Blog 10: Senior Project: The Holiday

Content:

1.  It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school.  What did you over the break with your senior project?

During my winter break, I spent my two weeks in Mexico, so I was unable to do much because I did not have access to internet and books. But before I left and after I came back I looked for research that I could use to find more information about helping children with Autism with speech problems they may have as well as talk to a few speech pathologist to really understand how a child is being treated and helped. I learned more about it through the mentoring I did at the rehabilitation center I volunteer at.

2.  What was the most important thing you learned from what you did and why?  What was the source of what you learned?

I learned that children with autism struggle with their attention span and speech pathologist try to help children out with that by guiding them through activities that can help them practice staying focused. It was important because I learned about an aspect speech pathologist help a child with.

3.  If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers of your EQ, who would you talk to and why?

I would talk to Alexandria or Ellie, speech pathologist that work at the rehabilitation center that I volunteer at because  they would be willing to help me out with any questions I might have and has provided me with information and knowledge I had no idea of before.

A Day At Mentorship

I spent my whole afternoon observing different speech pathologist sessions. I saw children with all types of disorders ranging from feeding disorders to Autistic children who have trouble with their attention span. A specific patient that broke my heart was child that was afraid of food because of past experiences choking that keeps him traumatized. It made me really sad to see him and see that the patient was unable to sit on his own or even eat. I know there is always going to be people that are worse off than yourself but this experience made me open my eyes and realize that the problems that arise in my life is nothing compared to what the child is going through. When I saw the patient, I thought I was going to burst into tears and I don't know if it is just because I am sensitive but it was a moment. I saw how Ellie tried to get the patient to play with food to show that it was not going to hurt him and that it was good for his nutrition. Seeing this session made me realize the importance of a speech pathologist in a child's life when they cannot perform basic needs.

First week of Mentorship

I finally started volunteering! This week was my first week and it was great! I went twice for two hours, so a total of four hours. I worked in a session that groups about 10 kids together and show them different things about what to say when they are around different people. My first day was Tuesday and unfortunately it was the last day for that eight week session but it was a great experience even though I was a little lost at first. Luckily, I was not the only volunteer that was on her first day, so we found our way together. On Thursday, the session was still going on until about two more weeks. The session included a lesson on how and what children can say to join in on a conversation or a game they want to play. Every child received a chance to ask if they could join a game and a conversation. It was a great experience for me and there is much more to come!

Blog 9: EQ

Content

Essential Question
Once a topic is chosen, the student will develop a working essential question.  The purpose of the working essential question is to help the student build a strong foundation of research which will allow him or her to create an essential question that encourages depth and rigor in the chosen topic.
An essential question must:

• Provide a framework for studies (It calls for breadth and depth of research, Is not a yes/no question)
• Takes a stance (Allows you to argue some point, cannot be a recitation of facts or a list )
• Format (It is specific, The wording makes sense)

1. I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ
2.  Review the following EQs and
Tell us if it meets the rule of 3 criteria.
Tell why it does or why it doesn't

 a.  What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?
This question meets some rules but not all. To start it has a framework for studies that can be made. It is well written and takes a position. The only thing I think would make it better is if the question would specify on a method of healthy weight loss.

 b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?
I think the wording is a little off. But other than that it is not a list or facts, it takes a stance and has different aspects that can be researched. Instead of "what is most important to securing...." it could say "what is the most important factor in securing..."

 c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?
I think it should be more specific, like is it a hairstyle for a quincenera, wedding, or a casual look. It would be a little hard to argue because it depends on the customers tastes and one customers taste will not be the same as another so taking a stance and arguing a point would be difficult because it really depends on the customer you have. I provides a framework of studies and does allow for in depth research.
 d.  How can an Anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?
This EQ follows the rule of 3, it has a framework of study it focuses on what anesthesiologist do to treat patients with chronic pain. The question was easy to understand and know what they wanted to research. The question doesn't include any list or facts.

3.  Based on your review of the rule of 3 and your experience with assessing four EQs, please write another draft EQ for your senior project.
What is the best way for a speech pathologist help a child with Autism communicate?

Feeling Frustrated :(.

So it turns out that I could not start volunteering right after I assisted the orientation. There was a whole additional process I did not know about until it was mentioned at the orientation. I have to take two TB shots since there is a high population of infected individuals in Southern California. I took my first shot Tuesday and have to wait two weeks before I can take my second one. I was really disappointment because I did not inform myself before hand. I thought the process was going to be a lot quicker. The second interview is due Friday and I still have not had the opportunity to arrange a time to meet with my mentor. I talked to the volunteer coordinator and asked her if it was possible for me to interview the person I will be working with (mentor) and she told me she was going to talk to her and arrange a time for me. Until today she has not called me, so I will call tomorrow to see what the situation is. I really hope the speech pathologist is willing to let me interview her. I am feeling really scared and frustrated because it has been really hard for me to find a mentor.

Blog 8: Research and Working EQ

Content:

1.  What is your working EQ?

What is the best way for a speech pathologist to treat a child with a speech impediment?

2.  What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format.

EQ: What is the best way for a speech pathologist to treat a child with a speech impediment?

• A speech pathologist can demonstrate to the child how to produce sounds correctly in words or a word they are trying to say. 
• Also, the speech pathologist can teach the child to recognize what sounds are correct and which are incorrect. 

3.  What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ?

The most important source that helped me come up with my answers was a "Speech Sound Disorders: Articulation and Phonological Processes" from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association .

4.  Who is your mentor, or where are you volunteering, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

I will be volunteering at a rehabilitation center that has a children's department and an emphasis on speech pathology. Since my working EQ is how a speech pathologist treats a child with speech impediments, volunteering here will allow me to get a better experience of what it is like.

Independent Component 1 Approval

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.
For my 30 hours I plan to work with a speech pathologist at the rehabilitation center I found. My 30 hours will consist of volunteer work, including constant shadowing and observing to get a real sense of how it is best to help children with speech impediments.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.
To show evidence that I have completed my 30 hours of work I will document my experience by taking pictures and proving in depth explanations about what I do. I also plan to bring in my transcripts to provide proof of my completed hours.

3.  And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.
Since I am going to be observing a speech pathologist it is going to allow me to analyze different methods used to treat a child and to see which is most effective. It can also help me understand the difference between different speech impediments and visually see what they are.

4.  Post a log on the right hand side of your blog near your mentor ship log and call it the independent component 1 log.