November Blog Post

Hello and welcome once again to another fabulous blog post.




I wasn't able to do any mentor ship this month unfortunately (due to college applications among other things) and because of thanksgiving break we didn't do much research this month.

So with that in mind (and since its the time of giving thanks) I really wanted to dedicate this blog post to my mentor for being such a big help in this project during the research stages and just for being a great supportive father. He really knows how to separate his mentor duties and his father duties and I appreciate him very much. (and yes I have told this to him I just wanted to write it in a formal blog post)

Blog 10: EQ

1. I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.


Essential Question

Once a topic is chosen, the student will develop a working essential question. The purpose of the working essential question is to help the student build a strong foundation of research which will allow him or her to create an essential question that encourages depth and rigor in the chosen topic. An essential question must:



Provide a framework for studies (It calls for breadth and depth of research, Is not a yes/no question)
Take a stance (It allows you to argue some point, Cannot be a recitation of facts or a list)
Format (It is specific, The wording makes sense)

2. Review the following EQs and
Tell us if each meets the rule of three.
Tell why they do or don't.

a. What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?
I feel that this questions fits the rule of 3

b. What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?
This questions hits the first 2 points, but the formatting is a bit off. They could've said, "What is the most important aspect in securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?"

c. What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?
I feel that this meets all 3 rules, but it could be phrased better as the first few words can be confused.

d. How can an anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?
This meets all 3 points


3. Based on your review of the rule of 3 and your experience with assessing four EQs, please write another draft EQ for your senior project. The senior team will be meeting with students shortly for EQ revision and approval; you are expected to bring your research notebook to that meeting with your EQ draft written inside in pencil.

Blog 9: Lesson Reflection

1. Positive Statement
I was most proud of my lesson 1 because I didn't go over time. Every time I practiced the past few days I would always go over by at least 2 minutes and I was extremely nervous that I wouldn't be on time.

2. Questions to Consider

a. What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 1 Presentation (self-assessment)?
AE

b. Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 1 component contract.
During the course of the presentation I met all the P requirements and kept the classes attention during the presentation. Questions were asked at the end and after class as well. I also feel that I used my prop very effectively and it helped the class to understand what I was talking about. Plus it was a leg, I mean come on thats kinda cool.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 1?



My prop helped me a lot to actually remember things to say. I would find something on the prop that I hadn't explained and I would think, "oh yea I need to say that."



4. (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 1?



Probably provide more visuals. I have a feeling that most of the class has never seen an amputated leg before and that might distract them from what I'm talking about.

October Blog Post

Welcome to my Halloween blog post. As the procrastinator I am, it actually is a Halloween blog post. Yay.




This month I spent a lot more time in my mentors office meeting patients and actually getting some good experiences. I got to see him manipulate casts and plaster molds of an amputees leg. It was really interesting to get to see all the research I've been doing being put into practice. He was able to clarify many of the terms I've been writing down by actually showing me what they are/where they are. Here are some pictures of what he was working on. These two casts are for different patients and are completely different according to the patients individual limb.






This is a plastic check socket that has plaster poured into it. In order to make any adjustments, you have to work with the plaster because you can't really changed the test socket to fit the patient. You do this process as many times as it takes for the patient to be comfortable.










This is what the positive plaster mold looks like with the plastic check socket removed. From here you can shave down parts that need to be tighter in the socket or add plaster to parts that need to be loosened.





Thanks for reading the updates, I hope to be able to manipulate casts soon or at least be apart of the process.

Blog 8 - Research and Working EQ

1. What is your working EQ?


What is the most effective way to secure a residual limb inside a fitted socket?






2. What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format.


A pin system is one of the most effective ways of suspending a limb in a socket as it is more secure.






3. What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ?


My mentor. We actually discussed this topic the other day and he said that pins are the most secure form of socket suspension.






4. Who is your mentor, or where are you doing mentorship, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?


My mentor is Ken Smith and I shadow him around his prosthetics office. It really connects all the research I have been doing by showing me a visual.

September Blog Post

Welcome to my September blog post.




Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to meet with my mentor besides the 1st interview and I probably won't be able to meet with him till next week.

I still find the topic of prosthetics intriguing and the more research I complete the more intrigued I have become. Looking at all the new information that I've come upon, I have come to the conclusion that I will spending a lot of time with my mentor as the subject becomes more and more complicated. The procedures used to create the prostheses are, at the moment, lengthy and the time it takes to create the final prosthesis changes depending on when more research and new technologies become available.

An example of these new technologies would be the Outlast liner. Originally developed by NASA, Outlast is a special material that whisks away sweat and keeps the wearer cool and comfortable. Such material is great in a prosthesis liner because if there is too much sweat buildup in the socket it can start to create blisters on the residual limb making it uncomfortable for the wearer. Think of it as brand new shoes you wear for an hour and both of your heels end up with blisters. Essentially the same idea just with a larger surface area to be affected.






Here is what an Outlast liner (and most other liners) look like.


Sorry that I am unable to amaze you with fabulous stories about patients I saw or a new catalog book that just arrived. Still fixing up my work/mentor ship schedule and I should have much more to write about in the October blog post.

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

  For my 30 hours I plan on doing extra mentor ship since there really isn't any other places or events I could go to or attend in order to fulfill these hours.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

I will continue on with my mentor in my learning about prosthetics and documenting all the hours on my mentor ship Google doc.

3.  Explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

As the topic of prosthetics is a complicated subject with many variables involved the more hours I can get with my mentor the better. I will shadow him and present my problems and questions in order to learn more about the subject. I am hoping that he will teach me how to manipulate the positive plaster mold with shaving tools and things of the like.