Learning The Portfolio - Essay Example

 Learning The Portfolio Portfolio Task 1 I am among students who have enrolled for the GER 401class. I decided to enroll in this course because this is a course that, according to me, would have me introduced into the key developments in the information and academic literacy skills. I am writing this post in attempts of seeking some solutions to the challenges that are faced by the of the DE student. As a distance education student, I anticipate experiencing a number of challenges during my learning. For instance, challenges like those of the hidden cost of the program would affect the learning of a distance education student. The cost of maintaining the program, personal cost, and the startup cost are examples of expenses that a DE student may encounter during his learning program. However, the success at the university would have a substantial effect on my life. As a practicing nurse, the success in GER 401 would give out a certification of my profession. This means that, without this achievement, I may not be able to advance into my profession. This post will respond to a post that was made by one of my classmates in regard to my earlier post. In his post, Greg argued that despite the fact that distance education students face a number of challenges, startup cost may not be regarded as one of the challenges. He added that the cost of starting up a distance education learning program only depends on the parents and administrators of the program. Even though the cost of starting a distance education is lower than the expected benefits, the startup cost is still extremely high to the students and their families. Aside from the tuition fee for the program, there are other factors like the cost of accessing the Internet, cost of purchasing books and other study materials which may appear to be high to many students. This is a critical concern and should, therefore, never be ignored especially if the challenge of the DE students needs to be addressed. Portfolio Task 2 After locating the given article (Resistance training and older adults’ beliefs about psychological benefits: The importance of self-efficacy and social interaction. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 29(6), 723–746), the two selected sources from the reference list include: I. Takeshima, N., Rogers, N., Rogers, M., et al. (2008). Functional fitness in older adults varies depending on the mode of exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 39, 2036–2043. II. Layne, J., Sampson, S., Mallio, C., et al. (2008). Success disseminating a strength community-based training program for old adults by professional leaders: the People Exercise Program. Journal of Am Geriatr Society, 56, 2323–2329. The first article was selected because it is an article which targets are similar to that of the given article. This means that both the first article and the given article do discuss the old adults. The second article was also selected since it discusses training just like the given article. Portfolio Task 3 The keyword used while searching for the database: exercise and the aged The database was chosen because it is an academic search premier (EBSCOhost): This database covers arts and literature and medical sciences. The two articles selected include: I. McCormack, J. (2000). Looking back and moving forward? Ageing in Australia 2000. Ageing and Society, 20, 623–631. II. Brandon, L,, Boyette, L,, Lloyd, A,, & Gaasch, D. (2004). Resistive training and long term functions in an old adult. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 11, 10–28. Portfolio Task 4 In the article “The Crisis of Our Ageing Population and Other Fairytales,” David Gould argues that there existed a prosperous and rich land. The people who lived in that land were growing to be old. In this case, the residents of that land drained the treasure of the country until everything was exhausted (COM, 2002). These people spent their remaining years in misery and poverty, transforming a wasteland economy to their children. Another article referred to as “The Ageing Population 'Crisis'” (n.d.) argues about the projected effects of aging individuals on the growth of the economy. In this article, Charise discusses an interview with a novelist from Britain (Martin Amis). Amis argues that progress in medical science had made different novelists stay by the death of their talent. In this respect, novelists appear to lose their talent at the age of about 70 years. The author also asserts that there is destruction of food, water, and city supplies due to the increasing number of aging individuals in the society. From this article, the author testifies the figurative language that has a function in the building up the perception of the aged. Additionally, the article shows that the aging demographers could be compared to the appraisal of an aged writer. These two viewpoints have a significant number of similarities and differences. First, the two viewpoints have a lot to say concerning the effects of an aging population on its economy. Charise argues that the population of age and the late habitual styles are involved in bringing out the old age problem. Gould, on the other hand, discusses the terror that is brought about due to age. This terror is brought about by the senior individuals failing to make enough savings that would support themselves during old age. One significant contrast in these articles is that Gould has not addressed any concern on the effect of the language capacity of the aging societies. However, Charise argues how the capacity language underpins the late style language and the aged artists. Aside from the crisis of aging, these two articles address the aging opportunity that faces each individual. This is a chance for healthier, wealthier, and longer lives (COM, 2002). These two commentaries, therefore, provide a distinction between “The Ageing Population ‘Crisis’’ and “Crisis of Our Ageing Population.” One presents the benefits of the aging society and the other presents the demographic characteristics and how it influences the aging society. Portfolio Task 5 Annotated Bibliography McCormack, J. (2000). Looking back and moving forward? Ageing in Australia 2000. Ageing and Society, 20, 623–631. The purpose of the article was to ensure that the status of the aged in Australia is assessed due to the upcoming developments. In this respect, the article provides an indication concerning the research argument on the aged, practice and policy in the country. The article is relevant to the current topic (Effects of Functional fitness) because it examines the Australian IYOP as an achievement measure. In this respect, the article focuses on key output, and the national strategies that have been proposed for an individual who is aging in Australia. This source was extremely useful because it reviewed a number of socio-demographic data on the aged within Australia and research summary of the aged as it is documented on the directory research of the aged. Brandon, L., Boyette, L., Lloyd, A., & Gaasch, D. (2004). Resistive trainings and long-term functions in old adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 11, 10–28. The key purpose in the article was to evaluate the consequences of a twenty four month moderated intensity training that is resistive, and strength intervention functions within the aged population. The methodology of this article included an experimental research, which involved a sample of about fifty-five healthy and aged dwellers of a certain community. These subjects were evaluated in order to test for strength of approximately five muscle groups, which would affect low movement and physical functions. The article asserts that a moderate intensity training that is resistive has an effect of increasing strength in aged individuals. This article is of immense importance to the study topic as it emphasizes that the benefit of strength is retained for the intervention duration. The article was useful since it was relevant to the study topic (Effects of Functional fitness). In this respect, the article emphasizes that a program of strength training that is long-term would increase the function of independency in the aged individuals and could help in lengthening their functional independence. Portfolio Task 6 Reflective Essay From the course GER401, the information and academic literacy is the potential to identify whatever knowledge or information that is required to understand how to organize the information, identification of the best information source for a certain need, locating the needed sources, evaluating the different sources in a critical manner, and sharing the information that would have been obtained. This means that information and academic literacy are the common knowledge of the techniques used in undertaking a research (Coleman, 2004). Information and academic literacy are extremely vital because all researchers are always surrounded by a pool of information that is written in all formats (Hammond, 2004). However, not all knowledge or information that is created is similar. Some information may be current, some may be reliable, some may be biased, some may be outdated, some may be false or misleading, whereas some may be authoritative. In all this situations, the quantity of information that is available is an information ocean which keep on increasing each and every day. In this respect, the form of technology that is a pit in use, in accessing, creating, and manipulation of information is also high because of the high demand of information and academic literacy. Information and academic skills are normally utilized for academic reasons such as research groups or paper presentations. These skills are tremendously useful for the job. The potential to evaluate, find, share, and use the information is one of the skills that is particularly essential. The decisions of the consumer, e.g., which goods to purchase, are also critical. In addition, these skills could also be used in a situation where an individual participates fully in a society that is democratic, just like a citizen who understands issues concerning voting. Learning these skills as a lifelong learner is extremely beneficial. These skills have enabled me to find out the relevant information that would be needed for the distance education learning. Lifelong learning involves an educational experience which uses an academic course, community service, and education travel that is noncredit (COM, 2002). In this respect, there is usually volunteerism so as to take part fully in the physical activity to heighten maintenance of social relationships that are healthy and fully engaging the learner's brain. This is an approach that is crucial in the lifestyle of an individual who is at the age above 50 years or the Baby Boomer. Looking at the benefits that are obtained out of keeping one’s mind sharp, it appears to be extremely incredible. Lifelong learning, therefore, is a club that is extremely healthy for the brain of any individual. An active mind, on the other hand, could precipitate physical activity and thus maintain an individual’s spirit high. This is an all rounded tool that could be used for a better health. Many experts have come to an agreement that when learning occurs at a later stage, it is boosting an individual’s life, thus making him have an appreciable living. Research has shown that the secret behind an individual making most utility of his years after fifty years is championing lifelong learning as a lifestyle that is proactive for general development of an individual. Relating my experience as a lifelong learner to the experience of the learners who are old, lifelong learning would help in developing natural abilities in old individuals more than the younger ones. Every individual has his or her inner abilities that are natural, some of which may fail to be readily apparent. When an individual has stopped working full time like the old, such an individual has the chance to develop fully and explore their ability. For a young individual, this could fail to be possible because of the many responsibilities and working activities that one may involve himself with. Young individuals may tend to have specifically little time to concentrate on exploring and developing their full potentials. Lifelong learning is also known to have an effect of opening the mind of an individual (Jackson, 2006). The part that is integral in lifelong learning includes the free idea exchange and the older learners’ view points. Research has shown that nothing is referred to as listening or participating in discussions that are simulating in helping an individual to have a view of the other part of an issue. The idea of giving and taking is proven to open minds and gives an individual a whole new degree of enlightenment. Lifelong learning has a tendency of creating a hungry mind that is intensely curious. This effect is seen to prevail in older learners than the younger ones. When a learner discovers history at an age of above 50 years, current politics, events, or other countries’ cultures would evoke a need to learn (National League of Nursing Core Competencies, 2002). Studies have shown that there is a broad world outside that has not been explored. The desire and drive of an individual to learn would always be motivated, thus making one keep on looking for information to fill his mind. Additionally, lifelong learning would always make the wisdom of an individual to increase. In this respect, it would enable an individual to put his life in a reasoning perspective. This makes one’s understanding increase especially in the previous failures and successes. This inquiry makes an individual have a deeper understanding of his self. In a later life, one would tend to develop wisdom at a higher rate than that of a younger learner. This is due to the wisdom that is believed to come about with age. Considering the lifelong learning aspect of the community service, learners who are above 50 years tend to give back to their societies and to the environment around them. In lifelong learning, the insight wisdom is a tangible benefit towards the world that is around us. Apart from this, lifelong learning makes an individual establish meaning in their lives. In a number of situations, it may be extremely challenging for an individual to look back on his life. Lifelong would always provide one advantage of real life perspective, hence enabling an individual to establish a true meaning of his life despite his past. Lifelong learning makes learners, who are older, adapt or adjust to change (Scherbov & Sanderson, 2008). The community is always in a changing sate. When one ages, he may feel like all is done. However, this is not true since lifelong learning enables one to maintain the flux of the society, especially the changes in technology. An environment of learners, who are younger than their peers, not only makes an individual stay out of change but also makes them have some fun. The emergence of the social model of health has brought out a greater demand for lifelong learning to the service of mental health (Kogan, 2000). Life within the community is all about people having experiences concerning the required mental health services and change (Kogan, 2000). This makes all the members of the community have a high level of control concerning their lives, hence the requirement of an extensional lifelong learning. According to this model, any individual having a severe mental illness could grow over the limit that is imposed by his illness. In this regard, the potential of growing past any limit is determined by the ability and access to apply and acquire lifelong learning (Catalyst, 2002). References Brandon, L., Boyette, L., Lloyd, A., & Gaasch, D. (2004). Resistive trainings and long-term functions in an old adult. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 11, 10–28. Catalyst. (2002). The challenge of longer life: Economic burden or social opportunity. Retrieved from http://www.catalystforum.org.uk/pubs/pub6.html. Coleman, D. (2004). Europe at the crossroads – must Europe populations and workforces depend on new migration? Oxford Centres for Populations Studies: Work Paper Series no 21. Retrieved from http://www.apsoc.ox.ac.uk/Oxpop/publications%20files/WP21.pdf. COM. (2002). European report on quality indicators of lifelong learning. Brussels: Commission of the European Communities. Hammond, C. (2004). Impact of lifelong learning on emotional resilient, psychological and mental health: Fieldwork evidences. Oxford Review of Education, 30, 551–568. Jackson, S. (2006). Learning to live: The relationships between long life learnings and long life illness. International lifelong Education Journal, 25, 51–73. Kogan, M. (2000). Lifelong learnings in UK. European Education Journal, 35(3), 341–359. Lunyk-Child, O. L., Crooks, D., Ellis, P. J., Ofosu, C., O’Mara, L., & Rideout, E. (2001). Self-directed learning: Faculty and student perceptions. Journal of Nursing Education, 40, 116–123. McCormack, J. (2000). Looking back and moving forward? Ageing in Australia 2000. Ageing and Society, 20, 623–631. Parker, M., & Thorslund, M. (2007). Health trend in the old population: Get better and get worse. The Gerontologist, 47, 150–158. Scherbov, S., & Sanderson, W. (2008). Rethinking age and aging. Population Bulletin, 63(4). Read More