lrentz – Composition and Writing With Sources

VR Experience for Preoperative Children

Danielle Commodari

Chris Fenzel

Jackie Ndayizeye

Laura Rentz

Proposal:

Intro/Purpose

Our idea is to create a virtual reality experience that involves the medical field. Our objective is to make it easier for children to understand what is going to happen to them, before going into surgery. Families and children will benefit from this product because it will allow the children to be less anxious and scared prior to their procedure. The children will have a better understanding of the procedures that will be performed by the medical staff. In addition, the product will incorporate games, videos, and authentic pictures that will display through a virtual reality headset that will be able to help the medical team explain to children the entire process. For example, a study done by Phoenix Children’s Hospital showed that children who are more aware of what is going to happen, will have less anxiety and experience less pain, especially during the recovery process (“Effects of Virtual Reality on Preoperative Anxiety and Education of Anesthesia in Children and Adolescents”). This can be beneficial for children who are undergoing surgery. Therefore, this product should be considered by children’s hospitals and other pediatric offices that perform operations on young children.

The primary audience for this product is children’s hospitals because they can receive the greatest benefit from this type of resource. Having this type of virtual reality could greatly benefit children and lower their anxiety levels before surgery. In addition, larger organizations such as hospitals, clinics, and emergency rooms will be able to afford this tool and use it in multiple circumstances. A secondary audience would be doctors’ offices that perform minor surgeries. Overall, the product would greatly benefit the medical field by improving the process of explaining medical procedures to anxious kids before surgery.

Learning Outcomes

Virtual Reality has been proven to result in positive emotions. Dr. Jason M. Harley, from the Association for Education Communications and Technology, performed a test to discover the emotional effects of Virtual Reality, and the results were positive. In the independent group, he took 31 undergraduate students from a large university and had them learn historical lessons through virtual reality. He states in his report that “31 out of 31 undergraduate students gave positive feedback and gave only positive emotions, optimistic was the main emotion” (Harley). The students were given a history lesson and taught the same lesson in two ways, through augmented reality (computer, phone, and digital simulations) and Virtual Reality. The students then gave their feedback on which type of lesson they preferred to be taught, and they were asked why. The study demonstrated that virtual reality helped to alleviate the stress of college students generating positive feedback from them.

In addition to Virtual Reality being proven that it results in positive emotions, it can also increase surgical efficiency allowing children to become more comfortable with the procedure. The application will allow surgeons to make sure that the surgery is effective without any complications. Moreover, we are sure that the simulation will work and bring positive outcomes because of similar tests that were done to test the effects of surgical efficiency. At the Imperial College of London, Dr. Laura Beyer-Berjot had both novice surgeons and experienced surgeons do a laparoscopic appendectomy in virtual reality. The goal was to test the accuracy of virtual reality in an operating room to use for beginning surgeons for training. The surgeons were divided between novice and experienced and were tested on the amount of time it took to remove the appendix. Between them, the surgeons had a P score (performance score) of .026 and took the novice surgeons 282 seconds and the experience surgeons 259 seconds. After several trials, she concluded that “this type of training has demonstrated its positive impact for basic laparoscopic skills in the OR” (“Surgical training: Design of a virtual care pathway approach”). This test proves that Virtual Reality in the operating room can help train inexperienced surgeons but can also be used to show children what will be going on in the surgery to become more comfortable with what is happening.

The idea is to have medical staff walk patients through a simulation using the PlayStation VR, so the child can see what is going on. The goal is to give the child a better understanding and have them be more comfortable with going into surgery. Along with the feedback method proposed by Dr. Harley, the same method will be used to determine the effectiveness of our product. Through a survey both preoperative and postoperative, kids will judge how comfortable they feel and will have felt after both the virtual reality simulation and the actual surgery. In addition, to make the simulation as best as it can be, adjustments will be made based on any negative comments.

User experience/user interface

When children undergo any kind of procedure, they can feel incredibly anxious not knowing what to expect. Hospitals try their best to educate children and families of what to expect when going to the hospital. Since technology is evolving, more hospitals have equipment and funds that will help further educate children and families of what to expect in a hospital and during an operation through Virtual Reality. If a child must undergo surgery, there are many ways to prepare for their surgery that are slightly different than our Virtual Reality idea.

With research, Kidshealth.org suggests the best way to help prepare children for surgery is by explaining what will happen by reading books and informing children in a way that they will understand comfortably. This way, the hospital doesn’t seem as threatening (“Preparing your Child for Surgery”). The tone used when presenting the information to children is extremely important to prevent them from becoming fearful.

Both KidsHealth organization and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia agree that another way for children to prepare for surgery is through preoperative family orientation and hospital tours which are led by nurses and licensed child-life specialists. They are trained professionals ready to walk through and talk to kids about medical procedures they will undergo (Dowshen; “Preparing your Child for Surgery”). It’s always reassuring to hear someone talk and go through what is to be expected, but it doesn’t give the same effect as experiencing the procedure.

With technology evolving, we explore different ways of educating people with Virtual Reality experiences. Stanford Medicine provides information on Virtual Reality as it’s used to help alleviate pain and anxiety before children undergo surgery. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital is one of the first hospitals that will begin to implement distraction-based VR therapy for patients, such as Blaine Baxter. This VR application is a way for children to become more comfortable with surgery distracting them with games from a more therapeutic VR application. “The VR was a game changer for Blaine. As soon as he put the goggles on, sedation was no longer needed” (Kate Detrempe), since Blaine Baxter had suffered from an arm injury. Blaine mother, had mentioned, “He would immediately start crying and screaming out of fear, and had to be sedated before doctors could approach his arm”. With the VR application, Blaine’s mind was completely distracted by the games that made it seem like he was actually there. For example, Blaine was able to swim under the sea, zap flying cheeseburgers in outer space, and even fly on paper airplanes through the sky. The VR has helped Blaine ease his feelings of pain and anxiety.

According to the article, “Development of a Virtual Reality Exposure Tool as Psychological Preparation for Elective Pediatric Day Care Surgery: Methodological Approach for a Randomized Controlled Trial”, it expresses that they expose children to all aspects of an operation room which will prepare children psychologically for surgery that is very similar to our Virtual Reality (Eijlers).

Since talking about different ways of preparing for surgery, our team has constructed an idea that will allow the preparation for surgery through Virtual Reality. In this Virtual Reality application, one can do almost just about everything as other hospitals are doing in preparation for surgery. We will be able to educate children before surgery while relieving their pain and reducing their anxiety. Our VR application is different from other Virtual Reality applications because children will be able to see what the doctors would be doing during their surgery. Children would then get a better understanding of what to expect. This is so much more informative than reading documents and telling patients and their families what is going to happen.

Implementation Strategy

Our virtual reality application will be implemented for quite some time. Also, the main difference is that it is more interactive with children by including activities that will take place before their surgery. In order for children to have the experience, it is imperative that we start recording many different medical scenarios that will be able to help them in understanding the procedure. Our Virtual Reality targets children between the ages of 6 and 18 and we have chosen a PlayStation VR, because it is less bulky and intimidating. The PlayStation VR will appear more kid-friendly and something they would be familiar with as it looks like something that would be in their own home. The PlayStation VR is completely affordable for hospitals to have several at a time as it only would cost them around $200 to $500. We will market by visiting hospitals and doing a demonstration of our product to them to show them how our product is very beneficial. To advertise our product, it could also be shown on Facebook since many parents are likely to use it. We will have a professional-looking model that will entice the hospitals to buy and use our Virtual Reality experience.

Long-term Vision

Our initial prototype will include a Virtual Reality experience for young children, especially between the ages of 6 and 18. Our Virtual Reality will include information and games that will help children understand what is going to happen throughout the duration of their procedure. This will allow us to focus on ways to improve the experience for preoperative children. The Virtual Reality will make it easier for young children to understand what is going on in the medical field because it will use language familiar to them. They will be able to play games that will make them feel like they are helping the doctors and medical professionals undergo the surgery. For example, the children will be able to be inside the room and be able to hear and feel compared to the actual surgery room. For some common pediatric surgeries will first be developed to allow us to focus on a small portion of this idea. Common surgeries, as stated by Rosenfeld that would be possible for Virtual Reality, are appendectomy (for children with appendicitis) and tonsillectomy (for children who need their tonsils removed) (“15 Most Common Types of Pediatric Surgery”). In the first stage of this prototype, these surgeries will be available to children who are undergoing basic medical procedures.

The next stage of this Virtual Reality development, more sections will be made, for a wider range of ages. The focus will be on children who are 5 years old and below. It will be able to explain to them, in a very basic way, of the procedure that’s going to be done to them. The Virtual Reality experience, will include interactive stories with children who are undergoing surgery. It is important to have it more fun and basic for them, so they won’t be as scared prior to their surgery. Again, only a few very common surgeries will be made in the beginning, to allow the focus to be on the quality. As it mentions in KidsHealth.org, “it is important for younger kids to understand what is going to happen and clear up any confusions because they will be less scared and more cooperative with the medical staff” (Rosenfeld). Younger children will especially benefit from this type of invention.

Another long-term stage of this Virtual Reality experience will provide a greater variety of pediatric surgeries. That will include a greater amount of rare surgeries that children are going to receive. It can also include a section that will teach parents on how to act around their children before and after their operation. This is also beneficial to parents since they would also be worried and anxious about their children’s surgical experiences. The future for Virtual Reality being used in this way is endless. As time progresses, a new medical technology will be created, and Virtual Reality could be easily updated to match what is being used in the children’s hospitals and doctor’s offices on a daily basis.

Works Cited

Buyuk, Tural, et al. “Original Article: An Analysis of the Anxiety Levels of Mothers Who Participate in Education and Therapeutic Games About Their Children’s Surgeries.” ScienceDirect, Elsevier Inc., 2017, ezproxy.stevenson.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edselp&AN=S1089947217300412&site=eds-live&scope=site. Nov 2017.

DeTrempe, Kate. “Virtual Reality Alleviates Pain, Anxiety for Pediatric Patients.” News Center, 7 Sept. 1970, med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2017/09/virtual-reality-alleviates-pain-anxiety-for-pediatric-patients.html. Nov 2017.

Developement, Germany: Springer, 7 Jan. 2016, eds.b.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=11688c16-38d5-4a70-85be-c076e1cb3bd9%40sessionmgr101&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=2016-01317-001&db=psyh. Nov 2017.

Eijlers R, et al. “Development of a Virtual Reality Exposure Tool as Psychological Preparation for Elective Pediatric Day Care Surgery: Methodological Approach for a Randomized Controlled Trial.” Original Publications, JMIR, 11 Sep 2011. Publications,https://ezproxy.stevenson.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mnh&AN=28893727&site=eds-live&scope=site. Nov 2017.

Harely, Jason M, et al. “Comparing Virtual and Location-Based Augmented Reality Mobile Learning: Emotions and Learning Outcomes.” Education Technology Research and Developement, Germany : Springer, 7 Jan. 2016, eds.b.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=11688c16-38d5-4a70-85be-c076e1cb3bd9%40sessionmgr101&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=2016-01317-001&db=psyh. Nov 2017.

Philadelphia, The Children’s Hospital of. “Preparing Your Child for Surgery.” The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 12 May 2014, www.chop.edu/patients-and-visitors/guide-your-childs-surgery/preparing-your-child-surgery. Nov 2017.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital, KindVR. “Effects of Virtual Reality on Pre-Operative Anxiety and Inducation of Anesthesia in Children and Adikescents.” Clinicaltrials.gov, Valley Anesthesiology Consultants, 2017. ezproxy.stevenson.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsclt&AN=edsclt.NCT03239743&site=eds-live&scope=site. Nov 2017.

“Preparing Your Child for Surgery.” Edited by Steven Dowshen, KidsHealth, The Nemours Foundation, Nov. 2014, kidshealth.org/en/parents/hosp-surgery.html. Nov 2017.

Rosenfeld, Jonathan, et al. “15 Most Common Types of Pediatric Surgery.” Personal Injury News & Developments, 14 Aug. 2017, www.rosenfeldinjurylawyers.com/news/common-types-of-pediatric-surgery/ http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/hosp-surgery.html. Nov 2017.

“Surgical Training: Design of a Virtual Care Pathway Approach.” Surgery, Mosby, 28 July 2014, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0039606014002153. Nov 2017.

Storyboard:

file:///C:/Users/laura/Downloads/vr-surgery-application2.pdf

Presentation:

https://1drv.ms/p/s!AsycTNVAM8E-gXNLKFSctU_mhNrY

Virtual Reality for Preoperative Children

Many children, before surgery, are very anxious. Virtual reality could be used to relieve anxiety in children and parents. This would be a great way for hospitals and doctor’s offices to explain to children what is going to happen. Virtual reality could also be used to help children enjoy the experience more by making the environment more fun for them. Using a PlayStation VR, they could play games and feel like they are actually helping the doctors. The PlayStation VR would be the best device for this use, because it is less bulky and will not be as intimidating for kids. Younger children could watch videos or interactive stories to make them understand what they will feel and see during their operation. Children who feel better prepared will have less anxiety and be less scared. The parents of preoperative children will also feel better seeing their children going into surgery, if the children are happy. Most children’s hospitals, today, either show children YouTube videos, play games, or talk to them about what is going to happen. Virtual reality for preoperative children would be more realistic and would be a great way to relieve anxiety from both the children and the parents.

Works Cited

KindVR and Hospital Phoenix Children’s. “Effects of Virtual Reality on Pre-Operative Anxiety and Induction of Anesthesia in Children and Adolescents.” 2017. EBSCOhost, ezproxy.stevenson.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true& db=edsclt&AN=edsclt.NCT03239743&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Tural Buyuk, Esra and Bahire Bolişik. “Original Article: An Analysis of the Anxiety Levels of Mothers Who Participate in Education and Therapeutic Games about Their Children’s Surgeries.” Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing, 01 Jan. 2017. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.jopan.2016.09.011.

The Future with Virtual Reality

Have you ever imagined what the world would be like if you could stay at home every day and still live a normal life through technology? The future of technology can enhance the world in a different way. Virtual reality has the potential to make the world all online. When it comes to the topic of virtual reality, many authors believe that technology can improve the education system, as well as daily life. Ernest Cline and Nicholas Carr are two authors that show their opinion on this topic in their writings. Ernest Cline, the author of “Ready Player One,” emphasizes the future with virtual reality through a book about a video game world. Another person, Nicholas Carr, gives his own personal experiences to make his point about the unlimited opportunities with technology. Although some people believe that technology will hinder the future of learning and mental capacities, these two well-known authors claim that the future of technology can greatly improve society.

I have always believed that having an online world would be better than having to get up and go to work and school on a daily basis. Cline supports this idea in his book, “Ready Player One.” The man character in this book goes to school online and believes that he gets a better education this way. In the beginning of the story, Cline states that “My virtual surroundings looked almost (but not quite) real” (27). This shows that having an online world would not appear that much different than the real world, that we live in today. I have experienced this is the classroom, but in a slightly different way. Teachers in high school would show us videos and pictures of the topics that we were learning about. This would help me to visualize exactly what was going on. This is one major advantage of virtual reality. Virtually reality could be used in the middle-aged classrooms to allow the students to feel and experience the time period which is being discussed, especially in history classes.

In addition to the positives effects of using virtual reality in the classroom, Virtual Reality could be used in the upper-level schooling systems. Carr uses his own life to portray this pint to the readers in his article “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”. I agree with his point when he states, “Research that one required days in the stacks or periodical rooms of libraries can now be done in minutes” (Carr, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”). This is all because of the technology that has changed for world for the better. This is an example of virtual reality that Carr experienced, because the reality of getting any piece of information simply by googling it, is very “virtual”. I agree with Carr that technology and virtual reality have allowed life to become much simpler. Without the internet, I would not be able to quickly look up any topic and find my answer within seconds. This goes along with the idea of using virtual reality for everyday life. Often, I have used the internet to help me learn more and study for tests by watching videos. When I do this, I am using virtual reality which makes me understand the topics better and actually feel like I am doing whatever is being told to me. This is a common example that many people do daily, and do not even realize that it is virtual reality.

Going along with the idea of a virtual school system, all levels of education could benefit from having a virtual world. For example, virtual field trips are a major opportunity that is not available to people living in a real world today. Cline uses his story to show the advantage of virtual field trips in this society. In many classes, including art, language, and history classes, visiting the topics which are being discussed is almost impossible for a classroom of students. One example that Cline states is when the main character says, “In art class we toured the Louvre while all of our avatars wore silly berets” (48). This is an example of virtual reality is the only possible way to experience something. Virtual reality could be used when the situation would possibly be too dangerous, or too expensive. I know that I would have really appreciated the opportunity to visit some of the places that we learned about in my history classes, because I believe it would have made the class more enjoyable as well as easier to understand and relate to. This is a very beneficial example of how virtual reality could be used to enhance the overall classroom experience.

The future world with virtual reality has endless opportunities to better the educational systems all around the world. Ernest Cline and Nicholas Carr use examples of a student in the virtual world as well as their own experiences to depict their beliefs about the future of virtual reality. I also believe that virtual reality would allow more students to have a better educational experience by giving chances that are not available now, due to limited resources. Virtual reality could have a major impact on the future of our world, even outside of the classroom. Many workforces could also use an online world to explain different situations to new employees. Although some people believe that technology is not beneficial, the world should become more virtual by adding virtual reality into daily life because of the many amazing opportunities in the future.

Alex

Alex would be a very good avatar in the OASIS world. I chose to make a male avatar, because I feel as though females are not supposed to play video games. A female avatar might be thought of as “not as good.” For example, in “Ready Player One,” Parzival sees Art3mis as a possible girlfriend, and not as an ally to work with. Alex might be able to make more allies, because he looks like an innocent, trustworthy, young boy. The sweatshirt shows that he is not one to dress up often. Other avatars might think that he sits at home and plays video games a lot, which would make him more likely to win. They will be more likely to want to work with Alex, because of his appearance. I did not choose to add a mustache, and make him appear older, because that might be intimidating to other characters. Lastly, this is what I picture Aech and Parzival to look like, as the stereotypical “gamers.”

The Future of Digital Education

The invention of technology could be used to benefit the education systems around the country. The increase of technology in daily life has changed significantly since the 20^th century. The use of technology has the potential to increase the learning environment for many students, especially in middle school. There are many benefits of using computers and tablets in the classroom. Through my personal experiences, I support the idea of incorporating electronic devices into daily lessons for teachers. When I was in 7^th grade, my math teacher was one of my first teachers to use tablets in the classroom. He used videos and games that we played on the iPads to help make learning more fun. I would always get excited when I walked into the classroom and the iPad cart was sitting there. It was a more enjoyable way of learning for me. I feel that what I learned, I could remember better than if I learned it by taking notes. It increased my ability to learn and remember the information. Technology has increased humans’ mental capabilities, because it is easier to use, children are more familiar with technology, and it will be used in all future careers.

There are many people who do not agree that technology is a beneficial tool to use in the classroom, because they believe it is distracting, expensive, and breakable. Some say that it causes major interruptions that take away from the students’ ability to concentrate and recall the information. La Farge, the author of a persuasive article about digital use, feels that social media is such a major distraction when using the Internet, that it does not allow for focused reading (“The Deep Space of Digital Reading”). Although it may be true that there are more distractions when using technology, these items can be avoided if necessary. From personal experience, it is very beneficial to put my phone on “do not disturb,” so that I can get just as much work done if I was not working with technology. Another disadvantage of technology is that it is breakable. It is very frustrating when the technology does not work he way it is supposed to, however the problems usually can be fixed easily. I can understand why teachers would not want to have to rely on technology for their daily lesson plans, but the simplicity of having everything in one spot is worth the risk. The last disadvantage of using electronics in schools, is that they can be expensive. This may be true, but when the cost of paper and books for many years is added up, the cost of a tablet or computer is not much more. This is something that many people do not think about, even though it should be a major factor in deciding whether to go “paperless” or not. Granted that many of these claims are valid, there is another side to the argument that many people do not consider, and that is the endless amount of advantages that go along with using technology in middle school classrooms.

Students in middle school would prefer using technology over paper, because it is more entertaining and they know how to use something that is advanced. Many children are familiar with technology, such as smart phones and tablets, because they see other people using them every day. Children also think of electronics as fun, because they have games, called “apps,” on them. Jabr, the author of an article about reading digitally, shares an example of a young girl who thinks that the magazine is a touch screen. He states that, “…she appears to pinch, swipe, and prod the pages of paper magazines as though they too were screens” (“The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper versus Screens”). When considering if technology should be implemented in schools, it is important to reflect on moments like these. This provides evidence to show that children are very familiar with using technology, so it will not make learning more difficult, if technology was to be used in educational environments. In addition to the ease of use, technology appears to be more fun than plain paper and books. Jabr states that it is becoming more common for people to read informative, as well as fun, articles digitally in his article “The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper Versus Screens.” Most people will not print the paper version of the book, because it is more convenient to read it online, as well as the benefit of saving paper. From personal experience, I think it is equally as challenging to comprehend a difficult reading on a screen versus as on paper. In addition, there are strategies that can be beneficial to readers digitally, that are not available on the paper version of a text. For example, highlighting and note-taking can be done online, so they can be shared between multiple people. I also feel as though the colors that are used on an online source are more entertaining to read and thus, keep me engaged for a longer period of time. This can be very helpful for students who are not interested in learning about topics they are not interested in, especially teenagers in middle school. Teachers should consider switching from paper teaching methods to more appealing, online methods.

Applying technological devices in schools will allow for faster results when looking up information, such as search results and even daily lesson plans from other teachers. Google provides an endless world of answers to many possible questions. As soon as I see something that I am unfamiliar with, I immediately do a “Google search” to find more information about that topic. Without any type of internet-based search function, research would be very inefficient and may not be up-to-date. The author of “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”, Nicholas Carr, states the simplicity of doing research by saying, “A few Google searches, some quick clicks on hyperlinks, and I’ve got the telltale fact or pithy quote I was after” (“Is Google Making Us Stupid?”). Carr explains that research that used to take many days of searching for, now only take a few short moments, with the use of technology. Middle school teachers should use Google to their students’ advantage and teach them how to find reliable sources that can be helpful to them, as well as how to evaluate search results. This is also a great way for teachers to look up new teaching methods to better their classroom environment. For example, educational games and activities can be shared among groups of teachers to enhance the learning experience for children in middle school. The simplicity of the internet in this century can be used to expand the education systems for the future.

Technology is not going away any time soon. Many careers have already started using new devices to make life easier. For example, when you get to college, almost every student uses a laptop of one kind or another. This is a great reason to begin the use of technology in middle schools today. Students who are well-prepared for their future, will know how to properly use technology in everyday life. Careers, such as nursing and marketing, are using technology to their advantage, to simplify difficult tasks. There will not be many career paths in the future where knowing how to use technology will not be necessary. Students who do not get accustomed to working digitally, at a young age, will be at a disadvantage when looking for a job. Teachers should begin experimenting with using tablets and computers in middle school lesson plans. This will make the kids excited and can improve the classroom setting. Technology has greatly increased education systems in the schools that have already began using tablets and computers in the classrooms. Although some feel that the invention of technology has decreased humans’ mental capabilities, the reality is, it is just the beginning of a smarter future.

The Rhetoric of Technology Versus Paper

Many people have different arguments about why or why not technology is beneficial for society. One of the beliefs is that reading on a screen in not as valuable as reading from a print source. In the article, “The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper Versions,” the author shows his opinion on this topic. Ferris Jabr is an author who grew up in Portland, Oregon. Most of his writings are from the years 2000-2015. These stories cover a variety of topics, such as science, nature, animals, and humans. ScienceLine (About) states that he has a Bachelor’s degree from Tufts University where he studied psychology and English. Most of his publications are from Scientific American and The New York Times. He writes often about scientific research that has been done and his opinion or viewpoint on the controversial issues.

The article has a variety of audiences that it is trying to reach. One group could be researchers. The article discusses many experimental trials. For example, “The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper Versus Screens” states that “research suggests that reading on paper still boasts unique advantages” versus reading on a screen (Jabr). This information would be interesting and informative for science professionals, because they may be intrigued by having research to back up an opinion. The publication, Scientific American, is known for having articles beneficial for scientists. In addition to the publication proving this article is meant for science professionals, the advertisements throughout the article provide evidence that the type of people interested in “The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper Versus Screens,” would also be interested in other educational opportunities. For example, one of the advertisements is trying to get the readers to subscribe to their magazine.

Scientific American. Advertisement. September 25, 2017

This shows that this article targets people that would be likely to read more about science. The second, is an advertisement that will help elementary students learn more. It shows each grade level and has a link to fun games that improve learning. This advertisement is appropriate for this article, because they both appeal to the same people. The type of people that will be interested in educational aids for students will most likely also be interested in an informative science article about technology. One possibility that would be interested in both may be parents of young children. There is also a particular age group for Jabr’s article. It would not be appropriate for young children because it might be hard for them to understand the advanced language. Jabr has a very specific audience that he wants to target in this article.

The article posted on Scientific American has a main claim throughout. The purpose of Jabr’s writing is to persuade the readers to agree with his ideas about how technology is impacting intelligence. Jabr argues that reading on a screen is not as valuable as reading on paper. He believes that having a piece of paper in front of you is easier and more productive than reading digitally (Jabr). He believes that people do not remember as much as when they are not physically flipping the pages. He uses specific examples from research done by consumer reports to conclude that reading on a screen is not as clear for readers (Jabr). He goes on to explain that people are not as focused when reading digitally. His purpose on writing this article, is to provide evidence for his opinion about reading on a screen.

Jabr’s article was written in the current period. He published “The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper Versus Screens” in 2013. Around that time, technology was just beginning to be popular. His article discusses multiple times the use of iPads. He talks about the impact of reading on screens versus on paper. He uses scientific examples to support his opinion. This explains why it is appropriate for the publisher to be Scientific American. Most people who would be interested in reading his article would also be likely to visit the website Scientific American. In addition to the publisher, the form of writing is important for an author and the audience. This article is mostly viewed on the web. It may also be available in a magazine made specifically for science professionals. The context in Jabr’s writing allows the appropriate audience to view his writing.

The genre of this article is an online publication. Readers who are interested in this article may be expecting hyperlinks for more details about Jabr’s specific examples. For example, there is a link to click on that brings you to the video Jabr is talking about in the first paragraph. Another thing that is usually associated with websites are advertisements. The content of the article is related to the advertisements that are shown. This makes the readers more likely to be influenced by the advertisements that pop up. Another convenience that goes along with online articles is the search function. When a reader can search on a website, the author does not have to include each detail. For example, different articles may be linked together because they are about the same topic. This makes it easier for the audience as well as the author when reading or writing something that is a popular argumentative topic.

Color is a sense that most people don’t think about when looking at something, such as an educational article, like the one written by Jabr. The website Scientific American uses mostly black and white. The background does not have any color, other than white. The font also looks more sophisticated, because the letters are very uniform and they do not have many curves. The article looks like a newspaper. It has larger bolded headings, with smaller text undeath it. The text is also lined up on the left side of the page.

Scientific American. Text lined up along left side of page

It is very narrow, which makes the article appear longer than it is. This is another way the author made his writing more educational and informative, rather than just opinionated. Lastly, the author did not write this article to try and excite children. This is shown by his use of very few pictures throughout the text. This is another way that the appearance can help a reader to understand the authors purpose in writing.

Jabr’s article was informative and entertaining to read. His explanations were convincing, which made me think about my opinion of reading on paper versus reading on screens. The facts that he used to back up his main idea were helpful in establishing background knowledge on this particular topic. By the end, I was convinced that most people support his opinion, although I still believe that technology has greatly increased intelligence. I would likely cite Jabr’s article in a school-related paper about the use of technology in classrooms. The specific details Jabr uses would be helpful to back up the opinion that online reading is not as beneficial as reading the print version. Jabr’s article was successful in proving his opinion.

The Tools of Learning to Read and Write

Many of my life experiences have influenced who I am now. One of the most important factors in my life was learning to read and write. Without these skills, I would not be who I am today. I grew up in upstate New York. I have lived there my entire life. I went to a catholic school for 9 years and then transferred to a large public school for high school. Until recently, I was always known as a very quiet girl.

Author: K Whiteford; Title: Stick Figure Family

Nobody would have ever believed me if I told them I was going six hours away for college. I am now a freshman in college at Stevenson University. I love doing things with my family, such as playing games, going places, and even eating dinner together. One of my favorite things is playing golf with them.

I began golf at the age of three and I am a very competitive person. I played on three softball teams throughout middle school and high school. Another activity that I enjoy doing is babysitting. I love not only making money, but also being around young children and helping them when they are my responsibility. Part of me has always thought it would be cool to have younger siblings. One who you could teach new and exciting things, such as learning to read and write.

Each person has their own story about how they learned to read and write. Mine began before I even started kindergarten. When I was younger, probably around 3 or 4, I enjoyed learning things that older kids knew. For example, I wanted to learn how to write before any of my neighbors. Most of them were a few years older than I was, but we spent a lot of time together. One tool that I used was an alphabet tracer. It helped me learn how to physically write. It was a red plastic sheet with outlines of the alphabet. You had to place your pencil in the small opening and follow the edges around to make the shape of the letter. I remember receiving these as a gift for my birthday. I was very excited that I might know something that my older friends did not. Although this is something small, it really helped me learn how to write my letters, before I started school.

Going to school every day was a difficult transition for me. When I started kindergarten, I would look forward to coming home after school every day to see my mom and watch television. It was a nice break from doing schoolwork. I would always sit down on the couch and watch a thirty-minute show before I completed my homework. One of my favorite shows to watch was Dora The Explorer. This was one of the many educational shows for young children. Throughout each episode, the characters would introduce new words in English and Spanish. I loved trying to replicate what they were doing. I thought it was a game. This was a great way for me to expand my vocabulary that was fun. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, now I know that this show helped me begin learning the English language.

In addition to television, rewards were very beneficial in my education of learning to read and spell. Throughout elementary school, my teachers would offer a rewards system for learning new words.

Title: I Buy You an Hour; Date: March 15, 2013

I remember specifically my first-grade teacher, Mrs. Hayden, rewarding us with toys for each new word we learned per week. We would use little containers, like piggy banks, and she would give us pennies for each item we could remember throughout the week. The toys were from McDonald’s Happy Meals, which I find hilarious. We were very competitive little first graders, just to get those toys. I can picture how excited we would get when it was time to hand in our change for those toys every Friday. Mrs. Hayden helped me learn a lot with her rewards system.

A second person who helped me learn to read and write was Mrs. Greene. She was my reading teacher throughout elementary school. Mrs. Greene had a small little room in the corner of the library. There were only three desks in there. One for me, one for another girl, Jaclene, and one for Mrs. Greene. I would go see Mrs. Greene twice a week for many years. I loved going to see her for two reasons. The first is that she always had fun games that we got to play. Each game was educational. The second reason is that I got to get out of regular schoolwork. Mrs. Greene helped me learn to read and understand what I was reading. Every day we would go to her room and practice our reading skills. She was an amazing teacher that had a major impact on my education.

Another tool that has helped me learn to read and write are flashcards. Beginning in middle school, I have used flashcards for vocabulary words. I used flashcards for English, as well as Spanish class. In one of my high school Spanish classes, our teacher would give us extra credit if we wrote the words on flashcards before the quizzes. Her name was Mrs. Leforester. Her class was very easy, but it always felt good to get the extra credit on each quiz. By forcing us to write the words on the flashcards, we were learning increasingly more each time. She would come around before the quiz and check to make sure that all the words were on your cards. She would then do a little scribble at the top of your quiz, so she knew who to give the extra credit. I can still remember most of the words to this day. Flashcards are one of the most vital tools for a child learning to read and write, especially with new vocabulary words.

Learning to read and write is vital for success in a real job. This challenging process is one that most people will never forget. I will always be able to imagine each tool that I used. This process will help me with my future in many ways. In general, it makes me realize that everyone needs to take baby steps first. This is a good lesson to understand. I would not have been able to read, if I did not learn small words first. In addition, I will never forget the impact using flashcards had on improving my vocabulary. They can also be used for other important information. Another tool that I can bring in to my future is the feeling of receiving a reward for doing something well. This can be very helpful in life, because sometimes people need rewards to complete difficult tasks. I can use this experience to my benefit in my future. The process of learning to read and write will allow me to be more successful in my future.