How Technology has changed the way we learn> Is there a place for technology within the field of Counselling and Psychotherapy, what positive role does it play and at what cost?

ICT is the topic for this Blog, and therefore, I thought I would share with you one of my assignments I completed in my final year of my Counselling skills and Psychology degree.  

Aptly titled "Is there a place for technology within the field of Counselling and Psychotherapy, what positive role does it play and at what cost?

There is much debate regarding the use of technology within counselling and psychotherapy, notably the potential complications it poses in enhancing the therapeutic process.  Avatel (2013) identified E-Therapy, Cyber Therapy and Cyber-Counselling, to be a small number of ever increasing therapies available through technology today.  

No longer is counselling just a face to face interaction, it has become far more than just attending a counsellors therapeutic establishment. Reljic, et al. (2013) implied, that changes are necessary to keep up with the technicality of new age apps, gadgets and social networking used by today’s youth. 

Can technology replace the interaction and attachment felt between client and therapist?

Shallcross (2012) inferred that, computers, by 2020 will be installed with software allowing a client to answer questions relating to their problems without the need of a counsellor, and where does that leave face to face counselling?  The Online Therapy Institute (OTI, 2014) identified, therapy to be delivered via the internet, otherwise known as ‘therapy delivered via technology’ and video conferencing coupled with virtual worlds, allow a practitioner to explore various forms of modalities.

McNeely (2005) as cited, in (Maples and Han, 2008) inferred, that technology “only enhances hands on experience, it does not and cannot replace true human interaction” (p.45).  Technology is likened to a tsunami, that raises concerns which threatens counselling and the true face to face therapy that counselling is identified with (Reljic, et al., 2013).

Whilst there are arguments for both, one cannot escape the fact we live in a technological age, whereby many of us do not recognise the true potential that technology provides.

The full document can be accessed via the link provided.  Happy reading. Is there a place for technology within the field of Counselling and Psychotherapy

Avatel, 2013. The Evolution of Long-distance Communication. [Online]
Available at: http://avatel.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/the-evolution-of-long-distance-communication/
[Accessed 22 10 2014].

Maples, M. F. & Han, S., 2008. Cybercounseling in the United States and South Korea: Implications for Counseling College Students of the Millennial Generation and the Networked Generation. Journal of Counseling & Development, 86(1), pp. 178-183.

Online Therapy Institute, 2014. Therapeutice Innovations in light of Technology. [Online]
Available at: http://onlinetherapyinstitute.com/about-tilt-magazine/
[Accessed 6 11 2104].

Reljic, R., Harper, A. & Crethar, H., 2013. Using Technology Creatively to Empower Diverse Populations in Counseling. Ideas and Research you Can Use. 1(1), pp. 1-12.

Shallcross, L., 2012. What the future holds for the counseling profession. [Online]
Available at: http://ct.counseling.org/2012/03/what-the-future-holds-for-the-counseling-profession/
[Accessed 7 11 2014].

ICT Isn't It Ironic?

Isn't it ironic! That's what Alanis Morissette  was singing 20 years ago.  However, I don't think she had Information Communication and Technology (ICT) in mind.

Following my intensive week  on ICT, whereby, I received a considerable amount of presentations on the wide and varying applications, functions and software all designed to make our lives simpler whether, for personal reasons, in the classroom or the lecture hall.

It was therefore, ironic, that in my PETLA module this week, I, along with a colleague  had to present a topic to the class, a subject chosen out of  a hat.  That subject was Write on Windows and for the purposes of this presentation we called WOW!

WOW, does exactly what it says on the tin.  At first I thought WOW was yet another software package application designed to revolutionise the world, yet make my life more difficult, not only having to understand  how it operates, but then put it into practice, and when do I have the time?

What a relief, that WOW is actually a back to basics classroom technique, whereby white board pens and a classroom window are the only tools required, oh yea and a white board erasure to wipe the windows clean at the end of the lesson! I don't suppose the window cleaner is too impressed though!!

WOW, is a creative way of allowing students and teachers to think outside the box.  However, I don't think its a new technique at all, windows have always been part of the classroom. I usually stared out of them as a child, dreaming of being a footballer and scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final for Liverpool.  Sadly, that was just a fantasy and I am bizarrely still in a classroom environment!

Back in the day when black boards were common place, "Writing on windows", or better known as WOW, would have resulted in detention and possibly the cane.  We now find it acceptable and encouraged probably as a result of technology.  Now that is Ironic!!

The use of mobile phones and tablets are becoming more popular in education and therefore, as a consequence, students are more likely to be distracted by the copious amounts of apps available at  your fingertips.  So, how do we prevent this? We WOW!!

WOW, not only encourages students to interact more with each other, it also prevents them becoming distracted. I guess if you are looking out of the window, you may see things far more interesting and therefore become distracted.  Looking out of the window can cause you to daydream, well that what was happening to me when I was a child!

Nevertheless WOW, for me, gets the seal of approval.  Anything that allows us to be creative and refrain from using technology gets my vote.  Interaction and collaboration is key, technology is great, yet it can encourage you to stop thinking as all the information you need today, can be obtained through a search engine usually which is likely to be Google and there endeth the thought process!

Just to be a rebel, my presentation to my audience, was prepared using PowerPoint, yet I never presented through a projector. I used the good old traditional method of verbal dialogue, eye to eye communication and demonstration....
WOW

https://www.dropbox.com/s/07ptjrrl6y2y6j4/Write%20on%20Windows.pdf?dl=0

TEDx "Settle Down, Pay Attention, Say Thank you: Stress, Anxiety & Mindfullness"

Today, I listened to a Tedx by Dr Kirsten Race, a brain scientist and expert on stress reduction.  Dr Race also teaches individuals to lead less stressful lives through mindfulness. 

Settle Down, Pay Attention, Say Thank you was the title of the talk, which can be viewed by clicking on the Tedx provided.  It got me thinking about how anxious we can all become, from a child to adult.  How stress affects each and every one of us and how mindfulness could help.  In turn, this also got me thinking about school, college and university based staff who teach. These, too, become stressed and anxious, who, often do not seek guidance on making their lives less stressful and exploring how they may cope better in times of difficulty on a daily basis.

It is never too late to learn, simple, practical user friendly strategies that everyone can use, whether at home, the classroom,  the lecture hall or even the car.

Dr Race, discusses many great points and valuable tools that can be learnt, whilst identifying the importance of taking care of the self, before being able to cope with a child’s anxiety.  This is also true of college student and university students.  They need to be mindful, to have the ability to think and act positively with kindness.  This is essential to be able to live, a semi stress less life.  Dr Races’ tips are very effective, each of us has this ability, we just need to recognise it.

Being more mindful, encourages those around us to absorb the peace and impacts upon behaviour.  So I urge you to Settle Down, Pay Attention, Say Thank you.

Being more mindful, encourages those around us to absorb the peace and impacts upon behaviour.  So I urge you to Settle Down, Pay Attention, Say Thank you.

If this blog has grasped your attention, you may like to peruse the following link, which not only serves as endorsing Dr Kristin Race, it also brings awareness to brain based delays and disabilities of individuals.  How mindfulness can be used to help control depression and to learn new strategies in coping. 


http://thebraininjuredslp.com/2015/10/23/mindfulness-strategies-for-children/

Introduction: An ICT induction!

Now, that I have had a little rant, I mean blogged, allow me to introduce myself.  I am Marco, a PCET student with a placement at UWTSD.  I have a love / hate relationship with technology, or a sort of true self & false self-attitude towards it, depending on the way you look at it.

In other words I cannot live with it, nor can I live without it.  A Psychoanalytical concept describing an authentic experience, also by contrast, an experience of feeling empty and dead and hiding this behind a defensive façade.  This pretty much sums up my ICT experience.

An introduction to ICT, has seen me over the last couple of days become familiar with a plethora of applications relevant to the technological world that now exists in education.  These applications include Wordle, Hot Potatoes, Internet Detective, and Prezi. PowerPoint, Kahoot, Socrative Student & Learner and Microsoft applications... There is an abundance of learning aids, applications and technology software designed to aid you through the teaching and learning experience. 

Some of these are pretty good and dependent upon how you are preparing to teach can have some input into how you will teach in the future.  Prezi, was pretty ok and easy to use it can be useful when having to present a specific module, with limited amount of information, thus not providing overkill!!! Over the coming weeks, look out for some links, attributed to those identified, as I attempt to put into practice some of these new found skilled. 

Here is my first attempt at a PREZI!

Personal experience of using Microsoft office

Microsoft office applications, is the topic of the day in the wonderful world of technology, in which we live. Good old Bill Gates, pretty much has it wrapped up. Microsoft does appear to be world dominant in the computer world!  There is a plethora of applications, tools, functions call them what you like, available to apparently make your life easier, when completing a task.  Whether for academic  purposes, private or personal, hobby related or throughout your professional career.  However this may be the case, you still need the time to familiarise yourself with these, and become competent enough to use them! If you are not computer savvy, you may struggle.  What is needed, is a MicroSoft Savvy tool, designed to simply the experience of assessing and the application of such ICT tools!!  

Software ranges from Microsoft office, which entails Word, PowerPoint, Excel, One note, Publisher.  The list is endless.  However the applications which have been most useful to me throughout my professional and academic life has been Word, PowerPoint and Microsoft word referencing.  I also have had the pleasure of using excel in the long and distant past!

The applications identified has been most useful in the completion of my degree. A significant aid was the referencing tool, which simplifies the process and provides a quick and effective way of completing a bibliography, inserting citations etc.

However, as always these are only effective if used correctly, and inputting must be correct, because, when you complete the referencing it does not pick up spelling errors.  Therefore time and patience is vital.  However if you like simplicity, this is worth giving a go!

 Microsoft, Microsoft applications, Microsoft World Dominance: Microsoft Cannot live anymore!!!!! sadly its difficult to Avoid!!!! Get used to it!

Throughout, my professional career, I have had to use many of the Microsoft applications like Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Email etc etc.  These have been part of my life for what seems like forever. There are many other tools you can use, like Free office, Open office, Libre office, WPS software and Google docs.which are all less expensive than Microsoft Office software, However, I personally prefer to use, what I consider to be the best and therefore from a personal point of view I cannot speak of those mentioned as I have never had the necessity to use them.

Barriers to the effective use of technology in education: ICT: A REALITY CHECK, to the endless technology we endeavour!

REALITY CHECK! Facing up to the Technological world in which I live. I find myself wearing what appears to be a mask, the true self and the false self in terms of loving and hating technology or more commonly known in today’s jargon as #tech. When, did it become acceptable to use the hashtag as a method to annunciate everything?  One could blame Twitter, for this improper use or even Facebook which soon followed along, with Instagram and about probably every other social networking app. The following YouTube sums it up pretty #well!!

Social networking is partly responsible and it now appears that through the medium of technology it has become acceptable!  This, however, is debatable and possibly, for further discussion, at a later date.  Is #hashtag ruining the English language? However, I digress

Today, I discovered the true meaning of ICT, for those unfamiliar with this acronym it is Information and Communication Technology.  ICT is the second element within my PGCE (PCET) course.  It encompasses a broad range of communication, information and related technology that can be used to support learning, teaching and assessment. The use of technology in every day life is fast becoming much more popular than ever. 

We carry technology around with us in our pockets, it is accessible far more easier than ever before and more often than not we pay more attention to the likes of Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social networking than we really ought to.  It is available at our finger tips 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, interfering with almost everything aspect of what we do, from family life, the language we use, watching TV, attending lectures and even going to the toilet! 

Technology, acts like a species companion, a Tamagotchi of sorts, remember those?  A handheld digital pet, which you could carry around with you in your pocket and care for.  Spending your entire time, nurturing it, through its life stages; beginning as an egg, through its development from a baby and eventually an adult.  Neglect of the Tamagotchi, would eventually result in its death.  In the same vain as using our mobile phones, we simply cannot escape the attachment of caring for a device in our hands!

How bizarre, that as humans we spend so much time attending to non-sentient entities, such as an I-Phone or I-Pad, not to be prejudice the Samsung S6 or the Samsung Galaxy tab also!  These devices have become common place in the classroom today.  It was not so long ago that the Tamagotchi, was considered a hindrance to the classroom, lessons and schoolwork, even though there was a humanistic element to the caring of such entities.  However, these eventually became banned from schools.   Today we welcome, such devices, along with chrome books in secondary schools, to prevent network congestion, by storing information on the so called cloud! 

These devices are now welcomed in education today, there is an abundance of apps, creative tools, and interactive textbooks which has and continues to transform the way we learn and teach.  Despite the hindrance to students, the tapping of a keyboard if a laptop is used, the ability to open and view several windows and pages such as Facebook and Twitter, also serve as distractions, yet are now common place in the classroom.

There is a fine line of accepting the use of technology in the learning process and there is a time and place for its uses.  Will there, one day, be teacher less classrooms, See, Nick Morrison who suggests that maybe it is not as close as we may think.  Whereby, lessons and lectures are conducted through Skype, Ted talks, lessons stored in the cloud etc. and even possibly, not even having to leave the home to receive an education?  Technology is transforming the classroom, and whether this is for the greater good remains to be seen? Dr Thomas Frey, predicts that there are fundamental changes ahead and a so called new frontier in education is evident.

No doubt, as I progress on this journey of never ending technology, I will encounter a plethora of other ICT apps, designed to enhance my teaching experience. 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmorrison/2014/08/21/the-teacher-less-classroom-is-not-as-close-as-you-think/