Creativity Contract Project

Since I'm a CMSD major, I felt it would be appropriate to incorporate my personal interests into this project. I created a site called SLP Style, and I included all kinds of neat information for SLPs or anyone interested in speech at all. I hope you enjoy! :)

Creative Cooking

Recently, I discovered a blog called Chocolate Covered Katie. A young genius, named Katie, has developed several delicious dessert recipes that are also healthy. This is great for me, because I love dessert, but I also bought a dress I need to wear to wedding, and... it's a little snug.

Katie has a recipe for a dip. Cookie dough dip. How amazing does that sound? I had to make it. Her picture is seen below:

I bought all the ingredients and hurried home to make it. It was at this point that I realized I had missed a crucial detail. You need a food processor to blend the ingredients (It has garbanzo beans in it... who would think of that?!). Well, I don't have a food processor, or money, and no one in my apartment had one. I resulted to manuel squashing because I was desperate to make this dip work. In the end, it tasted pretty delicious, but it wasn't as visually stimulating:

I got paid yesterday, so I splurged on a food processor, and I plan on recreating this dip soon. I'll admit it, it's almost gone already!

FFOE Creativity

J.P. Guilford believes that Fluency, Flexibility, Originality, and Elaboration describe creativity. Personally, I struggle with originality the most. It sounds sad, but I honestly feel like I have very few original ideas these days. Perhaps it has something to do with the theory that schools kill creativity. I just often find myself struggling to come up with something brand new, and not regurgitated. Storybird helped me with my originality a bit because I never thought about using online books in Speech Therapy. It provided me with an idea, but I applied it differently than the traditional use. I think that qualifies as originality. It can also be applied with flexibility, considering the user can alter the text in any book any way they wish.

I looked a little a Worditout, a program that allows users to create word clouds. This could be really beneficial for younger students who are learning about different kinds of words (adverbs, adjectives, nouns, etc.). I certainly could see myself using this in the future.

Creative Studying

So I spent a good part of this morning trying to think of something creative to do, but nothing was coming to mind. I decided that this mental block is probably related to the fact that I have my first test of the semester Thursday, and I'm reasonably anxious. I had planned on making some flashcards, but I write slowly and it seemed like such a mundane task. It was in this moment that I had a great idea. I had bought some bright, neon card stock awhile back for reasons unknown, and I have a printer... so that only means one thing- neon business/flashcards!

I used a business card template on my word processor and typed out all the definitions and terms I needed to review. After a couple of hours (much less time than writing, I usually take all day), I had almost 100 beautiful, bright study cards. I'm pretty happy with myself over them. :)

Here's the finished product!

Web 2.0 Tools

I've haven't really found too many useful sites on the Internet, but the Web 2.0 tool list given to me for this EDIT 2000 project has led me to a wonderful discovery. Storybird. The site has a relatively simple mission: to allow users to make free, web-based books. This is an amazing site to me. Firstly, it breaks down the complicated process of bookmaking into an easy, step-by-step, user-friendly process. It's perfect for creative teachers and SLPs! I plan on teaching speech to adults, but if I ever do work with kids, this will definitely be a site I'll return to. As a Speech-Language Pathologist, you could work with any child's skill set to create a perfect, readable book for their level. How awesome is that?!

Also, the site lets you use artist's images in your creations, providing you with inspiration or simply accenting your own creative idea. You can also search by theme, allowing a wide range of images to be analyzed. 

Storybird is going to be a great resource for me, and I'm super happy I have it!

Here's a picture of the program in action.

Horizon Report Response

I think the most significant change that education system will be facing from technology is the concept of speed. With technology now, students expect to have access to anything, anywhere, at any time. This can be challenging for schools worldwide. Having access to newer computer systems and allowing these items to be placed in the classroom will be very important in shifting toward a technology friendly environment. Collaborative learning has also gained much respect recently when it comes to education. Students need to share their ideas with one another in order to be able to think deeply. Adding new technologies and making sure students have hospitable environments to collaborate in are extremely important for future educators.

Keychain Collecting

I'm not entirely sure if this qualifies as a hobby, but I certainly feel that it's worth mentioning. Since I've carried keys, I have had keychains. I'm not sure why, but I am somewhat fascinated with the ideas people have developed for keychains. Catchy logos, team spirit, bottle openers, mini-fans, etc. I've seen a lot of amazing keychains. My collection started out rather small; I don't travel too often. My friends who made trips would always be sure to bring me back one so I could add it to my collection. I've long been made fun of (and been given warnings on the safety of my ignition) over my long keychain ropes. When I got to go to Disney World for graduation, my collection nearly doubled. I'm actually ashamed to admit the amount of money I spent on keychains. However, I have no regrets. I love my collection, so much so that I brought it with me to Athens. I have a small box here to keep the ones I like best, and a bigger box back home. It may seem silly to most, but I love collecting these things. It's exciting in such an interesting way, and I hope my collection never stops growing. I've included a few pictures below to show off. :)

This is my Athens box. I love having them on hand to switch out now and then.

This is one of the many Disney World keychains I bought!

One of my friends actually made me this keychain! How cool is that? :)

Creating a Learning Environment

Although it is not a classroom, I consider the environment of my SLP Office very important. I haven't decided if I want to work primarily with adults or children, so I designed a room that I thought could accommodate the needs of a wide range of patients. I made sure to have plenty of storage for activities, games, or any paperwork I may have to file. Young children often need manipulatives incorporated into their lesson so that they will stay focused, and I wanted to make sure I have great access to these items. I also felt that the aquarium could be particularly useful for younger children; I could help them learn to pronounce the species names of the fish. However, I have made sure that it is on wheels, so that if it becomes a distraction it can be easily removed. 

I put in a rug in place for children who prefer sitting on the floor. This way, we'd have a nice, contained space to work and play in. It's also located right near the door, making the room seem comforting and homey. I have my own desk for filing purposes, and I have a desk for worksheets and board games to be played on. I know a lot of students will want to sit on the floor, but sometimes a desk helps them focus more.

I included the couch mainly for my older patients, thinking it might help them feel more comfortable, since most older SLP students are often nervous coming in for therapy. This way, it would seem that we are on the same level together, and that no one is superior. If they'd rather, we could use the desk, but I would always initially gesture towards the couch, encouraging them to relax. 

Digital Nativism

    Although Marc Prensky's notion of Digital Nativism is a little heavy, and starts at a random year, I find much truth in his claim. For the most part, the younger generation (born post 1982) grew up using technology, and the older generations have had to adapt to it. I consider myself a digital native, and since I'm unsure whether or not I plan on working with older or younger patients, I feel that it wouldn't be too difficult for me to incorporate technology into my instruction. Speech-Language Pathology has never relied too heavily on technology, but it'd be nice to change that idea.

    I agree that this generation is much more in tuned with learning and encourages higher education, as the article states. However, it also goes into a rant about video games and their impact on children, and I just find those statistics overwhelmingly bloated. If children are only exposed to age-appropriate games, and are also being properly educated, it just doesn't seem logical to blame behavioral problems on a video game. In my opinion, proper discipline will help eliminate negative behaviors from a child. Technology shouldn't be used as a crutch here.

    McKenzie's article has many interesting points; I mentioned some in the prior paragraph in this post. I honestly do not feel like his point can be argued as negative or positive. Personally,  think that technology does more good than harm, but I may be biased, being a "digital native" myself. Technology can be incorporated into any classroom, but I think it depends on the environment of the room as to whether or not a teacher or instructor chooses to include it. My field may limit me when incorporating technology, as I know at one point I will be working with stroke victims, and most of them will be digital immigrants.

Class of 2025 Mindset:

1. Michael Jackson's music will be considered as part of the "classics".

2. They will not remember cars with key-start ignitions.

3. They will have never seen gas prices under $2.00.

4. Film will have never been used in their movie theatres.

5. They likely will have never seen a flip phone.

My Learning Story

Party Mix Practice

    When I was 14, I was given my mother’s recipe for her prized “Party Mix”. It sounds like a relatively boring snack, but it is an amazingly seasoned dish that has gotten rave reviews since it made its first appearance back in the 80’s. I was ecstatic; aside from its delicious flavor, I had dreamed of learning how to make this treat since I was 4 years old. In addition to giving me the recipe, my mom also helped me along the entire process, which I assume primarily was to help me with the oven since she feared I would burn down the house. The recipe has the basic components one would expect: cereal, pretzels, nuts, and butter. The spices and seasonings make the recipe tricky. There are over 14 spices present in this dish, ranging in quantity from 1/4 of a teaspoon to 3 tablespoons. Keeping up with the respective spices proved to be the most difficult part of learning the recipe. I tried to make creative associations between the names and amounts, but the only way the information stuck was through repetition. After adding all the ingredients and putting the mix into the oven, the only thing left to do is stir. After a few more times baking the dish, and with the help of a cheat sheet, I finally memorized the recipe. The actual process of cooking wasn’t too hard, it was just getting the recipe down. I’m still not allowed to repeat it or give it out, so I made sure that I destroyed my cheat sheet. I was fairly impressed with myself by the end of the whole learning process, which took me about 3 weeks. We stay pretty stocked up on Party Mix around the holidays, and it’s nice that I can now to contribute to easing away the madness.

Meaningful Learning Response

Meaningful Learning  

I feel like I have an Intentional theory of learning. I usually take on more than I can handle, and I survive by giving myself goals to reach. I really enjoy setting a goal to help me succeed; it also increases willpower. I feel like most people learn in a more hands-on, or Authentic learning style. It's much easier to complete a reading or a project if it has some sort of relation to everyday life. Learning in these ways relies on many things, especially technology in today's world. Google searching, group messaging, Microsoft Word, SmartBoards, etc. make meaningful learning today much more attainable.

I personally find the "articulation, not repetition" point made in the reading very important. I plan on becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist, and in the most literal sense, this is exactly what I aim to do. In a more theoretical since, it means that the student will be able to learn on their own for some part, rather than relying on memorization. Intentional learning will also be a very important part for my practice, considering the student needs to have the internal desire to improve. Technology can again play a part in these practices; students can use audio recordings of speech sounds to help better their speech on their own time, out side of secessions.