New Year! - November 22-26, 2010

Hello readers, this is my final blog post for Communication Techniques, Early Childhood Education Year 1. This semester has been very challenging and also a great learning experience. One of my goals that I have for the New Year is to enjoy next semester as much as this one. This year I have met great friends and also very knowledgeable people, who have helped and guided me throughout my learning. Next year I hope that I can succeed in my studies as much as I did this year and also enjoy new experiences such as Field Placement. This is my goal for the New Year, thank you readers!

Blog Wars! – November 15-19, 2010

Blogs, blogs, blogs. Are they talking over all other forms of communication? Personally i do not think that a blog could replace agendas, due to that fact that some families do not have computers or internet access at their home. Yes, blog are the newest technology of posting information, and do seem like an ideal method for teachers and parents/guardians to communicate. We all know that kids might forget their agenda or “loose” it somewhere. But if we do being to use blogs to communicate what will be next? Tweets to everyone’s phone, facebook pages, and then texts and so on, where will it end and will privacy and professional lines be crossed? What if a parent didn’t get along with another parent and a full out fight happened on your blog, you would be held responsible because it is your blog. I personally thing agenda blogging is a horrible idea and would never use a blog in a child care centre or kindergarten classroom.

Take Responsibility For YOUR OWN Actions! – November 8-12, 2010

In my opinion the most important Generic Skills Learning Outcome is #11, take responsibility for her or his own actions and decisions. I think that this is the most important Generic Skills Learning Outcome because it not only applies to the Early Childhood Education Course, but to everyday situations people deal with throughout their entire life. Be responsible for your own actions, if you are acting inappropriately or recklessly you need to face the consequences. And it is very understandable that yes, people do make mistakes. But you still need to take responsibility for what you did, whether it was right or wrong, and this is what we are teaching the children of today. Knowing that Durham College is obligated to ensure ECE graduates are able to demonstrate ALL the vocational, generic and general education skills helps me understand why we have assignments in this course that require us to analyze and evaluate information from a variety of sources, write or present your research, and use MLA formatting because that is what we are going to be required to do as an ECE. We need to be credible, respected, authoritative within our career, and even just in life, so I do believe that the requirements are justified.

FREE PARKING is not what I paid for! – November 2/3, 2010

Parking at Durham College! I am a full time student at Durham College and the parking is ridiculous. Each day I come to school and I feel like there are no parking spots available for me. I usually end up parking in the farthest row and its not the longer walk to the building, or how cold it is outside, but the fact that I feel uncomfortable walking alone to my car late at night. Even if I have a class at 8:00 a.m. I still am parking so far away, where there are usually no people around, no light posts, and no walkways. Now that it is entering the winter months it gets darker earlier and earlier! So now I’m stuck feeling like I need to run to my car every night when I’m done my classes. Recently I have been noticing that the “gate” where you need to swipe your card to get into the parking lot has just been open. So how come everyone is now able to get into my parking lot, park in the close parking spots, and not pay a single penny? I paid $500.00 for my parking and i do not feel like i am getting my money’s worth, but rather ripped off and wonder, what is the point of having these fees if people are now parking anywhere they want? 

Durham College Adventure! Oct 26, 10

Starting from the Campus Bookstore located in the Gordon Willey building in room A125 you will walk to the B-wing on the first floor on your left. Once you get there you will go out the doors across from the Security and Parking Information desk and continue walking along the sidewalk, passing a large circular monument on the lawn. Eventually you will reach an intersection and will turn left. Continue walking straight until you reach the Founders 1 parking lot and within the parking lot there will be the Simcoe Building. There will be a construction zone on the right side. You will walk along the construction zone, but please be cautious and careful. There will be a set of doors with a wheel-chair accessible entrance which you will enter. Congratulations! You have reached the K-wing of the Simcoe Building, please proceed down the hallway and you will reach room K9.

Hope you had a safe trip!

I outlined your trip in magenta for a visual reference.

Learning is GOOD! Oct 20, 2010

Today we were taught how to properly use MLA style referencing and why we should reference in the first place.  Referencing gives credit to ideas, work, or innovations of the creator. It makes you and your work look more professional and credible to the reader and allows you to avoid plagiarism or fraud. There are two places where you can obtain referencing information depending on the material, which can be located within the text body known as Parenthetical references (in text citations) or a Works Cited page which is a thorough list of all sources used. Many people find it challenging to know when and what you are supposed to cite within your work. But in today’s class we learned that you do not have to cite common knowledge and if you’re unsure if you should cite information or not you always should just in case to avoid plagiarism. Lastly we learned that there are many resources available when trying to cite information such as the MLA Guide at the DC/UOIT library, on the online MLA library guide, the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers in the bookstore and library, and also SALS (Student Academic Learning Services) has Writing Specialists available to help students with their future references!

SALS- Student Academic Learning Services. -October 12/13, 2010

If you are having difficulty or find you are struggling with homework, assignments, or studying for tests the Student Academic Learning Services also known as SALS is a great place to help you accomplish your goals. As a student at Durham College you are eligible to register for a peer tutor, have 15 hours of tutoring per subject (which you are allowed 2 per semester), and only costs you $5 for registration fees. SALS also offers workshops throughout the semester to help students, if you cannot make it to a workshop or it is full you can make an appointment, and you can even ask for a workshop yourself. At the SALS centre they try to provide a quiet and productive learning environment in hopes to ensure students reach their maximum learning potential. They also have various learning tools or guides posted available for your use such as tips sheets, outlines, and bibliography or works cited help sheets. SALS is full of great resources and their most valuable resource would be the people there to help. Leslie Linstrom who is a Writing Specialist, Eric Gustavsen an ESL Specialist, and John Hayes a Learning Skills Advisor are just a few to mention who are there to guide you and answer any questions you may have. So please don’t hesitate when you need assistance, all you need to do is ask and help will be provided in one way or another.

- If any extra information is needed please feel free to read my previous blog post and visit the SALS website.

http://www.durhamcollege.ca/EN/main/places_to_go/places_to_study/student_academic_learning_services.php