, are 8 pictures I took all on the same day and things I found interesting and pretty. My final version will be based on Christmas. Christmas is my favourite time of the year because I love the build up to the big day, I thoroughly enjoy buying gifts for family and friends, I love spending time with all the family together and reminiscing over the year, I adore my mothers cooking- especially Christmas dinner because my mother goes all out! I love the pretty light and decorations and the greetings off others. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

Reflective Learning

Reflective learning can develop critical thinking, self awareness and analytical skills within an individual. It is very important to both staff and student. However, for students it may help them understand how theories can be applied into practice. It can help demonstrate to individuals what worked or didn't work, what may need to be done differently or how individuals may need to develop their behaviour and practice.
Reflective learning may be captured and assessed through work in various forms, including: a
reflective portfolio, log, essay, journal or diary. These provide a structure to capture thoughts and recollections, forming a record that can be reviewed to gain further insight or guidance or record new learning, providing evidence of personal development.
A learning log for example is a simple but effective way of getting to grips with the idea of reflection. I could set ten minutes aside each week to write a learning log (every Friday afternoon). A log is similar to a diary or portfolio, but it has set headings that encourage us to record key
events/experiences since the last log, our reactions to them, and then reflect on them to draw out conclusions about what happened and determine any different actions you should take.

Here are four things to record in a simple learning log:

1. The experience/situation/event
2. Your initial reactions to it
3. What you did
4. What you learned from the experience/situation/event

Rugby

As a major rugby fan the purpose of this post is essentially to display my rage towards the horrific prices for rugby kits and tickets! I strongly believe the price of international kits and tickets are ludicrously overpriced! It has come to my attention that the Welsh Rugby Union kit costs a total of £113.97 which is an extortionate price to pay for three items of clothing! A shirt would cost £79.99 alone, with shorts at a price of £21.99 and socks for £11.99. For a rugby fanatic like myself this is an unacceptable price to pay... I have a deep passion for rugby as it plays a major role in my heritage therefore I believe it is unfair to pay such a price, what do you think?
Secondly, I would like to discuss ticket prices. An average ticket price for Wales versus South Africa would cost £60.00 per person. This is a ridiculous amount to pay for eighty minutes, nervously watching thirty angry men quarrelling and pounding each other over an oval shaped ball. These prices are far too unreasonable to pay for rugby supporters such as myself and I strongly believe that something should be done to change this nonsense before the rugby industry vastly looses a high percentage of support both spiritually and financially!

Introduction

Hi, my name is Phoebe-Jo. I'm 18 years of age and I'm currently in higher education. I have a strange obsession with lava lamps and cacti. I'm rather comedic but a hopeless romantic!

THAT'S IT...so enjoy!