Work and Labour (not included in blog count)

This week we covered what work and labour are and how hey relate to us as humans and our occupations we do during our life.

Labour is activity that corresponds to the biological process of the human body, it is something that we do from start to finish. Its something you "have" to do. Its about survival.

Work are the things that we want to do rather than the things we need to do, activity that corresponds to the unnaturalness of human existence. Things you choose to do within life is considered work. Work brings joy to us.

The activity of exercise is what I consider to be work, the joy I create for myself when I arrive at the gym ready for my class is exciting, the atmosphere in the room, with the loud heart racing music brings back memories of when I used to live in New Plymouth. These memories are of me using exercise classes as a way to relax after a hard day of study at my then "chefing" course. I could remember the smell of the gym, it brought with it a sense of working hard to sweat out the tension from the day, this is a bit of ambiance in itself, the smells, memories, lighting, people, all add to why i saw the gym as a means of fun, work and activity.

BLOG 6. Final Blog

In this final blog I’m asking myself what I understand exercise to be now that I have covered exercise in relation to ambiance, affordance, ergonomics and practical considerations.

I have come to discover that to me exercise holds valuable memories; these memories are portrayed through the four components above and each one holds different insight into how exercise makes me feel. I am a firm believer that what you put in is what you get out, this being a part of the ambience of exercise, the memory linked to this is one when I was living in a different city and I worked hard exercising for four months and I got so much more out of it than I have this time round living in Hamilton (this memory is my motivator). Ergonomics and Affordances are the structure to exercise, I am now aware of how I see that I fit into the larger picture within exercise and how I can adapt to the environment and vice versa. And Lastly Practical Considerations, the vital tools I need to complete my activity, I have learnt that without these tools I can-not successfully carry out exercise, memory plays a huge part in practical considerations where I must remember each one of them in order to make exercising run smoothly which is hard when there’s so much other influential things I need to remember.

This brings me to my final consideration of how right now Stress is influencing my exercise routine. What exercise routine?? At the moment I don’t have one; my head is so full of study that I can barely think about going to the gym, as Fiennes (1999, p.  17) states when a person is in the most dedicated routine of exercising they can be thrown into the winds by a stressful event. This is exactly how I feel right now, so I think back to last year at this time when I was in the same situation and remember that even though it was hard I kept my routine up as much as I could and it helped remarkably, moral of the story is what you put in, you get out! I love exercise.

Fiennes, R. (1999). Fit for life: Reach your personal best- and stay there. London: Butler & Tanner Ltd.

Student peer review: Lucy Kelly: Spirituality post, Sarah Mete: Reflections of running and inspirational nana, Isabella Circa: Me and My scrapbooking, Megan-lee Carrington: Getting ready for the game and Fatuma Salat: Affordances part 2.

Butler, M. (2011). Participation in occupation two: BT238001 [Lecture notes]. Dunedin, New Zealand: Otago Polytechnic, School of Occupational Therapy.

 Christiansen, C., & Townsend, E. (2010). Introduction to occupation: The art and science of living (2^nd Ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.

Fiennes, R. (1999). Fit for life: Reach your persona best –and stay there. London: Butler  & Tanner Ltd.

Hixon, S. (2011). Photography and spirituality: The inner world of the borderline photographic personality.

Medycyna & Sportowa. (2011). Health benefits of doing physical exercise yoga reported by the students of the academy of physical education in Katowice, 2(4), 123-131. Retrieved from EBSCO HOST database.

Stephens, S. (2010). Peter buck center for health and fitness. Architectural Record, 198(11), 120-123. Retrieved from EBSCO HOST database.

 

BLOG 5. Pulling out Affordances/Spirituality/Ergonomics/Communication

I decided to do two 1hour classes this day, as this time my day allowed for this extra time as I didn’t have a lot of study to do, this is an affordance for me. The first class was Body vive which involves strength and endurance of all your muscles. I started out running late to the class, so i joined in and as i felt my body starting to warm up and my muscles start to engage and physically and mentally i started to feel more a part of the group. Hixon.,S (2011) describes a part of spirituality for them as asking themselves what is more important, the taking of the photo or the finished product where people can gaze an enjoy it vicariously, which brings joy to the viewer and the taker. This was somewhat similar to how I feel as I become more a part of the group. For myself to be able to enjoy the class I need to feel one with them and enjoy the moment and people.

This reference from Hixon., S (2011), helped me to understand that different elements of an activity can activate spirituality, whether this be seeing others happy because of what I have accomplished or that I can use others around me to help me feel a part of the fitness class and this gives me belonging.


By the end of the first session i was pretty drained, but i had made an agreement with my flatmate that she would pick me up at 6 o'clock which was another hour, so i started my second class, this communication with my flatmate is essential to our expectations of each other and the harmony between us, after the session i felt amazing, lean, fitter and healthier, this all aids in the essence of my personal spirituality and happiness.

Hixon., S. (2011). Photography and spirituality: The inner world of the borderline photographic personality.

BLOG 4. Week 38 Affordances

This week our focus is on affordances.

M. Butler (personal communication, October 2011) states that when we are occupied we bring about changes in the human world and these activities/occupations can also bring about changes in us. In my activity of exercise, changes are being made to the environment and also by me, these changes occur from the affordances from the environment that allow the change to occur, these happen around me while I’m exercising. An example of an affordance is communication with my fitness instructor when I am exercising. The feeling of non-verbal communication given out from my instructor to me is the key for changing how hard I work on that day. They take on a trainer/ trainee role the way they communicate with their environment (the fitness group/class), they are motivators for the group and this brings about change in the way I think about what I am doing and the intensity I go to achieve my goals.

Ethically fitness can be a burden and this can be a press on the mental state that I am in about exercise. Burden on my activity is the motivation to actually attend my gym classes, the weather and studying (tired), in terms of affordances on this the environment can change how I am feeling, i.e once I am in my fitness class the feeling of burden is lifted because the environment allows for this as stated above. A change has occurred in me once I am occupied.

I have learnt that not only can affordances in the environment inflict change but I can also have impact on change, this can be changes in mood, motivation, others around me or a physical change in my body mind and soul.

BLOG 3. Week 37 Ergonomics

Ergonomics

Exercise has a vast number of ergonomic factors, these making up a large portion of how I do exercise, the adjustments I make within it and how I adapt myself and the equipment to match the environment so that everything interrelates in close, safe proximity with the person (me), the activity and the environment.

M. Butler (personal communication, October 2011) refers to fitting the person with the activity to identify the person’s inspirations and motivations. When exercising I choose specific classes to go to as I am fitting myself to the activity and choosing the classes that best motivate me to engage. To get a good outcome from my fitness class I go at the appropriate skill level, when using weights in my classes, I choose the correct ones for where my fitness level is at today. The environment in which I perform my fitness of strength, endurance and flexibility is the gym/group classes as this offers the most degree of stimulation and appropriateness for my activity. Accessing the person/activity and environment in the best way possible is facilitated by me engaging in the exercise activity willingly due to the environment allowing an accessible and welcoming warmth for my exercise that day.

The reference of M. Butler (personal communication, October 2011) Fitting the person with the activity, making opportunities for this activity and this person in this particular environment has helped me to gain a wide understanding of why I do exercise the way I do it, where I do it and what motivates me, inspires me and allows for me to realise my skill levels and adapt these to fit with everything else that I need to think about when I exercise.

BLOG 2. Ambiance and Practical Considerations

As  Stephens, S (2010) describes ambiance in their fitness building as the clear organization of the building having the heavy duty grunty work out area on the lower two levels and the lower intensity, yoga activities in their own space on the top floor, this enhances the functions of the building, the hallways of ivy surfaces reflect the leafy traditional environs memorably, this is similar to how I view my exercise place. The gym has a special feel about it; the intense group workout sessions are to one side of the building and are on the very top floor. The light shines in giving it a warm vibe, with the windows open and the people spread out, it has such a comfortable, fitness feel about it. Looking out the windows you see building tops. The loud music aids that feeling of freedom. As I walk in to the gym from outside I can hear the yelling and puffing from the fitness class before me and it gets me excited, this really is the essence to exercise, i love the feeling of harmony within myself that it brings.
This quote has helped me to understand that ambience is the essence of the activity, whether for exercise this is the gym that it is performed in or the way it makes me feel, i understand that exercise has many different components in the way it can make a person feel.

The practical considerations are those things that I need to aid my time while exercising, these being equipment of large weights, resistance bands, fitness gear that need to pack before I go, and never forget my drink bottle that is properly the most important item, giving me re-hydration. I will need my gym key and towel to catch the sweat dripping from my brow. Among the practical considerations lies the car to get there, making the time for exercise and most of all what class i will attend. These things are the practical items or thing/s I will need to do my activity, without these exercise is just not enjoyable.

Stephens, S. (2010). Peter buck center for health and fitness. Architectural Record, 198(11), 120-123. Retrieved October 19, 2011, from EBSCO HOST database.

BLOG 1. Semester 2 Participation in occupation 2

This semester is all about an activity or task that we will do as students for the next few weeks. We will draw from 6 blog entries that will portray ergonomics, ambience, affordances and practical considerations of our activity and show how these have helped us gain a better understanding of our chosen activity in relation to us as students, to be Occupational Therapists, our future clients and environment.

My chosen activity is Exercise:

Exercise is involving the body in movement; this can be slow walking, jogging, running, strength and resistance training, endurance training, weight loss and fitness training and more. Exercise is something that has a love hate relationship with people, for some they can’t go a few days without exercising and for others they may not have exercised a day in their life.

I exercise at the gym at least 4 times per week. I attend group classes of about 10 to 100 people and the classes range from weight training to aerobics fitness. I enjoy exercise; it keeps me feeling good and helps to keep my head clear. It is a relaxation tool that I wouldn’t go without. “The studied system of exercise contributed mostly to the improvement of general well-being and relaxation skills” (Medycyna. & Sportowa. 2011). Exercise improves my well-being and helps me to relax after a strenuous day, i see exercise as one of the most influential means of health to my body.

This quote has helped me to understand that its written in the studies and litrature that exercise really is such a healthy tool to use in everyday activities and can be used not only for increasing fitness or strength but for relaxation tools and improving well-being. With this comes many more possiblities for raising a persons enthusiasm for the activity.

In practice context I would exercise not only for fitness and strength, but for stress, relaxation, weight loss, a therapy tool, a motivator, a routine and a socialisation activity/tool used in peers or groups.

Working in a team as an O.T it is vital to stay on top of yourself mentally and physically.

Using exercise myself I will be able to pass my own experiences on to my clients in the hope that together we may explore different avenues more suited to their wants and needs.

Medycyna. & Sportowa. (2011). Health benefits of doing physical exercises yoga reported by the students of the academy of physical education in Katowice. 2(4). 123-131. Retrieved from EBSCO HOST database.

Tutorial 8 -Assistive devices

This Tutorial is our last one and the focus was on assistive devices for clients whom need assistance to carryout occupations and activities throughout their day. These needs can range from clients not having the arm strength to reach out and touch a switch to clients that have no movement what so ever in there arm or finger and they all need assistive devices like bigger and more specific switches that command and plug into anything so they can access a t.v or p.c or even their own wheel chair.
These devices enable clients to reach a potential that they would have not been able to otherwise, they are very important to someone who has not being able to perform tasks that we take for granted.

I found a device called the:
Go Talk 20+
This is a recording device that a client may use to record commands, messages, sequences conversation or anything that may assist them in daily activities eg, therapist may record sentences that can make conversation with someone. this can be used for a client that verbally cannot speak to tell people what they need or want, this can be used if client is to catch a taxi or a bus. They can then push the recorded message so the driver of the taxi can hear the recorded messege and now client can communicate with them. This is not only what they can be used for.. eg, sequencing of a recipe, a client who has trouble remembering things, can follow a recipe by pushing each button along the lines that are recorded so that the recipe is sequenced and tells client what comes next in recipe and what the next thing they need to do is.

The costing for this device are $420.00 this is well priced for the amount of useful assistance it can give a client and nothing has a price for the freedom and acceptance the client will gain from this device.

Tutorial seven -linking blogs to sights of interest and exchanging

This week was around linking our blogs to websites that we found interesting and relate it to OT practice.
I chose:
Google, as one of mine as this is a useful tool to find out information about anything you like and it has been one of my main sources of enquiring into things.
Course Blog, my course blog that we are following is a useful tool to communicate with our tutors and peers, it has information that we can use on and for our own blog and entails a lot of detail into our material. it is also interesting to view another range of how a blog can be displayed, in relation to OT this is an insight into how people or other OT's can use information to relay back to clients or use as a therapy tool eg, client could use as a diary type thing to keep a record of things and activities that they encounter.
Second Life, this is a cool web-sight shown by our tutors, it gives you insight into what is like for clients who have disorders such as schizophrenia, Bi Polar. it takes you on a journey into a 3d world and you can do all sorts within this world like buying a house, shopping etc. great for the OT to gain an experience for what their clients may be experiencing themselves.
Mobility and Disability Centre, this is the web-sight for assistive devices as discussed in tutorial 8. It is a very valuable resource if you are working in an area that the clients would benefit from assistive devices, and for the OT this is an excellent web-sight to get tools from to help in therapy.

We also were to post a comment on our peers blogs to relate to a point of interest we had.. i have completed this on one of my peers blogs.

Tutorial Six -The Internet and Online Communities

This Tutorial i must choose a topic of interest from my field work experiences and provide resources from the on line communites that link with this topic.

Topic of interest: Children with Autism
Online Communites:
1.
http://www.autism.org.nz/

The purpose of this on line community is helping the families of the children with disabilities and help their future. their goal is for the children to live a meanignful life within their family. The Childrens Autism Foundation offors services around personal advice, training, support groups, parenting workshops and much more.

2.
http://otagokidsautism.org/

The Otago Childrens Autism Support group is a charitable trust that relys on grants, donations and fundraising for their therapists, teachers and education for parents. they have news, events that they post on their home page and whats going on in their community. People can contribut to this charity by donations etc.

3.
http://www.brighthub.com/education/early-childhood/articles/44064.aspx

This is just a website that is about sensory activities fir children with autism. it has how ti implement these aqt home a stratagies of how to calm and relax your child with sensory activities. You can join this group and become part of it. This website has a few interactive features that you can play.

Tutorial Five -Video Production

You Tube

For this tutorial we are asked to explore You Tube: This is a website where users can make and create an account. this can also work for people who just like to admire what You Tube has to offor. You Tube is a website that allows its usetrs to upload, share and view videos. These videos can be short amature films to short clips and lectures that are on line.

We created a movie in tutorial four and could up load this to You Tube if we liked.

Anything you want to find on You Tube you could proberly find in any shape or form. From a 3d tour of the human body to a catoon or t.v show you missed. 

Occupational Therapy Fieldwork

On my field work i came across children with Autistic dendencies this was very interesting and ill show you a short clip about what is involved with children with autism in this short You Tube clip below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukiZwejTO1I

Other clips posted are more about autism and the different types and what/how you can manage children with autism.
A,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=533EF9hEvD8 :sensory seeking behaviour.
B,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AomAdC38cbc
C,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il9qj1Fidkw
D,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB-0sXMk75s

Movie 15 March, Murder Movie

This was our forth tutorial task. A 30 second film was to be comprised. We did this in small groups. we had to cut bits out to make out 3 minute movie into 30 seconds.

It was lots of fun.

Post Two- Digital Imaging

My familiarity with hardware and software starts from when i was 15. I got a cellphone for my birthday. this cellphone could not do very much compared tot he ones that are in todays technology world, it could not take photos nor could it email. but today i have a nice phone that can do all of the above, i use this for a camera and upload photos from my cellphone onto my computer.
I have used numerous digital cameras, ranging from extreme photography cameras to cheap $100 cameras, all doing the similar tasks of taking photos and being able to transfer these on to a pen drive, p.c, or other devices.

Information can be recorded and displayed and manipulated by numerous sources, some of these include:
 -You Tube -This is a video sharing website where users can upload share and view videos for free. They can make accounts and use them to show videos they made, lectures, amateur clips and any material they wish. content that has offensive language is registered for over 18 year olds.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You-Tube

-Pod Casts -A pod cast is a series of digital media that is not streamed, these can be either audio or video. these are released episodically and often through the web syndication.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast

-Fashion Websites i.e Trade Me (This is a website where people can upload photos of things that they want to sell the process includes, including photos of what your selling and a profile about you. There are also rating on how well you communicated with the buyers and sellers so other people can assess wether you are a reliable source to purchase off )

DSC00391

DSC00391
Originally uploaded by jess akroyd

photo 1

DSC00390
Originally uploaded by jess akroyd

These photos are experimenting with a digital camera. Our class went out to play around with the different settings and try out angles and capture photos to then up load on to our blogs.

Information Technology and Ethical Issues

Information Technology is  is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics based combination of computing and telecommunications. My experience of using digital technology is very minimal i use the family digital camera and friends, taking photos is not a passion of mine and i leave it up to the others who enjoy capturing the moments of fun, pleasure and excitement. i would like to own a camera, i would if i had enough drive to take photos often. Ethical issues surrounding technology are the persons rights to have their photo published, edited, viewed by the public and sent to other people who then pass these on as well. Consent for these photos is one of the ways a person can get around the issues. In Occupational Therapy ethical issues are a major factor for the clients and therapists, the use of camera may be used in the intervention of a client- assessment wise, and these raise issues about client consent to these photos being published, and then there is storage of the photos, especially in the environment where other clients are wondering around and using the cameras as well. We as Occupational Therapists are responsible for the client.

Intellectual property and the implications of this amongst individuals and the public.

Intellectual property is ones mean to a idea or property to something, they have owning rights to this idea and or product of this idea. Also their right to regulate the use of this idea or product (Boldrin.M & Levine.D). In O.T practice this shown over a range of photos, craft ideas for group work, the modification of homes- how and where you got your ideas from. O.T has many of assessments that are thought out by professionals and agencies to make them standardized, so understanding that in O.T keeping to the guide lines is one way to keep yourself free of intellectual property fraud.

Technology in society: Society today largely requires the use of technological items such as: Book reader, Bus cards, 3D Television, I phones 1,2,3 and 4, Digital Cameras, Play Stations, X-box and computers that never cease to up grade their memory and capabilities. the young and the old are now venturing into new technology that will one day take over the world. I remember when i was 12 my friend asked her mother if they could get a household dvd player and her mums response was that "they can get one when they invent a DVD recorder" and now i think she has got her wish as DVD recorders have now changed into MY Sky and recorders in our t.vs. 

I.T is valuable, it is necessary for most of the everyday activities people encounter at work or at home. Wether this be a movie producer whom needs the best technology out there to make 3D film or the women whom needs a GPS to navigate around an unknown city. We need technology as apart of our daily life now. but on the other hand people have done without for such a long time...Do we really need technology? Can't we just use therapeutic use of art, exercise, craft, cards, board games and social interaction to keep us entertained? 

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology 

Bolderine.M &Levine.D.,(2001). The case against intellectual property. (pp, 42). The economist.