Creativity

Creativity

The four dimensions that J.P Guilford uses to describe creativity are fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration.  The one dimension that I struggle the most with is flexibility because it's really hard for me, once I have made my mind up, to view it from a different perspective.  For example, I don't particularly care for those optical illusions where the picture can be interpreted as two different things (such as the young and old woman) because once I look at the picture the first time, that's the image that stays with me.  I usually don't go back and forth between seeing the two different objects because in my eyes, they just can't coexist together.  I think Storybird would be able to help students face originality and elaboration because they are given the chance to create their own story and illustrations and elaborate on the details as much as they would like.  I could use Queeky in my occupational/speech therapy office through activities that require kids to make patterns (in the palette option, there is a grid of squares that you can fill with different colors) or follow directions (color the top row green).

Poolside Thinking

Poolside Thinking

In the past, I've usually studied for school on the couch or my bed, but in a house with six girls each on her own different schedule, it's more than a little impossible to get any studying done.  Yesterday, I decided to do things differently.  I went to the pool, thinking I would try to study in a different environment than what I was used to studying in.  When I got there, however, I knew I was never going to get any studying done.  With the sun's rays on my face and the sound of running water in earshot, I felt like I was on vacation, and there was no way I was going to take a break from that to study geography!  I did, however, take this time to think about things currently going on in my life and also texted my best friend to ask her opinion on things.  I may not have gotten any studying done, but hopefully by clearing my head a little, I will have an easier time when I sit down to study today.

A Splash of Creativity

A Splash of Creativity

I made one of my mom's favorite recipes that she makes when we have people over at our house.

Cuban Fiesta Recipe:

1 red onion
1 avocado
1 package of feta cheese
1 can of white corn
1 can of black beans
3-5 drops of lime juice

This is a really simple recipe, as it only has six ingredients and you literally just combine it all together and serve with chips (I like to use Tostito scoops), yet it is so addictive (ignore what it looks like, it really is good- I even had my roommates try it as proof)!

Adventurous.

Adventurous.

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved trying new things -- anything -- no matter what it is.  I, however, often feel like I am being held back by some people and have decided that I will try my best not to let that aspect get in the way of my adventures from now on.  Last August, I went whitewater rafting for the first time, with my sorority.  Obviously since I had never been before, I was super excited with a hint of fear and nervousness way deep down.  Out of the six other people in our raft, only one other girl had actually been whitewater rafting before, so naturally we requested to have a guide.  Unknown to us, the guide that the whitewater instructors had assigned us either did not show up or did not exist because when we went to pick out our raft, the other guides gave us a weird look when we requested "Austin."  Needless to say, we floated down the Nantahala River, "guide-less."  Despite the look on my face, I had a blast! It's more of a look of terrified awe :)

Life is Just a Game

Life is Just a Game

After reading the Horizon Report, one section that stood out to me was "Technologies to Watch" but more specifically "game-based learning."  Since I intend to work my way up to being an occupational therapist in the near future, I know that I will need to implement several different types of activities (such as games) into the "curriculum" I use to make sure each child gradually reaches his goals/milestones.  While I know for a fact that this will be very beneficial in my field of work, (from my experience shadowing a few therapists over the summer) I also believe that incorporating games into the curriculum of any classroom would prove to be helpful in engaging the students by making the topic not only interesting but also more relatable.

Meaningful Learning

Meaningful Learning

In my experience, there isn’t one set way that people learn.  Just because I need to take notes and read back over the chapter to fully grasp the material doesn’t mean that the person sitting across from me learns the same way.  She may grasp everything just by listening or by drawing a mental image of the material in her head.  I do, however, think that people generally learn by relating the subject back to something that they already have prior knowledge about or to anything that interests them.  Doing so will minimize the disequilibrium the learner feels when trying to grasp a new subject so he or she will not be discouraged in the process.  And if the subject matter doesn’t seem relevant to that person’s goals, the student will not have the motivation to learn about it.  Also, at least for me, learning is a trial and error process.  If you don’t get it right the first time, try again.  You can not only learn from your own mistakes but also from the people around you.