Appreciating Other Points of View

Robert Fettgather has served as Special Consultant in psychometrics to the Departments of Education and Developmental Disabilities for the State of California. Robert Fettgather holds a specialist credential in learning handicapped and community college credentials in both learning and developmental disabilities.

In addition to cultural and individual differences, perceptions can be influenced by perceptual sets or expectancies. One example of perceptual expectancy is top-down processing. This happens when an individual utilizes pre-existing knowledge to place certain features into an organized whole. If there is no expectancy to help organize information, a person might use bottom-up processing to build a complete perception by making sense of the smaller features piece by piece. With a friend, try this experiment from Martin Bolt: print on a piece of paper the words below. Then read aloud these three words as your friend looks at the words and reads along with you:

FOLK CROAK SOAK

Next, immediately ask, what do you call the white of an egg? That expectation tricks the friend into a wrong answer, yolk!

Bottom-up processing starts with information and energy from the environment. Top-down processing refers to using past experience, knowledge, and expectations for how we perceive things (as in the example above). Remember that perception is a representation of our environment,  not a replication-- therefore, everyone’s perceptions may be different, and they may not be necessarily accurate. Once realized, this understanding allows for a deeper appreciation of different points of view!

Habits Toward Health

 

Robert Fettgather, Ph.D. is a counselor, educator, writer and activist residing in Grass Valley, California.  He holds a doctorate in psychology and master degrees in both psychology and education. Robert Fettgather teaches psychology at Mission College.

Individual differences in health habits and personality variables begin to affect physical functioning in these years. Twenty-somethings: It's time to get real about the habits that'll make a difference the rest of your life. Hint- Fun is part of the strategy.

Research suggests that, regardless of income level, changes in behavior may prevent or even reverse the effects of aging. The best evidence for the long-term effects of various health habits comes from nearby in the Alameda County Study, a major longitudinal epidemiological research project. The researchers initially identified seven good health habits that they thought might be critical:  drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, smoking cigarettes, being obese, sleeping fewer or more than seven to eight hours per night, being physically inactive, eating between meals, and not eating breakfast. Group membership was also a positive influencer. 

So let's take a look at some lifestyle habits that are worth changing that are summarized in you text and presented here with a few of my own additions:

If Overweight, Lose Just 10% of Your Body Weight

Benefits-reduction in triglyceride levels; decrease in total cholesterol; increase in HDL (“good” cholesterol); significant reduction in blood pressure; decreased risk of diabetes, sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis.

Add 20 to 30 Grams of Fiber to Your Diet Each Day 

Benefits-Improved bowel function; reduced risk of colon cancer and other digestive-system diseases; decrease in total cholesterol; reduced blood pressure; improved insulin function in both diabetics and nondiabetics. Food rich in fiber include fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, grains and nuts.

Learn To Meditate

Meditation has many physical and emotional benefits including stress reduction.  Health, happiness, self-control, concentration, and improved productivity.

Engage in Moderate Physical Activity Every Day (e.g., Walk Up and Down Stairs for 15 Minutes; Spend 30 Minutes Washing a Car). Benefits include reduced feelings of anxiety and sadness; increased bone density; reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and many other life-shortening diseases.

Early Identification of Developmental Disabilities

Robert Fettgather, Ph.D. is a psychology instructor who has served as a developmental disabilities consultant. He has written several publications and papers in the field. Dr. Robert Fettgather serves as an associate faculty member at Mission College in Santa Clara, where he instructs students in different areas of psychology and human development. 

The term "devleopmental disabilities" is used but not always understood. Developmental disabilities are typically life-long disabilities that begin during the developmental period and affect appearance, learning, behavior, and language. Developmental monitoring is a form of continuous assessment for developmental disabilities. Parents who suspect that their children are suffering from developmental disabilities can employ developmental monitoring, which factors in the age and skills of a child with matching benchmarks called developmental milestones. Developmental milestones encompass expected playing skills, learning skills, locomotive skills, speaking skills, and behavior for a child's age. Parents, childhood education providers, and other caregivers can leverage the CDC's Milestone Tracker app to vet a child's developmental progress. A caregiver who prefers to use the checklist instead of the app can fill it out and share it with their child's health provider, who can use the information to determine the risk of developmental disability and whether developmental monitoring is necessary.

Early identification of developmental delays can improve access to interventions and support services. Regular monitoring allows caregivers and healthcare professionals to recognize concerns before they become more significant challenges. When developmental issues are identified promptly, children may benefit from targeted strategies that promote growth, learning, and overall well-being.

AI Wonderland

 

Robert Fettgather, Ph.D. is a counselor, educator, writer and activist residing in Grass Valley, California.  He holds a doctorate in psychology and master degrees in both psychology and education. 

Some recent thoughts on artificial intelligence in education