Reflection: Weeks 13-14 & Overall Course




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  The final weeks of the course have just occured and it went fast.  Over the last two weeks we have many discussed junking and our advocacy projects.  The class visited the Goodwill but unfortunately I was unable to go.  That week we also finished our Eco-Chic Lifestyle goals, which overall I would deem very successful for all.  I think we all definitely benefitted from the changes we made.  I actually enjoyed making the Fact Sheet for our advocacy projects, it was not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be.  We continued to link up to Dr. V's linky party, which is actually an interesting thing to do. 


The final week of class we had our Junk Project Show and Tell.  This was probably my favorite class period because we all had such great ideas and each project was really unique.  I created bookends, which are below.  The Advocacy Project Learning Activities were more interesting than I expected.  I had no idea what was the best way to have mine, so I did a survey format.  I loved that we all had different ways to learn because it definitely made it more fun.  I did find it a little tedious to report on all the activities, but I really learned a lot by doing the activities.



Junk Project!

 Overall Course
Overall, I learned a ton in this class.  My favorite part was definitely the application of the course.  I really took what I learned in class and applied it to my life and the real world.  My favorite part of the course was in the beginning doing the ecological footprint.  It really put things in perspective for me.  I would say for the most part I enjoyed the documentaries we watched.  Sometimes it is just hard to watch movies in the afternoon in the dark.  But they provided really valuable information.  The junking projects were also really fun.  I would say we should almost do two.  One earlier in the semester and learn about what everyone else did, and then do another one when we have even more ideas.  The blogs were super beneficial and I think were an essential part of the course.  It was so weird for me to not have a folder to bring to class each day.  But I really felt that I was doing my part to help the environment by not printing things off.  Blogs are definitely environmentally friendly and a great way to learn technology.  This has been a very challenging and educational course, and I would recommend it to other students. 

Reflection: Weeks 9-12

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Wow, we are already at weeks 9-12.  We have covered so much already!  Some things we focused on were advocacy, SMART goals, Eco-chic lifestyle changes, THOMAS, junking, environmental literacy, and blog hops.

The most beneficial thing we identified in this section of the course was the piece on advocacy.  We learned so many new things.  First of all, we covered what advocacy actually is, and were able to choose an issue we are passionate about and advocate for it.  Through this process we identified a Healthy People goal and a House Bill using THOMAS.  We then went on to do in-depth research relating to the issue and share and overview with the class.  I was also able to incorporate my Photo Essay into my advocacy project and have really enjoyed this part of the course.  This was my favorite thing we have done so far in the semester. 

The other really awesome thing we have done during this portion of the course is are Eco-Chic Lifestyle goals.  Everyone was able to create a SMART goal relating to something they felt could use a change in their life.  My goal revolves around drinking water out of a reusable bottle from the faucet or drinking fountains.  I used to buy tons of bottled water and now I don't!  It is so exciting for me and the environment.  I really like how all of our goals can be different and we all get to focus on one area in our life to change to better then environment.  One of the films we watched, The Story of Stuff, was probably one of the most beneficial videos I have seen.  It was a pretty simple film and very easy to understand.  It got straight to the point and was a great learning resource. 

JUNKING!  This is one of the most exciting aspects of environmental friendliness, in my opinion at least.  Junking is basically taking an object that was once thought of as junk or unusable and turning it into a completely new item.  We have to do Junking piece and I have to say I am really excited for mine  At first, I had no idea what to do and didn't think I would find anything in the garage that I could use.  But luckily Thanksgiving night, I found these old salt and pepper shakers (Great Grandma style old).  I had no idea that's what they were even used for, they just looked like empty jars to me.  I intend to turn them into bookends so stay tuned!

The most recent thing we learned about that was pretty neat is called blog hops.  It allows you to link up with the host blog and then copy a code to your own blog which allows who linked to be displayed on your blog post.  So now when you click on my Photo Essay post, you also are able to see all the posts done by my classmates on the same project.  I think that is really beneficial for Internet purposes because then you can see what others are doing on the same topic. 

As you can see we have covered a lot in this portion of the class.  I have come to actually enjoy learning about all these topics of Environmental Health.  I had no idea some of the impacts we were making on the environment.  We learned how we can all make a difference for the environment too.  I definitely utilize this knowledge in the future!

Reflection: Weeks 5-8

I have learned so much in the last four weeks.  My new knowledge comes from in class discussions, finishing my Read 'N' Seed Book, and Eye Openers.  One day in class, we were able to design graphical headers.  I liked that because it makes me feel more technologically savvy and that I am able to create something that looks professional.  Throughout the last month we have watch four films, which are Future of Food, Fresh, Green, Tapped.  This films have really inspired me and provided me with so much new information.  I had no idea half the stuff that went on when it comes to growing foods or bottled water.  Not going to lie, everyday I leave thinking there are so many things wrong with this world.  We are destroying it, and in return destroying future generations.  Eventually, no one will experience this planet like we do.  After each movie, we discuss as a class the impact it has on us.  I think it is really eye opening for everyone in the class to see these films; thus very beneficial that we have the opportunity to learn from them. 

I also finished my book for the Read 'N' Seed, which was Plenty - Eating Locally on the 100 Mile Diet.  I learned some amazing benefits from choosing to eat locally and how this impacts the environment.  Basically, only good comes from participating in something like this.  Granted, it may be difficult at first, it is worth it in the end.  Through Eye Openers, I learned about my Eating Green Calculator and how this is impacting my environment.  I also learned about how harmful cosmetic products are.  I have no idea that there were so many chemicals and negative consequences to using make up products.  I have always assumed that since it is approved to be sold, it must also be safe.  Well, that is completely wrong; at least that is what I have been learning.  Most recently, we have begun to learn about "junking."  Or basically reusing items to create new things, or finding things that other people do not want and making them your own.  It has really opened a whole new creative side of me and I think it is something that I will really enjoy.

Overall, I would say that I have mainly just learned how big of an impact I really have on this planet.  Whether I am trying to or not, I am affecting everything around me for better or for worse.  Some things I can do to try and improve my effects include cutting out certain food groups.  It is becoming more and more relevant for me to become a vegetarian and I am seriously considering it.  I need to be recycling everything I can.  I should reuse items that perhaps I may have seen as waste, or even other people's waste and turn it into a creative project.  I should also reconsider cosmetic and hair care products.  And lastly, I will not be buying bottled water any more.  These are just some of the things that I have learned about over the last four weeks that I will start to incorporating into my life.

Reflection: Weeks 1-4

Throughout the first four weeks of this course, I would say I have learned more than I even thought was possible.  From the beginning, we learned the obvious things such as what is environmental health?  How does it affect you?  Why is it necessary to learn about it?  We have also looked at many technological items that are very new to me such as google reader, blogger, and dashboard.  I feel so much more confident in these areas now, only four weeks in, than I did at the beginning.  At first, I was terrifed, technology and I don't usually mix well but so far I have to say it isn't so bad.  Another important thing I have learned is about your ecological footprint.  I had no idea there was such a thing or what kind of impact I was leaving on this planet. 

I really like the aspect of web groups.  It is fun and interesting to read other people's post and see what they think about the environment.  I think one of the best ways to learn is from peers, so this is an excellent example of that.  Another aspect of the course I am fond of is the Read 'N' Seed section, I love my book and feel like I would read it even without this class. 

Regarding the environment, I have learned about new buildings that are environmentally friendly and LEED certified.  I have also learned that recycling is not enough to care for the environment.  If we do not do something extreme soon, eventually the planet is going to be no more.  I should start eating foods grown locally, buying things with less packaging, and carpool more often.  I think I will really benefit from this class and I am looking forward to the rest of the experience. 

Welcome to Kristy's Fun in the Sun Spot

Welcome to my blog.


Here is a photo of palm trees on the beach.

Hi, my name is Kristy and you have found yourself at Kristy's Fun in the Sun Spot.  I created this blog as part of my Environmental Health class.  I am a Health Education major with emphasis on Community Health.  My blog is about having fun in the sun.  I love being in the sun and the more I am in it, the happier I am.  I intend to make my blog fun and interesting, but also educational.  It is important to me to be safe in the sun.  I plan to educate on proper actions to take while being in the sun and provide tips to stay safe.

There will be 6 different types of posts on my blog.  These include the following:

1. Advocacy Project
2. Eye Openers
3. Reflections
4. Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change
5. Read 'n' Seed
6. Share and Voice

If you notice at the bottom of this post, the categories will be listed as labels. This post is has been labeled with all six kinds of posts. You will also see the number of each kind of post in my Labels Gadget at the top of the page. All post titles from now on will begin with one of the categories above.

The members of my web group are:

1. Brier@Lovin Nature with Brier
2. Kristy@Kristy's Fun in the Sun Spot
3. Jamie@Jamie Says Jump
4. Elly@Elly Dreams Green
5. Lauren@Lauren's Pouring Rain
6. Mary@Blue Skies for Mary
7. Sarah@Take a Hike with Sarah

You can subscribe to my blog by clicking the subscribe gadget in the gadget column. You can also follow my blog by clicking "Follow this Blog" in the gadget column. I am subscribed to all the blogs in my blog list gadget. You can see my complete profile and all the blogs I am following by clicking on "See Complete Profile."

I am really looking forward to blogging.  I am very new to this whole experience, so hopefully it goes smoothly.  It will be a new fun way to communicate with others.  Thanks for visiting my blog, I hope you come back and check it out again.