Is blogging an effective learning tool?

Studies show that blogging has proven to be a very effective learning tool. “One of the benefits of blogging is that it is public, and we are more attentive to the quality of our work when it is public than if it is just viewed by one other person.” Blogs create an environment where students are more aware of their work, and more dedicated to competing assignments properly. The publicity of blogs subconsciously guides students to exert more effort in their assignments.

Also, “Discussions in weblogs promote higher levels of thinking, because people can think before answering back.” The weblog format is different from the classroom, because it allows time for reflection; they are able to be incorporated into the student’s thought process. When questions are asked in class students are expected to raise their hands and have an answer immediately. When questions are asked in a weblog students are able to digest the information and consider all of his or her options before being forced to cough up a response. The latter has more potential to generate more informed and appropriate answers.

Finally, “Because of its format similar to that of a personal diary, weblogs encourage informal communication, creativity and self-expression.” A student can take creative liberties while writing in a blog. Students have to find their own voice and mold an opinion into a response that is unique. Blogs create a more laid back atmosphere and that is why self-expression may come easier for the majority of students when compared to immediate verbal responses in a classroom. This is especially notable when comparing more extroverted students to introverted students. A blog allows both to shine without creating a stigma of embarrassment or inability to formulate an opinion right away. In summary, blogging seems to be an effective learning tool by improving quality of work, encouraging deeper thinking, and promoting greater levels of originality. I believe that blogging in this course has been a very effective way of learning. 

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/blogging-to-improve-student-learning-tips-and-tools-for-getting-started/
http://desarrolloweb.dlsi.ua.es/blogs/use-of-weblogs-in-higher-education-benefits-and-barriers

Chemical Protective Clothing Penetration v. Permeation

Chemical protective clothing includes body suits, boots and gloves. The clothing comes in multiple different materials that offer a range of protection depending on how hazardous the environment is. “These materials include cotton and synthetic fibers, natural and synthetic rubber, various plastic films and coatings and leather.”  OSHA provides criteria and regulations as to what protective clothing that individuals are required to wear based on the hazards that may be encountered.  

“Penetration in the context of Personal Protective Equipment is the leaking of a contaminant through seams, zippers, pinholes, and other seemingly visible openings in protective clothing or gloves.” Penetrations are best suited for determining particle barrier in fabrics. Factors that can influence particle penetration include the size of the particle and the size of the pores or openings in the fabrics structure. The larger the opening in the fabric structure, it is more likely a particle will be able to penetrate the fabric.

“Permeation is the process by which a chemical dissolves in or moves through a barrier material, in this case, protective clothing or gloves.” Permeation tests are better suited for testing hazardous vapors and liquids. “There are many critical factors that influence permeation: the challenge chemical, the makeup of the barrier material, the exposure time, and several physical factors like ambient temperature and pressure.”  Permeation rate in the context of Personal Protective Equipment is the speed at which the chemical passes through the barrier material per minute; it is usually measured using a standardized testing method. “This test can provide information about the barriers materials ability to withstand exposure to the chemical.” It is measured from the point of initial contact of the challenge chemical with the outside surface of the test fabric to the time the challenge chemical is detected on the inside of the fabric. “The standardized breakthrough time is a measure of the elapsed time from initial contact with the challenge chemical until the chemical permeates the fabric.”

 Basics of Industrial Hygiene by Debra Nims

http://www.dupont.com/products-and-services/personal-protective-equipment/chemical-protective-garments/faqs/protective-garments.html#2

WBGT

Wet Bulb Globe Temperature also known as WBGT is an index value computed in ˚C or ˚F, which provides information on the potential heat load of the environment.  It’s the measure of the heat stress in direct sunlight, which takes into account temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover. This is done by “measuring temperatures with a dry bulb thermometer, a wet bulb thermometer and a large, matte, black globe.”

“The temperature readings for the WBGT index combined according to one of two equations. For indoor work situations or for outdoor work where there is shade or cloud cover, and thus no solar heat load.”  Outdoor with solar radiation, WBGT is calculated for outdoor conditions as WBGT=0.7 Tnwb +0.2 Tg+ 0.1 Ta. This means the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature equals the natural wet bulb temperature plus the black globe temperature than ass the shade air temperature.  For “indoor temperature with negligible Solar Radiation the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature can be calculated as WBGT=0.7 Tnwb + 0.3 Tg.”

“Cold Stress is caused by the body’s inability to keep its inner temperature within the normal range.” Cold stress is more likely to occur during outdoor work during the seasons when wet or damp conditions are common and wind may contribute an additional cooling effect. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration “anyone working in a cold environment may be at risk for cold stress, some workers may be required to work outdoors in cold environments and for extended periods of time.” Cold stress can lead to serious health problems if not properly cared for. Heat stress occurs when people are over exposed to heat in work environments. “Exposure to extreme heat can result in occupational illnesses and injuries.” Heat stress can cause heat cramps, heat exhaustion, rash and if severe enough can cause a person to have a heat stroke.

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/guides/cold.html

Basics of Industrial Hygiene by Debra Nims

Units of Exposure and Biological Effects

Ionizing radiation is “radiation that has enough energy to remove electrons from atoms or molecules when it passes through or collides with some kind of material.” Ionizing radiation is measured in terms of strength or radioactivity of the radiation source, the energy of the radiation, the level of radiation in the environment and the radiation dose or the amount of radiation energy absorbed by the human body. “From the point of view of the occupational exposure, the radiation dose is the most important measure.”

One term that is used in describing ionizing radiation is roentgen. Roentgen “is an indicator of the degree of ionization that produces one unit of charge in one cubic centimeter of dry air. One roentgen is the amount of x- or gamma radiation that produces one unit of charge in one cubic centimeter of dry air.” Another unit that can be used for measuring gamma ray intensity in the air is air dose or absorbed dose rate in the air in grays per hour unit. “This unit is used to express gamma ray intensity in the air from radioactive materials in the earth and in the atmosphere.”

Radiation comes from many different sources and people can be exposed at different levels. Since there are multiple sources of exposure there are various biological effects of ionizing radiation. “One characteristic of ionizing radiation on human body is that the energy absorbed is low but the biological effects are serious.” Two effects of ionizing radiation are somatic and genetic effects.  Somatic effects “take place in the cells and tissues of the individual who was exposed to the ionizing radiation.” Genetic effects focus on the biological changes that if exposed can be passed down through genetics. “When genetic cells are irradiated, the chromosomes or DNA of the cells may be affected which may lead to genetic mutations, chromosome aberrations or changes in the number of chromosomes in the cells.”

http://www.hko.gov.hk/education/dbcp/rad_health/eng/r4_3.htm

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/phys_agents/ionizing.html

Radon Testing

Radon is a radioactive gas. It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and chemically inert. “Radon is formed by the natural radioactive decay of uranium in rock, soil, and water. Once produced, radon moves through the ground to the air about, some remains below the surface and dissolves in water that collects and flows under the grounds surface.” The average indoor radon levels of Athens County, is 5 pCi/L. A pCi stands for picocurie and is a measure of the rate of radioactive decay of radon. “One pCi is one trillionth of a Curie, 0.037 disintegrations per second or 2.22 disintegrations per minute.”

When testing for radon there are two main methods. The most common “involves a passive device such as an activated charcoal test kit that collects radon gas atoms or an alpha track device that has a small strip of special plastic that is marked when hit by radon’s alpha particles. ” Another device is called an electret which has a plastic disc with static charge; they are used only by professional radon inspectors. This is because of the expertise required and the expensive equipment needed for analysis. The second commonly used method is the use of an active device called a continuous radon monitor or a CRM. “This device is mostly used by professional radon inspectors for short term radon testing during a real estate transaction.” There a multiple makes and models of the CRM device and all require training to be used properly. The differences between the two testing methods are cost, and level of expertise needed for proper use.

Radon mitigation methods go by three standards that may be in use by states or proficiency programs. The standards provide guidance on “the discharge shall be at least 10 above grade, feet away from any opening that is less than two feet below the discharge. The piping may also be routed on the outside of the home.”

http://www.nsc.org/NSCDocuments_Advocacy/Fact%20Sheets/Radon-and-Radiation.pdf

ww.radon.com/radon/radon_FAQ.html

http://sosradon.org/reducing-radon-in-your-home#key%20elements

Preventing Noise Induced Hearing Loss

According to the American Hearing Research Foundation it is stated that “noise induced hearing loss is a permanent hearing impairment resulting from prolonged exposure to high levels of noise.” Everyday people are exposed to some kind of noise whether it is the television or traffic, but these noises are at levels that have little to no effect on our hearing. If people are exposed to sounds that are too loud for a brief or extended amount of time it can be extremely harmful to the individual. “These sounds can damage sensitive structures in the inner ear and cause noise induced hearing loss.”

Noise induced hearing loss can be completely preventable. This can be done by using ear plugs and earmuffs. Also, being educated on the hazards that noise can cause to a person is beneficial when going into loud environments. “Intensity of sound is measured in decibels, the scale runs from the faintest sound the human ear can detect, which is labeled 0 decibels to over 180 decibels.” Noise that can cause damaging to a person’s hearing are at or above 85 decibels.

Hearing protection decreases the intensity of sound that may reach an individual’s eardrum. Earplugs are one of the protection measures that can be used to prevent noise induced hearing loss. For earplugs “to be effective they must completely block the ear canal with an airtight seal.” Earplugs come in a variety of different shapes and sizes to fit individual ear canals. Earplugs can be very cheap and purchased at a local store, or they can be very expensive if the person chooses to have them custom made. “Earmuffs go over the entire outer ear to form an air seal so the entire circumference of the ear canal is blocked, and they are held in place by an adjustable band.” If earplugs and or muffs are properly fitted they can reduce noise up to 15 to 30 decibels. 

 http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/noise.aspx

 http://american-hearing.org/disorders/noise-induced-hearing-loss/