A4.7: Week 4 Reflection

Aims and Objectives:

My goals for this week were:

• To focus on researching Broca’s Aphasia.  I wanted to do this so I would be able to improve upon my question and to learn more about my topic.
• To learn more about searching on the Internet.  In order to successfully retrieve information on my topic I wanted to learn more about online searches and search engine.
• To read some of the e-mail from my mailing list.  I wanted to do this so I could understand more about the mailing list and who the mailing list primarily serves.
• To complete all of my assignments.  I wanted to do this so I would learn more about this class and my topic.

Declarative Knowledge:

This week I learned to evaluate websites, in order to determine if the website was reliable. This is done by checking the reliability of the author, the reliability of the publisher, the author’s point of view or bias, the referral to and knowledge of the literature, and if the information is current.  I learned about collaborative software and what it can be used for.  I didn’t realize that things as simple as chatrooms and e-mail were collaborative software.  I learned more about my topic and perfecting a research question and that foundation questions need to be formed in order to answer the research question.  A good research question will have at least three foundation questions and at the most six foundation questions. 

Procedural Knowledge:

To evaluate the websites, I went to the class website and clicked on the particular link to the evaluation worksheets.  I then looked at the websites and carefully answered each question that was asked.  I wrote my responses and posted them to my weblog.  To complete the writing assignment on collaborative software, I went to Yahoo! and typed in collaborative software.  I then looked at a few sites that were returned and answered the questions that were asked.  I posted my responses to my weblog.  In order to develop my search strategy I read the document that was assigned and thought about how I personally wanted to research my topic.  I developed my strategy and then posted it.  Developing my research question and foundation questions involved looking at my original question and thinking of things I could do to make it more specific and what I could ask to get information.  To post to other classmates weblogs, I went to bloglines and clicked on the updated pages.  I then clicked on what I wanted to comment on and made my comment.

Conditional Knowledge:

Learning more about researching and evaluating websites will help me in all of my classes and even in my career.  It will enable me to make good decisions about what websites I should use.  This is a skill that all students need to learn in order to be successful. 

Questions:

Is there any collaborative software available that is specific to the field of speech language pathology?  Is there any specific software available for PDA’s that could be used by a speech language pathologist?

A4.6: WWW-Evaluating Resources II

Aphasia: Specific Syndromes (Nonfluent): http://www.csuchico.edu/~pmccaff/syllabi/SPPA336/336unit7.html

Authorship:
Patrick McCaffrey, Ph.D. is the author of the page that I found.  Dr. McCaffrey is speech-language pathologist who continues to teach courses in swallowing and neuropathologies.  The page that I found applies to information given to his neuropathologies course.  The e-mail address that is given for Dr McCaffrey is pmcaffrey@csuchico.edu.
The Publishing Body:
The publishing body of this site is Dr. McCaffrey.  He designed this page with the help of a webpage designer.  In the information he sites his sources and the references are available.  The site master can be contacted by just clicking on the e-mail provided.  As previously stated he is a speech pathologist and he is teaching this class, so yes this was part of his professional duties.    This site is relevant in the field that I am studying and the author is suitable to address the topic.  This website is his personal website that is located within the school’s webring.
Point of View or Bias:
This website does not express any personal points of view.  It explains facts about Broca’s Aphasia.
Referrel to and/or knowledge of the literature:
The page provides a link to a reference page that includes all of the references used.  The author displays ample knowledge of the topic and eludes to several different sources.  The author includes symptoms of Broca’s and even expands on some of the testing he uses with these client’s.  He has a great deal of knowledge in this area of study.
Accuracy or Varability Details:
The document contains a reference page in which you are able to find the name of the sources.  You would have to go to the library or another page to access the sources because they are not directly linked to the page.
Currency:
The copyright date is 1998-2001.  The page contains different referenced sources which show the date of the sources.  There is no need to update the information on a constant basis.  The information however would need to be updated if there was a break in research about Broca’s Aphasia.

A4.5: WWW-Evaluating Resources I

Site Name and URL:  Better Dog Food at http://www.betterdogfood.com

Accuracy:

1. Does the author cite sources used to develop the site?  No, the author does not cite sources used to develop the site.
2. Is it possible to verify the legitimacy of these sources?  I did not see any sources therefore I can not verify the sources.
3. Does the background of the author point to knowledge of the website covered?  The author of the website is the management team.  One of the authors designed and digitized Today’s Breeder Magazine and the other owns a dog.  I do think the authors have knowledge on what is covered.
4. If the site is research-based, does the author clearly identify the method of research and the data gathered?  This is not a research-based site.

 Authority:

1. Do you recognize the author’s name? No, I do not recognize either name.
2. If you don’t recognize the name what type of information is giver about the author?  Position?  Organization affiliation?  E-mail address?  Biographical information?  Rebecca Hargrave is the President and Chief Creative Officer of betterdogfood.com.  She developed Today’s Breeder Magazine and her e-mail is petchick@betterdogfood.com.  Carl Malmud is the Chairman/CEO/Founder of betterdogfood.com.  He is a frequent international speaker.
3. Was the site referenced in a document you trust?  The site was not given to me in a referenced document it is part of an assignment for a class.

 Objectivity:

1. Determine what is the aim of the author or organization publishing the site.  To sell animal products to people with pets. 
2. What is the purpose of the website?  It is an advertisement for several different pet products.
3. Do you trust the author or organization?  The website seems legitiment.  The products that are being sold are linked to other sites for purchase and those sites are well-known.

Currency:

1. Is a date clearly displayed?  Yes, the site has a date of 2000.
2. Can you determine what the date refers to?  Yes, it refers to the copyright date.
3. Are the resources used by the author current?  There were no resources.
4. Does the page command routine or continual updating or revision?  Yes.
5. Do the links on the page point to the correct Internet site addresses?  Some of the links do while others are no longer available.

Coverage:

1. Are the topics covered on this site explored in depth?  No, they are not.
2. Are the links on this site comprehensive or used as examples?  The links take you to products, so they are comprehensive of the product that is being sold.
3. On this site, are the links relevant or appropriate?  Yes, the links take you to pet products or tell about the company.
4. How valuable is the information provided?  It is valuable to pet owners.

    

A4.4: Collaborative Software

     Collaborative software is software that allows groups of people to engage in working toward a common goal.  It provides an environment in which information can be shared between people.  There are several different types of collaborative software. 

     Collaborative media allows different users to manage information whithin the same website.  Electronic communication such as e-mail, instant messaging, and web publication is another type of collaborative software.  Electronic conferencing and Electronic meeting systems are also collaborative software.  Electronic conferencing includes forums, chatting, and application sharing.  Electromic meeting systems involve collaborative management such as electronic calenders, program management, knowledge management, social software, and extranet.

A4.3: Search Strategy

     To begin my search on augmentative devices utilized by severe Broca’s Aphasia patient’s I will review class notes.  I then plan to look in my books and search on MILO for other books containing information on Broca’s Aphasia.  To further investigate my topic I will use the scholarly search on google and use EBSCO host and other databases to research my topic.  I plan to begin my search by looking for Broca’s Aphasia.  I will then search for therapy techniques and Broca’s Aphasia.  The final search I plan to make is augmentative devices and Broca’s Aphasia. 

     Searching for Broca’s Aphasia will give me general information on my topic that will help me investigate the syptoms that a person who has acquired this type of aphasia will have.  It may even give me information on symptoms of different severity levels.  Therapy techniques and Broca’s Aphasia will narrow my search.  The reason I am searching for techniques is that the use of augmentative devices is a therapy technique.  Searching for augmentative devices and Broca’s Aphasia will give me information on devices that are suggested to be used with Broca’s Aphasia patients.  After finding all of the information I am going to pull my resources together and answer my research question.

A4.2: Foundation Questions

Revised Question:

What if augmentative communication was not available for individual’s with chronic Broca’s aphasia and apraxia?

Essential Questions:

1. What is Broca’s Aphasia?
2. What are symptoms of chronic Broca’s Aphasia?
3. What do augmentative devices do?
4. What treatment options are available for individual’s with chronic Broca’s aphasia and apraxia?
5. What is apraxia?

A4.1: Revising Research/Essential Question

Question: 

What types of augmentative devices are used with people who have severe Broca’s Aphasia?

Content Words and Additional:

• types – classes
• used – applied, operated, utilized
• people – persons

Revised Question:

 What if augmentative communication was not available for individual’s with chronic Broca’s aphasia and apraxia?