Course Reflection

OK Activities 1 and 2 don't really apply in my role as counsellor. So this will be about Activities 3 and 4.
Web 2 tools will be very useful in my own life as a learner and a member of online communities as I've commented in some of my previous modules. Social networking has definitely allowed me to stay in touch with with family and friends all over the world. At the touch of a key each day you can check up on the latest with people near and far.
As for my work as a school counsellor many of the tools are not really applicable because of the confidential nature of counselling but however the communication tools learned certainly have a place in counselling especially for those clients who have difficulty talking. Those clients who blog online and give me the privilege to communicate with them in this way certainly find it beneficial. After all, developing and assisting in the mental wellbeing of our students, their families and, of course, staff are surely priorities in our quest to educate our students for a better life in hopefully a better world.
Of course it doesn't stop here as new tools are popping up before you even become proficient in the one's you've just learned but i've definitely learnt a lot of new things.
As a general observation as a psychologist though, watching staff becoming stressed with the increased work load that Web.2 has placed on them on top of an already rigorous workload is frustrating especially when most staff will forget the parts that they don't use. you learn and retain things when they are useful to you so when a staff member needs a new tool they will learn it then and so through applying it then in the course of their ongoing work it will be utilised. Putting us through a course like this has put unecessary stress and strain on already overworked teachers a big ask.

Rose x

I commented on the following blog
nadiaromeo.blogspot.com Module 7 and Module module 8

Module 10

Gee finally up to the last module. Looked at all the Wiki info but it's really not that applicable to my work as a therapist.
Nings on the other hand provide a communication vehicle with my colleagues. I'm a member of NanoNing which is a ning set up for our staff at St Patricks College Sutherland. I have uploaded some good relaxation tracks to my music for staff to use for unwinding after a stressful day.
I'm waiting for some evaluation responses from staff.
Web 2 tools will be very useful in my own life as a learner and a member of online communities as I've commented in some of my previous modules. Social networking has definitely allowed me to stay in touch with with family and friends all over the world. At the touch of a key each day you can check up on the latest with people near and far.
Of course it doesn't stop here as new tools are popping up before you even become proficient in the one's you've just learned but i've definitely learnt a lot of new things.
So goodbye bloggers for now...................................Rose

Module 9

Firstly I don't really 'scootle' in my role as school counsellor but am very familiar with social and professional networking. I am a daily facebook user and connect with friends and relatives from all over the world. I have found and shut down inappropriate sites made by students! Social networking sites can be dangerous for cyber-bullying and defamation. It is easy to unknowingly be a victim of such things. I would not communicate with my students through social networking excepting thru email or msn chat. That way you choose when to talk to them. Some of my client's blog about how they feel and this has been a useful adjunct to therapy for my clients and gives me further insight into their problems. MySpace, twitter and friends reunited are all sites I visit. Some students find it much easier to communicate their innermost fears via a PC so as a counsellor I feel I can reach even more at risk students.

Module 8

The rss feeder is useful to show the latest updates of bloggers. Google reader is also useful in allowing you to see who is actively blogging etc. AND ALL ON ONE SITE> GREAT!

Module 7

Module 7
Yeah well I now have Delicious and extensions on my toolbar. I have added 2 others on my account and have also visited many blogs and commemted on many eg Module 7 of Nadia's Blogs and several times on Mac's Diary, a very informative and uplifting blog documenting the journey of her husband's illness and recovery.

Module 6

Module 6.
wow Bubbl.us is great for mindmaps. Am getting my clients to uyse this for study especially the seniors. They can construct great visual mindmaps which will help trigger recall during exam time. It also helps my anxious clients to stay focussed on thier study as it's much more fun doing mindmaps like this than writing notes.

Module 5

Module 5....
........oh my God it's only taken a few months and the looming deadline to get me going again. Will I make it by Sunday...???
I am familiar with podcasts, vodcasts, itunes and youtube. I have itunes on my computer which links through windows media centre wireless network. One of my clients was intetrviewed on JJJ about self harm and suicide and I was able to listen to the podcast. I will make it available to the clients I feel will benefit from her comments.
I use youtube and i tunes a lot.