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Source of Vigour and Sustainable Solution ‘Riding for Love’ a Charity Cycling Activity

This blog I will introduce a meaningful cycling activity which my foreign English teacher took part in. Jerry, my favorite foreign English teacher, who lives in Zhongshan city, coming from England. He is a nice and brave 60 years old teacher, concerning disable communities. Jerry is one of the few people in China who neither needs, or wants a car and refuses to buy one. Therefore, I think that he has sustainable ideas and sources of inspiration, who lives around my community.

‘Riding for Love’ a charity cycling activity was hold by Helping Hands Charity Fund. This ‘Great Work’ was a meaningful cycling trip. During 2019, the Helping Hands Charity Fund hold a charity cycling activity which is entitled ‘Riding for Love’. The event has been started in September. There was a team which included three cyclists, Jerry, Ann and Bev. The team rode by bicycle from Urumqi-Zhongshan. It was a total 4500 kilometers distance ride (Grey, 2019). The team took around two months to complete their journeys which would donate all of their fund to disable charity.

Helping Hands Charity Fund is a non-profit organization. It was initiated by Ann Liang and some friends who have involved in charity for long time. They focus on helping the disabled charity field. Helping Hands has raised over 1 million 800 thousand RMB in the past since 2005 (Liang, 2017). It helped many children who couldn’t afford schools in Guangxi province and Guangdong province. In the recent years, Helping Hands has helped over 300 disabled families in Zhongshan.

2017，Helping Hands set up its own charity fund and work with Zhongshan Sports Association For Disabled. They aim to encourage disabled friends take part in sports and social activities. 

Ann and Jerry, they are a couple.

The first day of ‘Riding for Love’, they encouraged people and expressed their vigour by cycling acticity.

Three cyclists, Jerry, Ann and Bev were in extremely hot and wet weather .

A lot of deserts along their way in Xinjiang Province, China.

Sometimes, they met extreme wind and sand storms.

Their accommodation was the most economical. They used sleeping bags and tents, because they wanted to donated more money to charity, in order to help diasbale people.

They hope, through sports and social activities, they can build confidence, have healthier bodies, find jobs, and integrate better into society. I believe Helping Hands’ inspiration is a source of vigour, encouraging many people. The meaning of vigour is different from people. I think this ride trip is a very good example of vigour and sustainable idea. Jerry, Ann and Bev are using their cycling charity  to help people. In addition, cycling across China is a great work, in order to encourage people’s sustainable thinking. Jerry rides a bike everyday and I was infleneced by his brave thinking. Therefore, sustainable solution is in our daily life.

References

Grey, J.  (2019). Riding for Love. Retrieved from http://www.zsbtv.com.cn/a/spyp/dslm/zsxw/snews/player_133085.shtml

Liang, A. (2017). Helping Hands Charity Fund. Retrieved from https://wemp.app/posts/d9e56eb2-69ae-466c-b4fc-4cca810143d1?utm_source=bottom-latest-posts

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Reflective journal Part 1 Daily routines

October 14, 2019 I started my reflective journal with this beautiful autumn picture which I took at Parc National du Mont-Orford. I like this park very much, although I paid about 8 dollars for one ticket. This expenditure is about “what I want”. When I went to the park, it was the first time for me to go sightseeing in autumn. Yellow, golden and red are special colors in autumn, so I think it is necessary to spend some time and money in this park, in order to relax myself.

According to the map, I can see that Parc National du Mont-Orford is a large and national park, so I believe it is valuable for students to visit. Stukely lake, Mony-Chauve trail, étang-fre-de-lance, mountain biking are some must-go spots.Visitors can drive to enjoy yellow golden trails by cars.

Interestingly, I found that tourists must classify garbage into different bins. Additionally, there are a lot of signs to indicate that this park is an environmentally friendly place. Therefore, the park's furnishings will use environmentally friendly materials. Workers classify and recycle waste.

October 15, 2019 I had a nice breakfast with my friends in Tim. Actually, I am a big fan of ice coffee, so I buy ice coffee four times a week. To sum up, I think I almost spend 20 dollars a week to buy coffee. Thank for this reflective journal, I had a chance to collect my daily and weekly expenditure which helps me to recognize my consumption.

October 24, 2019 That was a tough day in October, because I did extractions of my two wisdom teeth in Galt dental clinic. Firstly, I had booked an appointment to check my teeth on October 6 before I did extractions. I had spent 37 dollars after covered on dental check. Luckily, it was covered 60% by my dental insurance. Secondly, I received phone call from the dental clinic, so my friend picked me up to the clinic in the morning. Sadly, I felt very painful after wisdom teeth extractions. Then, we went to shoppers to buy some medicines with the doctor prescription. I had to say it was a different experience in Canada to see a dentist, because patients need to book appointments first and wait for several weeks. In addition, patients buy prescription medicines in drug store. That was a high expenditure for me to see dentist but I have to. Because I can't stand the feeling of wisdom toothache, this expenditure was necessary. 

October 28, 2019 This is the second month in Bishop’s, I still clean and pack my stuffs in my room. I decided to buy a small table, in order to make my room look tidy. I bought a table which is made by recycle materials from IKEA. From these three pictures, you can find out that all lags and platform were made by environmental wood. Therefore, I think that this table is creative and lovely. The table also took me half an hour to install it but it is a good time to build up my handy ability.

November 1, 2019

I have to admit that I like to buy drinks in my daily life, no matter at school or outside. Starbucks iced caramel macchiato cost me almost 6 dollars. The Starbucks coffee shop is a little far from my apartment, so I hanged out with my friends. After a small rest, we went to Costco, buying grocery. I spent about 60 dollars in Costco. Regularly, I go to Costco twice a month. Interestingly, I like Costco workers use reused boxes to pack up food or other things. Also, I found that Costco does not use plastic bags. It is very good to remind customers not to use plastic bags, in order to protect environment.

November 2, 2019 I went to Montreal with my friends. We went shopping and eating delicious food. I bought a lot of beautiful things which I want and I ‘desire’. The picture is a drink called milk tea which is popular in China among students. Then I ordered a bowl of Chinese noodles with soup. To sum up, I almost spent 100 dollars on buying grocery in Chinses supermarket.

November 4, 2019

This was a significant day for me, because I spend zero on transportation or shopping. I went to library and borrowed two books which are related to my major. To be honest, this was the first time for me to borrow books. I want to improve my reading and writing, so I decided to read some native English books, in order to correct my grammar mistakes. I found that most of the books are new in library. I was the first person who borrowed these two books, so students need to read and borrow books from library, in order to make good use of public resources. I should make good use of these books and resources. Renting books is a sharing idea which can reduce paper using and save money. 

In addition, I walked 2 kilometers to school’s library, instead of taking bus or cars. I was so proud that I coud walk home from library. My appartment is located on the top of mountain, which is a  little far from school. However, I think it is healthy to walk and do exercise. I tried this challenging way to transport from home to school. I felt really happy about I save almost 10 dollars !

Part 2

Shift my patterns of consumption

Although reflective journal only includes two- or three-weeks’ consumption, I believe this activity inspires my thinking of sustainability and environmental protection. In the past, I already though that I am a person who can recycle waste and make less garbage. However, I change my thinking now, because my consumption is still making too much garbage. For example, I already have two tables in my room, but I want to buy one more table to decorate my room. Hence, I will consider more aspects when I buy extract furniture.

I think I need to change my ‘shopping mindset’ firstly. When I feel upset, I will go shopping, in order to get rid of bad emotion. Some implicit theories can show human nature characteristics (Murphy & Dweck, 2016). For instance, a growing mindset which is a desire motivates customers consumption. What people buy or use can reflect customers’ features. Therefore, I should control my ‘shopping mindset’ and establish the concept of ideal consumption when I see some ‘perfect advertisements’. Secondly, I found that I bought a lot of coffee or sweet drinks. In order to build up the thinking of sustainability and environmental protection, I can shift my daily consumption. For example, I can bring my own bottle when I want to buy a bottle of coffee. In grocery stores, I can bring my shopping bags, instead of using plastic bags. My little change can do a lot of helps to our environment. In addition, I can influence my friends shopping styles and encourage more people to cultivate an environmentally friendly habit.

I am happy to complete this reflective journal and shift my daily routine. I will take bus or walk rather than drive car. In learning, I can buy some second hand books rather than buy new books. I can borrow books from library. When I write, I use computer or electronic devices, instead of writing on real paper. Garbage collection and classification are necessary in daily life.

In conclusion, I can buy something ‘I need’ and reduce to buy ‘I desire’. Overwhelming consumption could be shifted, if people follow correct methods.

References

Cooper, J. D. (2000). Literacy: Helping Children Construct Meaning. Fifth Edition.

Murphy, M. C., & Dweck, C. S. (2016). Mindsets shape consumer behavior. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 26(1), 127-136.

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How do Teachers and Students Improve Working Memory in the Classroom?

Xiaoqi Chen

These days, school-age students need to have several abilities such as working memory, cultural literacy, emotional management and problem-solving. All of these qualities are useful to increase learning capability.  Working memory is an ability to work with information and is the term used to refer to a system responsible for temporarily storing and manipulating knowledge (Alloway, 2006) so this ability uses a lot in study. Teachers and learners need to notice that it is essential to develop working memory. The blog’s purpose is illustrating what strategies teachers and students can have working memory. Educators need to be leaders guiding students’ working memory in the classroom and students should be the masters of working memory.

Teachers play a vital role to lead student’s working memory so they need to express correct instructions to students for class tasks. That means working not only needs students to develop but also need instructors guide in class. In various kinds of subjects such as reading comprehension, memorizing vocabulary and doing math questions, working memory are basic abilities to finish tasks in school (Alloway and Copello, 2015).  In elementary school, children follow the instructions delivering from teachers. 

For example, while students are doing math questions, they attempt to multiply two numbers (e.g., 52 and 36) spoken by teachers, without being able to use a pen and paper or a calculator. The first step is they should remember these numbers in their mind, which applies working memory just like memorizing this information as soon as possible. The next step would be to use learned multiplication rules to calculate the result, adding two numbers together. Finally, they would need to put the result into working memory, reporting in the correct solution (Alloway, 2006). In this example shows how working memory uses in a normal class. Students are followers and teachers are leaders in this process. Therefore, leaders should give clear orders and ask questions correctly, using simple language to illustrate questions. Easy understanding vocabulary is an important element of providing questions, helping students figure out what they should do in class. Having clear instructions can require students get correct responds by putting effective message into working memory.

Educators guide learners recalling knowledge with memory aid, which likes importing cues of case studies. Instructors can encourage children’s memory aid which is another help of working memory (Alloway, 2006). According to a comparative research, the interactive practice between instructors and students in working memory would transfer to acquired cognitive skills (Alloway,2012). In class, when teachers are asking difficult review questions, sometimes most of students forget the main ideas and central concepts. At that time, providing tips and encouraging students thinking deeply are teachers’ helps. Working memory is an important mental activity to students, using the cognitive behavior to manage studying stuffs (Alloway, 2006). Receiving the messages given by teachers recalls knowledge in their mind seems as an individual task of students. However, it is a time for teachers to give guidance, providing retrieval practice for students (Thorne, 2016). Visual images are considered vivid patterns in primary school. Owing to colorful pictures, children would pay attention to images, trying to remember which pieces of information would match the questions. Collecting memory’s fragments, recalling information and organizing the answers are three steps of simply working memory process. As long as get aid from teachers, review questions would become easy to recognize. Hence, educators are helpful leader of students in working memory activities.

Although instructors are guides in student’s working memory, learners are masters in working term memory. Because working memory is a mental activity belonging to learners, the owners should have enough attention and motivation. “While IQ typically measures the knowledge acquired by students, working memory measures what they do with that knowledge” (Alloway and Copello, 2013, p.105). Cognitive skills are relevant to focus and attitude. They need high attention and active motivation. If student remember a vocabulary that is a new word, they should concentrate on the meaning and understand the word. Then using effective self-reminding likes telling themselves that is not hard and they can do this task. Active motivation treats as a signal or a warning to their mind, expressing information. People’s brain is a complex system and includes transferring signal and message to memory space. It can be edited and added content so being attentional and motivated working memory’s masters is responsible to students. In order to enhance working memory, they need to control their cognitive work, becoming masters of this skills.

https://www.ted.com/talks/peter_doolittle_how_your_working_memory_makes_sense_of_the_world?language=en

Teachers’ guides and students’ efforts are significant to cultivate and enhance working memory. Therefore, instructors need to give explicit orders and memory aid, contributing students’ working memory in teaching. Competent learners acquire concertation and active motivation, in order to develop working memory. Becoming successful learners requires to function working memory to help them study effectively.

 References

Alloway, T. P. (2006). How does working memory work in the classroom?.        Educational Research and reviews, 1(4), 134-139. Retrieved July 06, 2006, from https://dspace.stir.ac.uk/bitstream/1893/786/1/Alloway_ERR.pdf

Alloway, T. p. (2012). Can interactive working memory training improving learning?. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 23(3), 197-207.

  Alloway, T. P.& Copello, E. (2013). Working memory: the what, the why, and the how. The Australian Educational Development Psychologist, 30 (02), 105-118. Retrieved December, 2013 from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271947757_Working_Memory_The_What_the_Why_and_the_How

  Doolittle, P. (2013, June). How your “working memory” makes sense of the world. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/peter_doolittle_how_your_working_memory_makes_sense_of_the_world?language=en#t-553327

  Matheson & Hutchinson. (n.d.). Working memory and cognitive load. Retrieved from https://www.ldatschool.ca/working-memory-and-cognitive-load/

  Multiplication of two numbers. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.trytoprogram.com/c-examples/c-program-to-multiply-two-numbers-without-using-multiplication-operator/

  Thorne, G. (2006). 10 Strategies to Enhance Students’ Memory. ReadingRockets. Retrieved from https://www4.esc13.net/uploads/studenteval/docs/HillCountry/4._6-19_10_Strategies_to_Enhance_Students.pdf

  Understanding working memory. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/859835753829920068/