Posts

Effective Communication in Healthcare Settings: Building Trust and Improving Patient Outcomes

-
Image
Effective communication is a cornerstone of quality healthcare.  (📷: carlow.edu ) I magine sitting across from a doctor or nurse after days of pain or worry: the words they use and how they listen may change your entire experience of care. Communication is one of the foundations of healthcare; every patient interaction depends on it, from explaining a treatment to guiding recovery . Communication is a critical clinical competence because it establishes trust between providers and patients . When providers take time to listen and explain information clearly, patients tend to feel more at ease and errors become far less likely. Poor communication was shown to cause between 10% and 25% of patient safety incidents . In other words, talking and listening carefully isn’t just nice; it literally keeps patients safer and helps them heal. Healthcare Communication  ▶️ 2m33s Building Trust Through Empathy and Clarity Trust is the bedrock of any healthcare relationship. When patients hav...
Read more

Disinformation vs. Misinformation: A Psychological Primer

-
Image
Emotions such as fear and outrage make us more susceptible to false news.   (📷:universityofcambridge) B efore diving into psychology, we must define our terms .  Misinformation  is misleading or false information that is spread, regardless of intent . It covers everything from honest mistakes to urban legends. In contrast, disinformation  is a form of misinformation that is created and shared on purpose  to mislead or manipulate people . In practice, experts often consider disinformation as a subset of misinformation, because it can be hard to know the originator’s intent . For example, a viral hoax about a miracle cure might be pure misinformation (someone misunderstood a fact), while an organised campaign spreading false health scares to sow panic would be disinformation. In either case, the core problem is that the information is false and can have harmful effects on people and society . 'Maria Ressa on the difference between misinformation and disinforma...
Location: Australia
Read more

Unlocking Speaking Skills: Current Research Insights for TESOL Educators

-
Image
Teaching speaking is a dynamic and evolving field in TESOL research.   (📷:goneseoulsearching) S peaking ability is more important today than ever. English has become a global language, making oral fluency a critical skill for learners in academics, career and daily life.   Research emphasises that students need strong speaking skills to participate in international communication and achieve their goals . Yet it’s not easy: many learners remain shy or struggle to speak even after years of study. Studies report that limitations like crowded classes and little authentic practice time leave students short on real conversation practice. In fact, many students struggle with speaking because classrooms often lack opportunities for active communication . Understanding these challenges helps teachers empathise with learners and motivates us to find better solutions. 'What is oracy?' ▶️2m Learning to speak well also builds confidence and community in the classroom. When students su...
Location: Australia
Read more

Beyond “It Didn’t Age Well”: Media Literacy, Virtue Mirroring, and Judging Older Media

-
Image
Deeper media analysis can foster a more nuanced understanding of both past and present content.   (📷:mylifesnotes) I n today’s online conversations, especially on social media, it is common to read that a beloved movie or show “didn’t age well”.  This phrase often marks the end of debate rather than inviting closer analysis. For example, a magazine notes that older Hollywood classics are full of “blatant examples of racism, misogyny and homophobia” . Viewers then use this as a catch-all reason to dismiss these works outright. But simply declaring content outdated or offensive undercuts any chance to understand why those stereotypes or attitudes appeared. It prevents us from asking questions about the story’s intentions, the creator’s context, or the norms of the time. In effect, saying “it hasn’t aged well” can be a way of avoiding the hard work of examining media critically. 'This didn't age well... (The Osbournes)' ▶️2m06s This problem is exacerbated by our current f...
Location: Australia
Read more

The Network of Falsehoods: Sissela Bok on Lies and Trust

-
Image
Bok argued that honesty is the “social glue” of trust.   (📷:irpp) S issela Bok’s starting point is simple but powerful: truth-telling is a vital social practice. She invites us to imagine a world where honesty is not the norm.  In such a world, “you could never trust anything you were told or anything you read” . You would have to verify every  fact yourself – an impossibly time-consuming task. Bok observes that even basic education assumes a degree of trust: if schoolbooks and teachers were known liars, learning would collapse . In her words, without trust, “you could never acquire the education you need… since such an education depends upon taking the word of what you read in your lesson books.” . This thought experiment makes it crystal clear  that we benefit enormously from living in a largely truthful world. 'Should You Always Tell The Truth? ' ▶️2m24s Bok formalises this as the Principle of Veracity : a strong moral presumption against lying, because most ...
Location: Australia
Read more

Crafting Stunning Photos: Techniques to Capture Attention and Drive Engagement

-
Image
Capturing attention with a single image is both an art and a science.   (📷:henspark) E ffective composition is the backbone of a compelling image. The arrangement of lines, shapes, and subjects can literally lead the viewer’s gaze through the photo.  For instance, placing your main subject along the “rule of thirds” gridlines or at their intersections creates a dynamic balance that naturally draws attention . Similarly, using leading lines (like roads, fences, or tree branches) can actively guide the eye toward the focal point of the image . In fact, eye-tracking research confirms that images with strong leading lines hold viewers’ attention longer and score higher in visual appeal . '9 photo composition tips (feat. Steve McCurry)' ▶️3m09s Framing  is another classic technique: shoot through an archway, window, or natural opening so that your subject sits within a “frame” inside the photo . This not only adds depth but also pulls focus to the subject. Likewise, balan...
Location: Australia
Read more