http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/8612921/Care-of-the-elderly-new-problems-ahead.html

MATT - COMMUNICATION SKILLS - review on article

MATT

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Review on article

TV Can Be Good for Kids!

1.    TV can help kids learn about a variety of subjects.

If there’s a subject your child enjoys, more likely than not, there is a TV show, movie, or educational DVD that explores the subject in detail. You might be even be surprised to find out how many kids watch and love educational shows aimed at adults. Rachael Ray, for example has a huge following among kids and tweens, and her primetime show often features kids in the kitchen.

Children’s shows, whether they bill themselves as “educational” or not, may offer opportunities to spark learning. For instance, was your child wowed by the Red Eyed Tree Frog on Go, Diego, Go!? Go online to look at pictures and read about the frog. In this way, kids are able to see how fun learning can be and establish a habit of finding out more when things interest them.

Documentary and nature shows are also entertaining and educational for kids. A great example: Meerkat Manor, on the Animal Planet, makes a soap opera out of Meerkat life and has kids hooked on the drama.  

(They are saying this as it is a good place to start off in the article, as it will interest a parent into why they should let their child sit and watch TV, and stating examples for parents to shown their children as a start off point)

2.    Through media, kids can explore places, animals, or things that they couldn’t see otherwise.

Most kids are not able to visit the rain forest or see a giraffe in the wild, but many have seen these things on TV. Thankfully, educationally minded producers have given us many shows and movies that allow viewers to see amazing footage of nature, animals, society, and other peoples. Kids and adults alike can learn from this type of media and gain a greater appreciation for our world and the animals and other people who inhabit it. 

(It gives a good opportunity for children to see unknown parts to the world and develop an interest it different parts)

3.    TV shows can inspire kids to try new activities and engage in "unplugged" learning.

When kids see their favorite characters engaged in fun learning games, they want to play too. Kids also like learning activities more if they involve beloved characters. Preschoolers’ shows are especially effective for generating ideas for learning activities and using characters to motivate kids.

If you have a child who loves Blue’s Clues, for example, you can create clues and a riddle for them to solve at home, or challenge your child to create the riddle and clues. Or, turn a regular activity into a challenge and encourage your child to solve it like the Super Sleuths do.

(Another good way to influence parents to get their children to watch different programs on TV, it’s saying children can develop role models to look up to, by becoming more physical)

4.    TV and movies can motivate kids to read books.

Of the new movies that are released each year, you can bet that several of them are based on books. Parents can challenge kids to read a book with the promise of going to the theater or renting the movie when they finish it. Or, kids may see a movie and like it so much that they decide to read the book. Discuss the differences between the book and the movie to help kids develop thinking skills.

(This will interest a parent as they will want their child to read and is giving parents an idea of how to get their child to read a book and develop skills)

5.    Kids can build analytical skills by discussing media.

What do you think will happen next? Who did it? What will the result be? What could that character have done instead? Asking these types of questions as you co-view with your children will help them learn to think, problem solve, and predict, making TV viewing a more active experience. More important than just memorizing facts, developing thinking skills will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

Also, remember those compare/contrast tests in school? You can help prepare kids for this type of literary thinking by discussing programs with them. Compare and contrast characters or shows. Who is the main character? Describe the plot. What was the setting and main idea? What was the conflict and how was it resolved? Use TV time to help kids practice for all those essay tests, and they might find that talking about this stuff can be interesting and fun!

(This point gives parents ideas on how to help children’s English for the future, and how to make TV programs and films fun but educational)

6.    Parents can use TV to help kids learn the truth about advertising.

Advertising may be annoying, but it does present yet another opportunity to develop kids’ thinking skills. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, young children may not even know the difference between programs and commercials. They are just soaking it all in and applying it to their reality. As a parent, you can explain the purpose of advertising to your kids and alert them to any deceptive tactics. Allow them to analyze the methods used by advertisers to sell a product.

(This paragraph is directly towards a parent as it says “as a parent” and will open parents eyes that children can’t tell the difference between an advert and a program)

7.    Good role models and examples on TV can positively influence kids.

Children are influenced by people they see on television, especially other kids. Obviously, this can have a negative result, but it can be positive too. Lately, kids' TV shows have begun promoting some positive agendas such as healthy living and environmental awareness. As kids see their favorite characters making positive choices, they will be influenced in a good way. Parents can also point out positive traits that characters display and thereby spark valuable family discussions.

(Saying how role models can promote positive things and influence children, and is saying to parents that by having a role model is can spark discussions)

Review

This article is about the reasons in which TV is a good thing and can help benefit children who watch TV and films.  It’s saying how that because children love watching TV shows and movies so much, it’s a perfect opportunity to get education into the programme and develop skills they can use in the future.

The first point is basically saying that whether the programme is education or not, it can inspire children to look into things further, there example was “the red eyed tree frog”  and how if a child is interest in this enough they will look into it further by looking at pictures of it etc.  There for finding out what they are interested in by viewing children’s programmes. 

The second point is taking about the benefit that TV programmers can show children things they can’t usually see, animals and places from other countries and it is opening their eyes to the world around them in a way that is understandable for children. It’s saying a child can have the chance to appreciate what there is in the world, and be influenced with different parts of the world.

The third point is saying about how certain TV programmes can actually get children more physically active, by showing a main character doing fun activities and games and having a good time. This would make the child want to do more by looking up to a character from a programme they enjoy.  It’s also saying watching TV programmes is giving children the chance to use their minds to figure things out.  They give the example of “blue’s clues” which is a children’s programme about figuring our little problems.  This is encouraging children to use their minds to maybe make riddles or their own and develop solving skills.

Point four is basically saying that watching Children’s programme and movies made for children, and influence children to read also, it’s saying that a lot of movies are created from books and there for a child may read the book after seeing the film, developing an important skill needed for the future, by doing that they are also developing imaginative skills and thinking skills.

Point five is going into more detail about developing thinking skills, and giving a way for a child and parent to bond over something a child enjoys to do. It’s saying by letting a child watch a child TV program or a movie; you can develop discussion skills and do basic ways of getting a child into doing more analytical work in a way that’s easy and fun, and also developing how to talk to others about interests.

Point six is about advertising more than children TV programmes and movies and is basically saying that according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children can’t tell the difference between a program and an advert, and is advising parents to explain the difference and basically analyze the adverts.

And finally point seven is about role model and the benefits for children having a role model, which is usually developed by a favorite TV program. It’s saying role models can help a child be more positive, and they can use role models to promote positive things such as environmental awareness.

If I were to re-write this article I would use less complicated words, and miss out the very first paragraph and go straight into my points. If it was towards a parent I would direct it to the parent in the first paragraph to get them more interested, and give the parent more ideas in which they can do for example for discussions and activities. I would also give more examples of good TV programs and movies for the children to watch.

If I was writing for a child, I would really shorten my sentences, maybe use more words children of the age limit I was writing to used and again give some examples of TV programs for the child to watch to get them interested. I would leave out the point about Advertisements and building analytical skills in particular as it would not be of any interest to a child and they would more than likely stop reading the article. I would make sure I have clear but short written reasons as to why for example they should read books, and try not to go on for too long.

MATT- COMMUNICATION SKILLS- children's drama presentation

MATT

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Children’s Drama Presentation
‘Skylights’

By Fraser, Jason, Abi and Ben

Plot:

•      A boy goes to his friends house for a sleepover, and discovers a mysterious device on the floor outside his house. Strange things start to occur during the night of the sleepover….

Character descriptions:

•      Boy 1 – the character that discovers the device.

•      Boy 2 – boy 1’s friend.

•      Mother- the mother of boy 2

•      Boy 1’s dad – very minor part.

•      ????- mystery character.

•     

Characters and possible famous actors/actresses:

•      Boy 1      Jonah Bobo

(We decided to chose Jonah as our main male character as he looks like he would play a main character role in a children’s drama)

•      Boy 2 Kodi-Smit-Mcphee

(We decided that Kodi would play the main characters friend well as he looks kind of vulnerable and he doesn’t have a strong enough face to play the main character role, but would suit still playing a high up role.)

•      Mother  Vera Faminga

(We decided Vera would play a good mother role as she has done it well before in films such as “Running scared” )

•      Dad

(Not sure about the person to play this character)

•      Mystery character

(No need for a character as you don’t see the mystery characters face)

Events:

•      Follows Todorov’s theory of the 5 stages of equilibrium, up until point 4.

(As we have a cliff-hanger at the end so it doesn’t follow is all the way)

Roles/responsibilities

•      Fraser- Director

Make sure everything goes according to plan

•      Jason- Editor

Edits final draft of the film and puts it all together to make the feature

•      Abi- Camera Operator

In charge of filming the project.

•      Ben- Sound Man

Makes sure the sound that is added on to the drama is in sync to the show

Props, costumes and locations:

•      Location is all filmed in one house.

•      Mystery costume, casual clothing for the two boys and the mother

•      Props would be typical of a boys bedroom and other props include the device and a car

What makes this a children’s drama (C&C):

•      Child actors as the main

•      Cliffhanger ending that isn’t too intense

•      Relatable environment

•      A problem occurs

•      ‘mystery’ twist

Influences:

The Sarah Jane Adventures

(As the children’s drama is also Si-fi like our children’s drama)

Q&A

MATT- COMMUNICATION SKILLS - do's and dont's

MATT
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Do's and Dont's list.

·         To discuss do’s and don’ts in presentation and communications

·         To learn about the different question types

·         To create a “presentable” debate/discussion

Do	Don’t
Have good eye contact	Mumble
Speak loud and clear	Speak to quickly or fidget
Use appropriate language	Have inappropriate resources
Involve the audience	Read Presentation word for word or have it crowded
Relevant pictures	Have really long pauses
Have the correct grammar	Go off topic or have your back to the audience
Be prepared	Speak to the ground

·         To type up notes on your blogs and continue looking at children’s drama

Examples for these questions are : footballs, planes, cheese.

Question types
Description	“Tell me about it…”
Definition	“What do you understand by…?”
Explanation	“Why do you find “x” interesting?”
Exemplification	“Can you give me an example of…?”
Comparison	What difference do you see between “x” and “y” ?”
Opinions	What do you think about…?”
Merits/Pitfalls	What are the advantages/disadvantages of…?”

Why, what, where. when. Who, how?