the conclusion "it doesn't matter" can come from two directions.
one is that, everything related has been considered and the result is that they dont matter.
the other one is that, nothing is considered so it appears that things don't matter.
There's a deadly difference between the two routes to a same end result.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
A pleasant cold morning
I spent more than 20 min on the road from home to uni this morning. Arriving at 8:23,there were less than half parking slots left. When on earth the university is going to do sth about carparks?
A guy cut the line and park towards the direction I was going in while I cut the line to park towards the direction he was going in.Both of the heads at an "EXIT" direction. We smiled at each other. I always do this when possible just to save some trouble reversing when I leave.
I realized it is a cold morning once I stepped out of the car, however, the air is clean and fresh. The coldness actually makes me fresh and awake. And I like it. And I need it. School got extremely busy, almost instantly, after yesterday's meeting with my supervisors.
My road to the study of creativity officially begins.I'm stressed but excited.There are a few personal adjustments I have to make.
One being that I should be more initiative, my supervisors are there to help me instead of marking me for assignments.I need to think for my own and not to expect to wait for their instructions.
Second, to accept what I am. Coming from a culture that values non-questionable respect to teachers, being passive and quiet in front of teachers has been carved to my bones. Although I have spent years studying in NZ where values independent and critical thinking, I am not able to get rid of my old habbits. I have tried very very hard to be like my local peers so that conversations with my supervisors seem more valuable because it shows I'm thinking and wanting to contribute. But this is really hard. Now I think I need to accept that I'm different and I'll learn to do it better, but slowly, without contradicting who I already am. I want a better me which is built upon what I am. I don't want a better me that is completely different.
A guy cut the line and park towards the direction I was going in while I cut the line to park towards the direction he was going in.Both of the heads at an "EXIT" direction. We smiled at each other. I always do this when possible just to save some trouble reversing when I leave.
I realized it is a cold morning once I stepped out of the car, however, the air is clean and fresh. The coldness actually makes me fresh and awake. And I like it. And I need it. School got extremely busy, almost instantly, after yesterday's meeting with my supervisors.
My road to the study of creativity officially begins.I'm stressed but excited.There are a few personal adjustments I have to make.
One being that I should be more initiative, my supervisors are there to help me instead of marking me for assignments.I need to think for my own and not to expect to wait for their instructions.
Second, to accept what I am. Coming from a culture that values non-questionable respect to teachers, being passive and quiet in front of teachers has been carved to my bones. Although I have spent years studying in NZ where values independent and critical thinking, I am not able to get rid of my old habbits. I have tried very very hard to be like my local peers so that conversations with my supervisors seem more valuable because it shows I'm thinking and wanting to contribute. But this is really hard. Now I think I need to accept that I'm different and I'll learn to do it better, but slowly, without contradicting who I already am. I want a better me which is built upon what I am. I don't want a better me that is completely different.
Friday, July 23, 2010
thoughts in a sleepless night...
Have been having problem waking up too early in the morning, 6ish and 7ish am, when I definitely have not had enough sleep (much less than 8 hrs). So I took a long nap yesterday 5ish to 8ish pm (missed my favourate 3 news)..ended up trying for 1 hr to fall asleep in bed and failed...the brain's extremely active while awake in bed, so i think i would just get up and do something rather than trying so hard to fall asleep, since...i dont really like spending my time sleeping at all...
1. I have decided to keep a research journal of the articles I read for my project. I have printed some pages with what useful information to include (as suggested in a website) and how to organize them for clear reusing the information. But now I think maybe a digital research journal will be better because it allows more effective searching within the records. I wish i know some programming skills so that i can make one for myself. Should start contacting IT friends...
2. Now that there are 3 supervisors. Create a virtual meeting room where i can post new questions i have, meeting notes, reading and writing progress etc.... updates will be automatically sent to my supervisor's mail box...so they can comment or give advice on it and respond ( of which i and everyone else involved would be automatically notified by email). Does moodle do this? Or shall I create a blog for it? umm...i need to give it a thought.
3. what i want to do and how am i going to achieve these..
- improve my english writing--> reading "on writing well" + read more english novels
- effective communication of my ideas to others --> dont know exactly how yet
- keep a research journal ---> starting from the next article
- learn to sew ---> at least once a week?
- learn to draw ---> beginner's class beginning soon :)
4. Try to do my best this time, get the most out of my 3-4 years. Keep the hard work. Thicken my face, try not to avoid criticisms but to learn from it. I guess I'll only improve my knowledge by exposing what I truely know (and dont know). Respect is never given but earned.
1. I have decided to keep a research journal of the articles I read for my project. I have printed some pages with what useful information to include (as suggested in a website) and how to organize them for clear reusing the information. But now I think maybe a digital research journal will be better because it allows more effective searching within the records. I wish i know some programming skills so that i can make one for myself. Should start contacting IT friends...
2. Now that there are 3 supervisors. Create a virtual meeting room where i can post new questions i have, meeting notes, reading and writing progress etc.... updates will be automatically sent to my supervisor's mail box...so they can comment or give advice on it and respond ( of which i and everyone else involved would be automatically notified by email). Does moodle do this? Or shall I create a blog for it? umm...i need to give it a thought.
3. what i want to do and how am i going to achieve these..
- improve my english writing--> reading "on writing well" + read more english novels
- effective communication of my ideas to others --> dont know exactly how yet
- keep a research journal ---> starting from the next article
- learn to sew ---> at least once a week?
- learn to draw ---> beginner's class beginning soon :)
4. Try to do my best this time, get the most out of my 3-4 years. Keep the hard work. Thicken my face, try not to avoid criticisms but to learn from it. I guess I'll only improve my knowledge by exposing what I truely know (and dont know). Respect is never given but earned.
Dr. ELISHA GOLDSTEIN's five quotes
In the post, he also shared some tips on mindfulness. I came across mindfulness some years ago but didn't really pay much attention to it until 2007 when I participated in a study that required me to use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to overcome my public speech anxiety. It was until then I started learning the meaning and techniques of mindfulness. It felt so great to focus my attention to my own body, my senses, my feelings. I stopped doing it after I completed the participation but I do think I learned something that has changed me forever.
The thing that I found most useful for myself is that I had learned to accept the imperfection in myself and these imperfection does not stop me from enjoying my life. Most of us still go to work, play, hang out with friends or shop even if we have toothache or have a cold because the toothache and the illness is only a tiny part of us but not all of us. It applies too when it comes to psychological issues. Feeling sad, nervous, anxious, or angry? Aren't they the same as feeling happy? They are all emotions; and they are all only emotions that you feel sometimes. The emotions are not all of you. You can have a happy discussion with a friend or a family member when you have a toothache; you too can deal with your work or life happily even if you are having some negative emotions.
Ok, here are the quotes and the link to the article from Dr. Goldstein...
Click here to go to Dr. ELISHA GOLDSTEIN's blog
1. “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom” ~ Victor Frankl
2. “Amidst the worldly comings and goings, observe how endings become beginnings.” ~ Tao Te Ching
3. “You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it.” ~ Albert Einstein
4. “You see everything is about belief, whatever we believe rules our existence, rules our life.” ~ Don Miguel Ruiz
5. “What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters to what lies within us.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Monday, July 19, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Combining therapy with IPAD
As I was looking for information about the release date of ipad in new zealand (still no idea when!), an idea suddenly came to mind: despite the high price of ipad, it could be very helpful if we incorporate in the CARD therapy sessions.
When doing a one-on-one therapy, therapists have to use pen and paper to record every response. It is rather difficult most of the time since at the same time you have to get ready for the next task and also pay close attention to the behavior of the children (if he/she is not having a break or play time). The advantage of Ipad here is its touch screen and small size. It would be great if there's an application which allows instant recording of responses by just one touch on the screen. Also, with the intelligently developed programs, the magical computer should be able to generate graphs and figures of the data for analysis. This will definitely save lots and lots of paper work, and more efficient.
Because Ipad can be used to show videos so quickly and easily, it can also be used as a reinforcer, showing cartoons the child likes for example. This is just a thought, I don't know whether it would be good to use video in a session. However, outside of the therapy session, children spend quite some time watching children's tv shows and it's part of their life, I don't see why not?
One more possible use of Ipad in therapy is to show graphic schedules of the sessions, just like drawing on papers commonly used in floortime or classrooms. Children can see the schedule, touch the items and be prompted to tell the name of an activity which could be reinforced be programmed stimuli (sounds, picture, etc. etc.).
I look forward to Ipad and will see if I can do anything with it:)
When doing a one-on-one therapy, therapists have to use pen and paper to record every response. It is rather difficult most of the time since at the same time you have to get ready for the next task and also pay close attention to the behavior of the children (if he/she is not having a break or play time). The advantage of Ipad here is its touch screen and small size. It would be great if there's an application which allows instant recording of responses by just one touch on the screen. Also, with the intelligently developed programs, the magical computer should be able to generate graphs and figures of the data for analysis. This will definitely save lots and lots of paper work, and more efficient.
Because Ipad can be used to show videos so quickly and easily, it can also be used as a reinforcer, showing cartoons the child likes for example. This is just a thought, I don't know whether it would be good to use video in a session. However, outside of the therapy session, children spend quite some time watching children's tv shows and it's part of their life, I don't see why not?
One more possible use of Ipad in therapy is to show graphic schedules of the sessions, just like drawing on papers commonly used in floortime or classrooms. Children can see the schedule, touch the items and be prompted to tell the name of an activity which could be reinforced be programmed stimuli (sounds, picture, etc. etc.).
I look forward to Ipad and will see if I can do anything with it:)
Finding information for Autism in New Zealand
The New Zealand Guidelines Group has launched a website for Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) where people can find out more about autism.
The website provides information sheets and guides free for download; they will also send out booklets for free if you want them, just fill out a simple order form on the website. There are also video tutorials explaining the behavioral characteristics of children with or suspecting a diagnosis of ASD and steps to take to find out whether children you know who are behaving differently from their peers, particularly in social interactions and languages.
The website also provides useful information about organisations where you can seek help from for diagnosis, treatment and funding. Centre for Autism and Related Disorder (CARD) is a service provider of therapies applying the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). There's CARD services in Auckland and Hamilton as I know. I had once been trained as a one-on-one therapist and I personally think that it did help children with autism learn. Although I'm a bit skeptical about the long hours (3hrs) needed each day. There's also concern about whether it will make children robotic using Discrete Trial Training (DTT). Parents or carers need to get more informations from professionals before they make a decision about which intervention they want to use for their love little ones.
It is best for the children to start intensive behavioral intervention early. So if you suspect that someone you love or you know may have ASD, it is best to find it out as soon as possible. website for Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has details of the steps to take, out!
I found a number of videos related to autism on youtube today, if anyone's interested...
and finally, the life of mothers who have a child with autism...
The website provides information sheets and guides free for download; they will also send out booklets for free if you want them, just fill out a simple order form on the website. There are also video tutorials explaining the behavioral characteristics of children with or suspecting a diagnosis of ASD and steps to take to find out whether children you know who are behaving differently from their peers, particularly in social interactions and languages.
The website also provides useful information about organisations where you can seek help from for diagnosis, treatment and funding. Centre for Autism and Related Disorder (CARD) is a service provider of therapies applying the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). There's CARD services in Auckland and Hamilton as I know. I had once been trained as a one-on-one therapist and I personally think that it did help children with autism learn. Although I'm a bit skeptical about the long hours (3hrs) needed each day. There's also concern about whether it will make children robotic using Discrete Trial Training (DTT). Parents or carers need to get more informations from professionals before they make a decision about which intervention they want to use for their love little ones.
It is best for the children to start intensive behavioral intervention early. So if you suspect that someone you love or you know may have ASD, it is best to find it out as soon as possible. website for Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has details of the steps to take, out!
I found a number of videos related to autism on youtube today, if anyone's interested...
and finally, the life of mothers who have a child with autism...
Sunday, June 27, 2010
A quote
" Contingencies that explicitly reinforce behavioral variability are necessary to maximize freedom."
------ Suzanne Page and Allen Neuringer, Variability Is an Operant, 1985
------ Suzanne Page and Allen Neuringer, Variability Is an Operant, 1985
Monday, June 21, 2010
CALM, a healthy mind, a happy life
I came across this website CALM (Computer Assisted Learning for the Mind) from University of Auckland in New Zealand today. There are information including audio files of talks and links to resources to help you learn more about yourself, your feelings, you up and downs, and how to deal with downs in life.
Hope it will be helpful for someone:)
Hope it will be helpful for someone:)
Thursday, June 17, 2010
The Love Lab
Is this true love??? Science and technology can now tell whether one relationship will work or not.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
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