Debates

During this week’s lecture, we had to debate about the controversial tunnel that is being proposed between Malta and Gozo. I was chosen with the in-favour group and another group were against. So, we started researching as a group from our devices to find the best arguments possible to attack the opponent and also to formulate good arguments to defend our side. In my opinion, it was a very interesting topic to debate on, and last week's topic, was on the flood relief project in Malta, which it wasn't a really interesting subject to have good arguments on.

These exercises (debates) have been happening for the last weeks to help us understand the real purpose of a debate. Debates for me are quite a difficult task to do and I think that such exercises during the lecture will help me out understand what and how to actually do debates and put us on the right track. My main difficulty is that I’m a very shy person and talking in front of a number of people with their full attention towards me gets me nervous and I usually feel very uncomfortable in such situations. I believe that having great arguments won’t do magic in debates, I think that having an outgoing and a confident personality is much important as to convince the opponent, which I feel that such thing might get against me in debates.

Something that I’m not that sure and still need to get used to is how a debate is build up. If I recall correctly firstly, the first round starts by a five-minute introduction, then the opponent another five. Then only one group gets a five-minute round to ask multiple questions to the other group. This round needs to be done by quick questions from one group and the opponent needs to just answer. Then the debate continues by five-minute each group one after the other, answering, defending and attacking the previous arguments being mentioned in the same debate. Things that needs to be avoided during debates are the tendency to interrupt each other and that we let our emotions talk rather than the real arguments themselves. 

Are Libraries Being Overlooked Nowadays? (Dissertation)

It is a fact that libraries are losing popularity and they’re not being used as much. I did some research from the National Statistics Office of Malta’s website, where I found the real statistics of how much libraries in Malta are being used along the past years.

According to the National Statistics Office – Malta (NSO) in 2013 the number of book loans from public libraries in Malta were lower than the previous year by 9.5 % (Ellul, N., 2014). In 2014, loans were also lower by 17.3% from the previous year (Galea, J., 2016), however during the year of 2015 the number of book loans increased by 22.5% from the previous year (Caruana, E., 2015).  These statistics are accurate ones and one would notice that libraries are not being used as much from time to time. For instance, taking the number of book loans during the year 2015 which is a total of 777,804 compared with 2012 which had a total of 848,167 book loans (Galea, J., 2016) (Caruana, E., 2015) (Ellul, N., 2014). That is a considerable decreasing amount, which can be worrying towards the use of libraries in the future.

Not only in Malta, the use of library is decreasing but also in England, which is a worrying fact that needs to be taken care and action upon, before libraries are forever gone (Flood, A., 2014). Another issue is that very few people are choosing the role as a librarian (Flood, A., 2014). 

One of the reasons that libraries are being overlooked is because of the new technologies, which are somehow taking over. Technology such as eBooks are sometimes being preferred over books as they have some advantages over the use of a book (Abram, S., 2010). EBooks can be very useful to people who are visually impaired as they have the option to let the device read aloud the text for them (Abram, S., 2010). This provides an easy opportunity towards such users, who are usually in the minority. EBooks has multiple other advantages such as, having the option to change the font size or type easily, dictionary function, etc. (Abram, S., 2010). Moreover, it can hold thousands of books in just one device, which allows the user to easily browse their preferred book in just few clicks (Abram, S., 2010). On the other hand, printed books will provide a user experience, by its smell and feel which enhance the user’s memory according to the article ‘P-Books vs. Ebooks: Are There Education Issues?’ by Abram, Stephen. While printed books can be long lasting and can be borrowed, although risks passing germs from one person to the other (Abram, S., 2010).

References:

• Abram, S., 2010. 'P-Books vs. Ebooks: Are There Education Issues?', Multimedia & Internet@Schools, 17, 6, pp. 13-16, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 11 February 2017.
• Caruana, E., 2015. Statistics on Libraries: 2014. NEWS RELEASE. National Statistics Office – Malta. [pdf] Available at: https://nso.gov.mt/en/News_Releases/View_by_Unit/Unit_C1/Living_Conditions_and_Cultu re_Statistics/Documents/2015/News2015_117.pdf [Accessed 11 February 2017]. 
• Ellul, N., 2014. Statistics on Libraries: 2013. NEWS RELEASE. National Statistics Office – Malta. [pdf] Available at: https://nso.gov.mt/en/News_Releases/Archived_News_Releases/Documents/2014/News20 14_118.pdf [Accessed 11 February 2017].
• Flood, A., 2014. Library usage falls significantly as services shrink. The Guardian. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/dec/10/library-usage-fallsdramatically-services-visits-down-40m [Accessed 11 February 2017].
• Galea, J., 2016. Statistics on Libraries: 2015. NEWS RELEASE. National Statistics Office – Malta. [pdf] Available at: https://nso.gov.mt/en/News_Releases/View_by_Unit/Unit_C1/Living_Conditions_and_Cultu re_Statistics/Documents/2016/News2016_140.pdf [Accessed 11 February 2017].

The Importance of Reading Education in Relation to the Library. (Dissertation)

This blog is going to discuss few arguments related with my dissertation title which is, "Discovering Innovative Ways to Design a Local Public Library".

A research article named ‘Sharing resources - how library networks can help reach education goals’ written by Ruth Makotsi, argues about reading education within southern countries such as in Africa where people are very poor. It argues that in order to have well literate and educated people, it is to the utmost importance that they read, but to read they actually need reading materials (Makorsi, R., 2005). Reading is a very powerful tool to be invested in people to help them get knowledgeable, “broaden horizons and think independently and critically” (Makorsi, R., 2005). Promoting literacy is very essential to such countries, at the same time it is also important to other countries. Libraries could be a great way to promoting reading by providing updated reading material regularly. This article emphasizes on the impact of reading culture in southern countries, how it would improve their expansion in education therefore this would result in a better economy. “Libraries can provide information about all sorts of issues which can help alleviate poverty, and act as a focal point for the community” (Makorsi, R., 2005).

The article ‘The Role of Libraries in the Creation of Literate Environments’ by Lisa Krolak has similar arguments to the previous article mentioned ‘Sharing resources - how library networks can help reach education goals’. It is very important that environments such as libraries are well maintained, as this might encourage people to continue flourish their literacy skills by going to libraries more often (Krolak, L., 2005). On the other hand ‘The Role of Libraries in the Creation of Literate Environments’ argues that in order to have basic interest amongst people, basic education needs to start at home as parents should also be educated enough to encourage their children to read and make use of available reading material (Krolak, L., 2005).  According to the same article mentioned in this paragraph, children who are brought up in literate environments are more to succeed rather than those who are not. Schools are mostly beneficial to promote reading to children. It also argues that on the other hand, children today might get easily distracted by having more than enough easy access to technology such as televisions, computers, etc. which these eventually acts against reading education. Such technologies are also providing enough fun to children and they are distracted from reading for fun (Krolak, L., 2005). It also argues that libraries worldwide are not well funded and has low budget allocated to libraries individually. Due to this, libraries can be effected negatively 4 towards its service and in its provided materials including books, furniture, computers, DVD/Cds, etc. which are most to require funds (Krolak, L., 2005).  These things are important to be kept in safe and dry place, where there’s no excessive humidity (Krolak, L., 2005). It’s also important the place is safe from theft by having installed the necessary equipment/tools to act against theft (Krolak, L., 2005). 

In contrast to the previous articles mentioned, where they mention the importance of the library towards society, the article ‘Architectural Design Education: Designing a Library, Public Communication and Information Center in the Manufacturing Zone of Central Eskisehir Turkey, a Case Study’, argues that libraries aren’t important anymore and that “it is a fact that their [libraries] golden age has past due to contemporary reproduction and copying possibilities”, and that the internet is taking over the main role of the library (Caglar, N., Uludag, Z., 2006). Libraries are just places where people just sit and read together in public, according to this article. It adds that “libraries will survive for the sake of the attractiveness of the ritual of reading together in public that it serves.” (Caglar, N., Uludag, Z., 2006). 

References:

Caglar, N., Uludag, Z., 2006. Architectural Design Education: Designing a Library, Public Communication and Information Center in the Manufacturing Zone of Central Eskis ,ehir Turkey, a Case Study. International Journal of Art & Design Education, 25: 231–240. https://goo.gl/AzgWGD [Accessed 04 February 2017].

Krolak, L., 2005. The Role of Libraries in the Creation of Literate Environments. [pdf] United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Available at: http://www.ifla.org/files/assets/literacy-and-reading/publications/role-of-libraries-increation-of-literate-environments.pdf [Accessed 04 February  2017].

Makorsi, R., 2005. Sharing resources - how library networks can help reach education goals. [pdf] Book Aid International. Available at: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c5ad/3692f8bfc620b24a54a3c25b5e56a6898b41.pdf [Accessed 04 February 2017].

Goodbyes are hard

Although this is a bit of a personal blog, it’s a must for me to mention such event in my life, as this is currently effecting my studies' performance.

This week didn’t start very well for me, as my dearest grandma sadly passed away. This week was actually the toughest and most difficult in my entire life. Last Sunday I had the last opportunity to visit my grandma at hospital for the very last time and that day she was in a very critical condition and unconscious. That day, before I was leaving, I told her goodbye and that I will come visit the next day… although she was unconscious she heard me as she slightly opened her eyes and nodded to my words. She looked like she wanted to tell me something but unfortunately, she didn’t have enough strength.

The following morning, I woke up to the worst news in my life that she had just passed away. To this I cried my eyes out, knowing that I will not see her ever again. At the same time knowing that she will be in better place and resting forever. Although, till today I haven't accepted this fact and I'm still pretending her to appear somewhere as my mind keeps thinking that's impossible that she's gone forever.

Me and my family will be missing her more than the rest of the family as she was living with us and she was a huge part of my life and now I feel part of me is missing. During this week me and my family are experiencing grief, and for me and my brothers, it’s the first time that we lost someone who was very close to us.

Well, reflecting back in time during when she was alive, I could say that I don’t have much disappointments or regrets concerning her because I always tried my best to please her and keep her happy, although we had arguments, but that’s normal. What I could say that I learned from this experience is that you have to live your life to the full, and appreciate more the moments with loved ones as we don’t know what the future might lead us into. I’m also glad that I had her in my life as she taught me a lot and I will be following her steps.

As mentioned earlier, this event is effecting my studies as I’m not fully concentrated and I’m mentally tired and drained. So this week I missed all lessons and had to ask for an extension regarding only one assignment. The lecturer concerned understood the situation and granted approval for the extension. For the other assignments, the work had to be done in groups and my part was almost done till last Sunday. The group members also seemed to understand my situation and were fine to continue the last parts of the work on their own. I also spoke with the lecturers concerned and they also understood the situation.

With the aim to moving on, I will try to do my best and start attending lectures as from next semester. During the progress week I will try to work on the remaining assignment, to be on time and try to make my grandma proud. 

Schön’s Reflective Model

The term Schön’s reflective model was invented by Donald Schön. This is a particular style of reflection in two different approached which actually both lead to the other forming a cycle (as shown in the diagram). The reflection is to be ‘in-action’ and ‘on-action’. 

Reflection on-action is when you reflect on what had happened and what could have been done better. Reflection in-action is when you reflect in the present, during the action, when you act quickly on something that is happening. 

The Schön’s reflective model is normally used by everyone unintentionally when writing about something that had happened and you’d reflect on what you could have done and what would you do the next time during a particular action (Solent Online Learning, n.d.).

In the following text I will be putting the Schön’s reflective model into practice.

Questionnaires

As part of an assignment, we need to work in a group of three with the aim to finally design the Art Studio 1, and currently we’re doing research methods. In order to do this we had to plan ahead when we’ll be doing what, and this week we had to conduct questionnaires, which we had already drafted previously. The questionnaires are aimed to collect different views and perspectives of students and lecturers, who use Art Studio 1. Me and my team member started to hand these questionnaires to students who were using the space during their lecture in charge to fill them out. A particular class, were struggling to fill the form as they didn’t understand few questions and they started to fill them out quickly to get them done.

So after this we realized that the questionnaires could have been structured better. The questions should have been more focused in multiple choice, as we included some open ended questions and sometimes, the answers were being written in short or left empty.

There was also a question where we included four images of different classroom interiors and the question being asked was to make a choice of the image they’d prefer, taking into consideration the lighting and colours only demonstrated in the images. Few participants where choosing a particular image just because they like the room setting and not the lighting and colour. The problem was that the question was being misunderstood and that the question wasn’t straight to the point and it might have been too long to read for a questionnaire.

So reflecting on this particular event, I think I would be structuring a better questionnaire by making it shorter, straighter to the point and simpler. This would put the participant at ease as they’d fill it out in more precise and quicker way.

Reference:

Anon, n.d. Reflective thinking and writing [online] Solent Online Learning. Available at: http://learn.solent.ac.uk/mod/book/view.php?id=2732&chapterid=1113 [Accessed 21 January 2017].

Tough week...

This week was one of my toughest weeks in my entire life. My dearest grandma had to be admitted to the hospital and the next day after she was there, her health became worse and some complications had emerged, leaving us all in shock and disbelief. At first I thought she would have a smooth recovery as she’s a very tough person but now I’m confused. At this very difficult moment I’m really drained and worried and I don’t really have much energy and concentration to do the assignments or attend to lessons. In fact I missed the last two days of lessons this week. I’m spending most of the time possible at hospital with family next to my grandma keeping her company and taking care of her. 

She is like my second mother to me, she is a person who helped raising me and my brothers along with my parents, in the best way possible. And if it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be the person who I am today. She taught me how to respect people, to love, to be honest, to have courage, to stay positive and many other things. To that I feel the need to respect her back and repay few of the sacrifices she’d done with us and I want to spend the most time possible with her now during this difficult moment. I hope she will feel better because I hate watching her suffer and I want her back home with us again.

As I said before, during this difficult moment, I’m really finding it hard to continue with my studies, but I’m trying to do the best I can to spend few hours working on assignments. For most assignments, we are working in groups and I’m still keeping contact with my group members to understand what they’re doing and giving me updates to what is happening during lessons. At the same time I feel frustrated that I couldn’t give my full performance. I also spoke with some lecturers explaining everything and they understood my situation. I’m also glad that I had made the best I could previously so I have a good amount of work ready, but still have much more to do and the deadlines are very close!

The Controversial High-Rise Buildings in Malta.

The high-rise buildings topic in Malta has lately been into large controversies. At the moment some high-rise buildings are being proposed and some of them are being approved. The controversies has recently started after few buildings were being approved. They are known to be effecting some citizen’s quality life and such other negative aspects towards citizens (Times of Malta, 2016). The buildings can eventually cause an increase in traffic which currently the traffic situation is a bit disastrous(Times of Malta, 2016). There might also be an increase of parking problems, if the problem is not addressed well, as such building should have their own parking malls, which I assume they will as I don’t have enough knowledge about their regulations and permits.

The idea of high-rise building in Malta compared with other countries is very different, as Malta is a small island which in my opinion there isn’t the need of such buildings. I think that such large buildings, will cause lots of problems to the Maltese citizens as already mentioned. Malta has always had some sort of identity in buildings and large buildings doesn’t fall under that and I wouldn’t want them in our skyline as they’d ruin such unique skyline and views by these buildings which will look like a giant block of concrete emerging out of the ground. Well, I’m not totally against the idea behind their purpose because I’m aware that such investments would increase our economy, my concern is more about the buildings themselves as they are very long and will surely have negative impact on people’s lives (Debono, J. 2015). If there is no solution other than building such buildings, then I would accept them to be built away from central areas, so they won’t be visible from everywhere in Malta. For instance I don’t agree with the fact that they’d be built in Mriehel as they’re currently proposed. (Times of Malta, 2016). As for example the Portomaso tower is alongside the sea within the bulk of buildings in St. Julian’s, which makes it almost blend in that particular area, although it’s still very high and could be visible from long distances in Malta, but it’s not blocking most views.

Imagine if suddenly close to your neighbourhood, a long tower is approved to be built, and by this you know that the most of the sunlight is going to be covered and that maybe a view you used to enjoy is now blocked and all you can see is just building… I don’t think that I would agree with such building because it has such negative aspects including the decreasing property value of my property.  Such things are probably being ignored and people suffering such negative aspects are being in the minority and probably won’t be recognized by authorities. Other negative aspect that towers might have, is that when the winds are strong, pedestrians walking by, might get hurt as the wind forces will change their direction causing stronger and dangerous winds (Debono, J. 2015).

References:

Times of Malta, 2016. High-rise buildings go beyond reasonable limits - Church commission. Times of Malta. [online] Available at: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20160812/local/high-rise-buildings-go-beyond-reasonable-limits-church-environment.621813 [Accessed 5 January 2016].

Debono, J., 2015. Malta’s giddy high-rise future. Malta Today [online] Available at: http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/54067/maltas_giddy_highrise_future#.WG0uaBsrKUk [Accessed 5 January 2016].

Zammit Cutajar, T., 2016. New high-rise city. Times of Malta. [online] Available at: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20160718/letters/New-high-rise-city.619202 [Accessed 5 January 2016].