Critical thinking

At first when critical thinking was introduced in our course, I thought that it was useless or rather more like extra work. Although going through all the processes of this unit, I have gained a lot of experience in writing.

Part of this unit was the debate. My debate wasn’t bad, although I think that there could have been more things that could have been said. I had a lot to say to my opponent, even though  there was a misunderstanding on my opponent’s  side.  He didn’t mention any  negative things about my project so I found it difficult to debate alone. We wished that we had another chance because both of us were not prepared. Although the debate was fun and if I had another chance I would do it again,  I’m not the type of person that likes presenting in front of an audience.   I have learned that you become confident when you do your research well and you gain all the knowledge about the subject.

This assignment made me look at others work while researching. Through this I was observing how others write, in terms of formal writing and even informal writing.  From one blog to another I notice that I was applying it in my work without even noticing. Although I still believe that there is a lot of room for improvement.

When it came to the last task, we had to be updated about the reference and citation. I paid a lot of attention to this because of the important of plagiarism when doing the literature review next year.

While doing the essay I gained more knowledge for my dissertation next year.

Although this is the end of my blogs, I am still going to revisit them next year during my dissertation. 

Task 3- Critical Analysis

This year was a preparation for next year’s thesis project. In the first semester, we had a specific unit that focused on the literature review so we had to come up with the title for our dissertation. Although some classmates changed the title but I kept the same concept.

I based this task on the proposal title, so that the information I gain for this essay could help me build up the knowledge of the subject chosen for my dissertation.

The hypothesis was “Counselling playroom activity space that helps children improve their behaviour and feel better.” The hypothesis title idea came when I was talking to Mr Omar Caruana and while telling him about my dissertation, he mentioned that for my design I could focus on a specific room, which is a playroom. He suggested that the playroom could help these children express their feelings and communicate with other children. This got me to think. So, I decided to do this essay based on playrooms.

While researching I found a lot of information, one thing I found was about play therapy. Play therapy, are activities held in the playroom and through therapists.  Children would be observed on how they are playing and encourage them to play with specific toys to help them improve their behaviour.  It is an interesting topic and I enjoyed researching and writing about it. According to the information I found and wrote about in the essay, the hypothesis was valid. According to statistics the counselling playroom space used for  play therapy, had a positive result due in improving children’s behaviour while attending counselling playrooms. Therapists comments show that playrooms are not ideal to be based at home because normally parents are busy and children end up playing alone and this is not healthy for the children. 

Although my research analyses shows that this type of playroom needs to be available to everyone.  Because of technology and parent’s busy lives,  many children are experiencing behavioural issues. My point is that this project needs to be introduced into Malta for local children that have behavioural problems.

However, the behaviour issues that orphans have are much more intense. These children have gone through tough times in their past. I think the counselling playroom space could help them express what they’re feeling and assist them to socialise with other children. 

Structure the essay.

This essay is going to be based on the hypothesis which is “Counselling playroom activity space that helps children improve their behaviour and feel better.” During writing this essay, I need to critically analyse  the topic that I have chosen therefor the hypothesis will indicate if its valid or not.

Before starting my essay I decided to structure my essay through the research guidelines that I need to tackle while writing this essay. Using this process will help me focus on the main points and help me to plan this essay so that there will be a continuation.   Below are the guidelines.

Introducing my hypothesis.

I’m going to begin my essay by mentioning the thesis title. Through the thesis title, the hypothesis was created.  My introduction will  start by introducing the thesis title that leads to the hypothesis.
The proposal title is “The impact of interior design on the emotional wellbeing of children as applied to local orphanages.”
I will firstly begin by mentioning some studies that I had found for my literature review,  about the negative behaviour that children project when they are separated from their mother.
Next I’m going to mention the poor environment that some local orphanages have. This analyse was done when I visited some orphanages, so I am able to criticise.
Then from all this information, I will be mentioning the hypothesis which developed from this research.

Information about activities carried out in these Counselling playrooms.

I will use research to find out what activities are carried out in other counselling playrooms and what they consist of.

Counselling Playrooms - are they available for everyone?

Through therapists or people who have their children who experienced the counselling playroom, who have had a positive effect on their children.  How did it help them and who are the counselling playrooms available to?

Statistics

Statistics will indicate if counselling playrooms help children improve their behaviour or not. This is where I will find if my hypothesis  is a strong topic to continue on or the other way around.

Advantage and disadvantage.

Putting forward advantages and disadvantages about the counselling playrooms as mentioned by people that have experienced the playroom.  I could also find disadvantages about the activities that are held in the playroom.

How Counselling playrooms are affecting these children?

I need to find information that  could lead me to the positive affects that people have mentioned or if there are any negative effects. i.e. that the playroom is not helping to improve the negative behaviour.

Conclusion.

The conclusion is the important part of my essay. Here I’m going to mention if my hypothesis is valid or not. If it is valid, that’s great because that means that I could consider making the same hypothesis for my dissertation.  If it’s not valid, then that means that I have to find another topic to do for my dissertation. Although the hypothesis is part of the project so there could be other topics that I could look at and keep the same dissertation title. 

Addition to the hypotheses.

My last blog was about my hypotheses which is “Playroom activities helps Children feel better and improve their behaviour”

On Monday morning, during our critical thinking lesson, I discussed the hypotheses with my lecturer, Mr Zammit. He said that it was too vague “playroom activities.” Mr Zammit suggested analysing the type of playroom, so when I do my research I’ll get straight to the point.

I noted his comments and re-arranged my hypotheses. I did more research and I looked at the previous blogs that I have written. These blogs contained my thinking around creating my hypotheses. In my last blog, I wrote about an article I had read by Kathy Eugster, who is an MA, Counselling Psychology, Registered Clinical Counsellor, Certified Play Therapist and Child and Family Therapist.

Kathy Eugster says that a mental health professional used the power of play therapy with children that went through trauma.  As a counselling space, the playroom is the ideal room because it’s equipped with fun things that children love. 

When I read this again it occurred to me, that I could create a counselling playroom space where children could play and still be observe by the therapist.

During another consultation with Mr Zammit, I came up with a new hypotheses which is “Counselling playroom activity space that helps children improve their behaviour and feel better”

This essay is going to help me see if my hypotheses is adequate or not.   If during my research I found proves that the hypotheses is valid.  Therefore  my thesis is going to be based on this hypothesis.

Reference:

Eugster,K., n.d. Play Therapy: How it Helps Children Feel Better and Improve Behavior

. [online] Available at: < http://www.kathyeugster.com/articles/article003.htm> [Accessed 13,May 2017].

Hypothesis

For the last of this unit I have to come up with a Hypothesis. I am going to base My hypotheses on the thesis topic. Last semester I had to come up with the thesis title and I had to find information base on this title to write the literature review. My chosen area was about Local orphanage and the thesis title was “the impact of interior design on the emotional wellbeing of children as applied to local orphanage.”

To come up with the Hypothesis I started asking some questions that could help me.

1. What is the feeling and atmosphere an orphanage gives you when you enter the building?
2. What developments, orphanage have done since these days?
3. What would make it a more familiar atmosphere?
4. What would interest children?
5. How could the interior space help them with their therapy?

From some research that I did these children that are taken away from their mother in a small age they could have a psychology issue so I thought what could help these children on their psychology issue. Trough research and advice from some lecturer I talked to, the children’s psychology issue can be helped by colours, patterns, natural aspect and activities held in the building.

In an article that I read by Kathy Eugster, which is MA, Counselling Psychology, Registered Clinical Counsellor, Certified Play Therapist and Child and Family Therapist. Kathy Eugster says that children that went through a trauma, a mental health professional use the power of play Therapy. Through the counselling space, the playroom is the ideal room because its equipped with fun things that children love.

I talked to my lecturer which said that it not only could be an indoor activity, it could be an outdoor activity. 

I was thinking that my hypnotisis would be “Playroom activities helps Children feel better and improve their behaviour”

Although I wish to talk to Mr Zammit to see if I’m going in the right track.

Reference.

Eugster, K., 2007. Play Therapy: How it Helps Children Feel Better and Improve Behavior - Kathy Eugster - Vancouver, BC [online] Available at: (http://www.kathyeugster.com/articles/article003.htm) [Accessed date 1, may 2017].

Dissertation title

I would like to begin my blog by saying that I have abandoned my weekly writing blog because in these past few weeks we have had a lot of deadlines and I found it difficult to cope with everything at once.

This blog is all about my dissertation title. As I wrote in the past blogs, my dissertation is going to be focused on orphanages. 

I chose Orphanages for my dissertation because some orphanages in Malta lack the correctly planned environment for children to live and grow happily.

The big problem in orphanages is that they were not design accordingly for users.   Probably in the past they only thought about how many children could fit orphanages rather than the comfort and wellbeing of the children.  This is a problem that creates crowded small spaces that many children live in.  I believe that everybody needs their space, especially if these children are new to an unfamiliar environment and people.

Some orphanages lack even playrooms and activities. For children, playing is the best therapy. Playing could help the children get their minds off their problems they are going through or have been through.

Another point are white walls. White walls are boring for children. Orphanages should have colours and patterns to help with a more friendly and fun environment.  My belief is that for children to live better and thrive, they need to have a suitable environment. 

I’m not quite sure about my hypotheses although I will continue thinking about what to write about it in the next blog.

Proposal Discussion 

For the end of this unit I have to come up with a Hypotheses. I am going to base my hypotheses on my thesis topic. Last semester I had to come up with the thesis title and I had to find information based on this title to write the literature review. My chosen area was about local orphanages and the thesis title was “The Impact of Interior Design on the Emotional Wellbeing of Children as applied to Local Orphanages.”

To come up with the Hypotheses, I asked some questions that could help me.

1. What is the feeling and atmosphere an orphanage gives you when you enter the building?
2. What developments have orphanages had since these days?
3. What would make it a more familiar atmosphere?
4. What would interest children?
5. How could the interior space help children with their therapy?

From some of my research, I found that some children that are taken away from their mother at a young age, could have psychological issues. So, what could help these children with their psychological issues?  Through my research and advice from some lecturers that I talked to, children’s psychological issues can be helped by colours, patterns, natural aspect and activities in the building.

In an article that I read by Kathy Eugster, who is the MA, Counselling Psychology, Registered Clinical Counsellor, Certified Play Therapist and Child and Family Therapist. Kathy Eugster says that mental health professionals use the power of play therapy on children who have been through trauma. Using a playroom as a counselling space is ideal because its equipped with fun things that children love and feel at ease in.

I talked to my lecturer who said that not only could it be an indoor activity but also an outdoor activity. 

I was thinking that my hypothesis would be that “Playroom activities helps Children feel better and Improve their behaviour”

I do however wish to discuss this with Mr Zammit to see if I’m on the right track.

Reference:

Eugster,K., n.d. Play Therapy: How it Helps Children Feel Better and Improve Behavior 

. [online] Available at: < http://www.kathyeugster.com/articles/article003.htm> [Accessed 13,May 2017].