Studying Human Service - Essay Example

Human Service WK2 Walden Human Service wk2 Assignment One For pursuing masters in human services, http writingcenter.waldenu.edu/ is a crucial website. The site offers numerous sites from which students obtain assistance, information, or guidance on how to present academically qualified assignments, publications, and capstone studies among others. Additionally, the center for student success site offers the opportunity to have graduate assistants and students work towards fostering success, achievement, improving the experience of students, and heightening retention. This collaboration involves content delivery through webinars, study groups, face-to-face sessions. References Walden university. (2014). Center for student success: Graduate Assistant Tutoring Services. Retrieved from http://css.waldenu.edu/1272.htm Walden university.(2014a). Online writing center. Retrieved from http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/ Assignment Two Describe any concerns you have or challenges you might anticipate as an online learner. As an online learner, the main challenge anticipated is a feeling of isolation from the instructor and the rest of the classroom (Lynn, 2008). When receiving new learning instructions or the instructor is introducing a new concept, one-on-one instruction offered through face-to-face interaction is more effective compared to email, telephone, or web discussion boards. Consequently, the little instructional support experienced may result in miscommunication that could be frustrating as I struggle with course materials. Additionally, I will be confined to independent learning that calls for additional reading and writing (Lynn, 2008). Besides being a new student, I anticipate that my unfamiliarity with distance educational technologies at Walden will continue to be a source of discomfort given my fear of the unknown and uncertainty in my abilities to learn without physical instructions. This may change with time, but will continue to pose challenges for now. Identify one strategy and one resource/tool from the Learning Resources that may contribute to a successful online learning experience. Explain how you might use the strategy and resource/tool to enable you to overcome the concerns or challenges described. The ‘collaborate and connect’ online resource couple with engaged and vibrant participation in information, ideas, and opinions exchange will promote my knowledge and understanding of classroom concepts (Walden University, 2014). For instance, a miscommunication can be clarified from online discussions, while I can also benefit from the inputs of other students regarding the same concept. In addition, collaboration and connection with classmates will improve my understanding of classroom concepts such that I can contribute and follow my classmate’s conversation. To overcome the technology challenge, collaboration and connection with others will help me get remain attuned to technological requirements and so will my consulting the student readiness orientation. Identify two personal weaknesses or limitations that you might need to improve upon in order to ensure success in this program and explain why? The two personal limitations to improve are balancing work and education, and limited required technological knowledge. Balancing work and education time is crucial, but a difficult task. In most cases, work assignments consume my learning time and I end up lagging behind others in class or missing out crucial collaboration and connection sessions. For all the days that I have classrooms to attend, I intend to prioritize my work duties and ensure that I have sufficient time to complete my work and engage in discussions. I also intend to have classroom sessions that do not coincide with my being at work to avoid jeopardizing my work productivity. Secondly, my limitation in using the required technology requires my seeking of relevant support from the online student support at Walden and requesting for proper user guides that I can practice with. With time, I will not only become familiar with the system but also possess the knowledge to navigate the learning system for additional information. Provide at least one additional strategy and/or resource (not included in the Learning Resources) to address the personal weakness or limitation you identified The only way I can manage to balance my work and education, and have time to familiarize with the online learning technology is through disciplined time management (Conceicao & Lehman, 2011). A disciplined time management strategy will not just apply for the days that with learning sessions, but even for other days. Disciplined time management will be coupled with to-do lists, and avoiding distractions that could consume the time I have dedicated to learning. References Conceicao, S., & Lehman, R. (2011). Managing online instructor workload : strategies for finding balance and success. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Lynn, A. C. (2008). The Nature of Pedagogical Practices Influenced by an Instructors Belief in an Online Mathematics Education Course. New York: ProQuest. Walden University. (2014). Mission and Vision. Retrieved from http://www.waldenu.edu/about/social-change/mission-and-vision Assignment Three Discussion One A description of how the domestic dispute incident was defined in the media presentation. From the media, the domestic dispute incident is defined as felony domestic assault. The arrest of John takes no consideration that his wife was cheating on him and he got angry from the incident, thus hit his wife (Laureate Education, 2014f). He confesses to have never beaten her up and on this occasion when he uncovers his wife’s adultery, he is arrested for assault though with bail. From the incident, John, however, threatens to kill his wife and the man she is cheating with and this qualifies the classification of the incident as felony domestic violence, thus accompanied by harsh penalties and restraining order. Then, explain how you would prefer to see this incident defined. I would first identify the cause of the situation by listening to both sides. From the findings, it is clear that the form of crime John commits is misdemeanour domestic violence given that he only acts under the influence of his wife’s unfaithfulness and the fact that he caught her in the act (Roberts, 2002). Consequently, this would mean no jail time and lighter penalty. Instead of a jail sentence, John would be subjected to counselling after which he would be left to go back home. Finally, explain how the changing nature of helping in human services might impact the definition of the incident and why. The changing nature of human services calls for the identification of multidimensionality of client needs (Woodside & McClam, 2014). In this case, the approach used is not multidimensional and resulted in an unjustified sentence for John. The best way would not be to justify John’s anger, but the environment within which the violent incident was encountered. References Roberts, A. (2002). Handbook of domestic violence intervention strategies: policies, programs, and legal remedies. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Walden University. (2014). Mission and Vision. Retrieved from http://www.waldenu.edu/about/social-change/mission-and-vision Woodside, M., & McClam, T. (2014). An Introduction to the Human Services. New York: Cengage Learning. Discussion Two A brief description of problems the client in the media presentation is experiencing. John’s situation is complex. He is experiencing frustration from the realization that his wife has been unfaithful to him. John is also frustrated that he has no time to iron out things with his wife and instead, she places a restraining order on him, restricting him from getting out of getting close to his wife or visiting his children (Laureate Education, 2014f). He can only see his children after the court provides a supervised visitation schedule. This means that despite his wife’s unfaithfulness, John has been denied his rights as a father. John feels that he is unfairly being separated from his family. Then, identify the two problems you think are most critical. The two most critical problems are frustrations and denied justice. As a human service officer, understanding John’s frustrations would be of great impact on his case. This would introduce a new angle to the current situation, thus influencing the current sentence. Explain why the problems you identified are most critical and how human services interventions might be beneficial. As a human service professional, John’s frustrations and denied justice provides an opportunity for the human services professional to act as an advocate (Neukrug, 2013). The professional should seek to champion and defend John’s causes and rights. He has the right to be heard and present the situation as it unfolded such that the clear cause is well understood. The professional should also assist John by offering care giving services where he will be offered hope, support and encouragement that all is not lost and that he is under the right assisting the environment (Summers, 2011). Besides advocating his rights, the professional should educate John about behavior change to facilitate change and guarantee that no such conduct would be repeated. References Laureate Education (Director). (2014f). The Situation: Chapter 1 [Motion Picture]. Neukrug, E. (2013). Theory, practice, and trends in human services : an introduction. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning. Summers, N. (2011). Fundamentals of Case Management Practice. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning. Read More