Blog # 10: Blog Reflection

1. I think I’m doing well in my senior project. I’m probably in between AE-/P+ because based from the five minute presentation and research checks; I got mostly P and AE’s.

2. I think I did well on my research. I learned more about my topic. Picking my senior topic is also something I have done well. I get to help out the elderly patients. I also learn new things in the facility.

3. I still have to improve my presentation. I need to try not to feel nervous and stutter because that’s the feedback I got for recommendation part from my five minute presentation.

Blog # 9: Science Fair Proposal

1. If senior patients participate in word and number activities , then their heart rate will decrease.

2.  Variables:

     *The dependent variable:     heart rate (bpm)

     *The independent Variable:     type of activity

     *Controlled variable:            senior patients

3. My Science fair experiment is related to my senior project EQ, “What are the most important skills needed in becoming an activity coordinator at an elderly facility?” It both talks about how it can help senior patients. My Science fair helps me measure how activities such as word puzzles and BINGO can help the patients calm down. My EQ helps me figure out what skills to use as activity coordinator so I can relate and help my patients

4. I’m planning to get at least twenty patients maybe 10 Alzheimer’s patients and 10 normal patients. If ever that they won’t let me do that, then I’ll be using 20 normal patients. I will be taking there pulse using an automatic blood pressure monitor. It will help me figure out the vital signs easily and more accurate. I’m planning to take there pulse rate before the activity and after the activity. I will be charting it down for about ten to twenty sessions depending how much time it would take me per session. I will then use this data to see if this is a significant change in the calmness of the senior patients.

 Materials:

    * automatic blood pressure- for pulse rate

    * vital signs chart- to record data

    * timer/clock- to time the experiment

5. This would be in category: behavioral & social science

Blog # 8: What I've learned so far

1.  I’ve learned how to start communicating with the patients. It seems easy, but my first time meeting the patients, they were shy or scared to talk to me. I was like that to them on the first day too. But after a couple of meetings, the patients started to open up. They started talking to me. I first talked about simple things like when we played BINGO. I was helping Felicia (patient), guiding her in case she missed or forgot to mark her card. We first talk about how she was close to winning BINGO. Few minutes later, she started talking about how she was eager to win so she can get more snacks and maybe get a soda. Then after three meetings, she told me about her family and how she ended up in the facility. I also learned that for the patients/seniors to open up to you, you should also open up yourself to them. Talk like they were your friends. They like it that way so its not awkward for them to tell there feelings. 

2. I was going to take some pictures of me and my patients, working on some crossword and BINGO but I signed a waiver (with my application form) saying that I can’t take photographs with the patients since it’s against privacy policy. Instead of posting that, I decided to post the picture of me putting up the Halloween decorations all around the room. Getting the room ready for our planned Halloween party this Friday night.

 

  

 ( me putting up  Halloween tree design x']] )

3. I have a lot of sources that tells that communication is important, but I put the ones that gave more specifics especially to communicating.

 

• http://www.mymajors.com/careers-and-jobs/Activity-Coordinator  (skills part)
• http://www.iseek.org/careers/careerDetail?id=4&oc=100177&title=   (skills part)
• http://www.aafp.org/fpm/2006/0900/p73.html
• Gabriel Olea, my 1^st interview
• Rosa Rodriguez, my 2^nd interview

Blog # 7: Independent Component 1 Plan Approval

1. I plan to take a college general Psychology class at Cal Poly this winter. If the class happened to be full and not accept me, I plan to do my independent component in my Service learning.

2. Most of the class in Cal Poly last for 2 hrs and meets two times a week. They also have 2 mid terms and final which last for 2-3 hrs depending on how much the teacher gives. The readings and homework would probably take 5-8 hrs in total. It would give me about 31-37 hrs of work. If I didn't get into  college class, I'm planning to  add 30-40 hrs on my working hours in the service learning which is which gives me about 80-90 hrs of work. I will try and explore other jobs at the elderly facility as I work there.

3. If I got the college class which is psychology, it can help me explain what the behavioral process of human being. It relates to my EQ because if I know how to deal with the behaviors of the patients then it would for me to approach it with the right skills. If I add component work (about 30-40 hrs), to the hours that I'll be working at elderly facility (50 hrs of service learning), then its more likely for me to understand and adopt the approach that the staffs use on elderly patients. I can also experiment and apply my own skills and see if it works or not.

Blog # 6: Defining the Essential Question

1.  EQ:
      *What are the most important skills needed in becoming an activity
        coordinator at an elderly facility?
2.  Defining words in EQ:
     *activity coordinator- the one that works in activities at an elderly
       facility.
     *skills-ability needed for everyday work.
3. Possible answers to EQ:
     * Good communication is needed to understand the elderly patients.
     * Managing Time and Things helps you get the work done faster
        and simpler.
     *Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
     *Patience also helps you deal with the elderly patients.
4. Sources:
     *My first interview with Gabriel Olea, activity coordinator.
     *Research  #14a " Recreation workers organize and lead
       leisure activities "
     *Research  #16 "Career guide for recreation workers"

Blog # 5: Second Interview Questions

My Second Interview Questions:

1. What important skills do you think activity coordinators need to have?
2. Why do facilities have activities?
3. How do you conduct a successful group activity? And why are group activities important?
4. Can you give me some example of group activities?
5. How to deal with the patients/elderly (especially when they throw tantrums)?
6. Can you tell me some of your experiences as activity coordinator?

Blog #4: Presentation Reflection

Because of my first interview, I understand more about the topic that I'm suppose to talk about. It made it easier for me to explain my topic. For example, when I differentiate nursing home and youth center. They understood the difference once i asked them at the conclusion of my presentation. They raised and answered without doubting. Which surprised me because I thought they won't understand my explanation. My simple and straight forward explanations because without that, I doubt they will comprehend what I was saying. The most challenging thing to do is trying not to get nervous while explaining and also to get everyone's attention. Because once my nervousness kicks in, I won't be able to talk or I panic. Though I was nervous, I finished my presentation and I got my audience attention. ^^

Blog # 3: Senior Project Presentation 1

My objective is to make an activity plan with the class. I will try conducting what an Activity coordinator does when they plan their activities with the seniors. Making the audience understand that most of the Activity coordinators do is based from what everyone likes or decided.

Step 1: I will be putting the audience in groups. Then I will make them decide what there top three hobbies or activities that they really like to do.

Step 2: Once I listed every single hobbies or activities of the group, we start voting.

Step 3: After getting the top three activities or hobbies we as a whole, we then plan at what time of the day and how many hours do we plan to spend on all those three activities or hobbies. Then I as activity coordinator write it down in the board or chart.

Step 4: After that, I will explain to the audience that what we just did is what Activity coordinators do. I will also explain about what exactly activity coordinators do and why it’s important.

Step 5: I will show the audience my poster of a planned activities for the week. Just like the once you can see from the activities calendar or bulletin board.

Step 6: I will pick 3 random people from the audience and ask what they learned from my presentation and if they need clarifications they can also ask it at that time.

Blog # 2 :Interview Check

I'm scheduled to interview Rosa, one of the activity coordinators in Inland Valley Care and Rehabilitation Center, this Monday. Although after two weeks of doing some research, talking to some one that actually works as activity coordinator is better and something new. Because of that, I plan to add some questions such as: What made you pick this job?, What makes your job different from any other jobs in medical field?, Are you enjoying your job? This would also help me see her point of view of her job.

Blog # 1: Senior Project Topic

My topic is "Health Care: Activity Coordinator ". I picked it personally because I wanted to take career that is related to medical field. I also wanted to try a different branch in medical field which got me the idea of working in a facility like my dad. I wanted a fun and helpful way to help the patients. After doing some research on jobs that were in the facility, the one that took my interest is activity coordinator’s job. My goal is to explore the health care facility and to determine whether working in facility and being an activity coordinator will be suited for me.