We had our first Problem-based learning (PBL) session last week. Students divided into groups are given a medical/health-related problem that they must discuss about and try to solve. Our theme was weight disorders. On a sheet of paper was the stereotypical picture of a sordid looking white boy, engulfing junk food. He was watching the television from up close. Looking at the image, it was common sense at to what the discussion would be about. Obesity, firstly. His sitting posture, a level of habitual comfort, the food that had him surrounded, the distance between him and the TV, the obvious lack of parental supervision, and the inferred isolation due to social stigma. Aided by the facilitator (a great individual surely, will talk about him later), we were able to conjure up a lot of talking points.
It was a tasteless conversation, to be completely honest. Out of nine students, five spoke at most, murmured even. In hopes to impress the facilitator, every speaker was being passively aggressive, trying to get one over each other. Being me, I said words. Some made sense (to me), most were bogged down by the relentless sniveling of a particular student. When the facilitator took over, he made some good points. His mannerism reminded of another professor I had in college. Again, i'll talk about it later. He talked about knowing things, not just lecture notes and textbook knowledge, but, as he called knowledge about the world. He asked around the group about anyone who knew anything on the Brexit issue. I did. I answered promptly. Then he asked about any world cup happening as of currently. I did. The Rugby world cup. I guess he was sort of impressed, I don't exactly remember, but he said that I must be watching a lot of TV (I read the news, not the same thing) and that this will help me. Then he mentioned something about not being enslaved by technology, which I didn't pay attention until five minutes before I started writing this post.
Everyone in the group basically intended to degrade the child in the picture. We kept going over his age as a factor, the nutrients or lack-there-of in the food as a factor, and the obvious physical appearance as a factor resulting in a weight disorder. It is very easy to belittle someone, even someone we don't know, when what we do is an reflection of it. I am typing this post while keeping my laptop close to my face, munching on peanuts like I missed dinner, which I haven't. I had a good dinner, yet I find myself snacking on food, with two devices in front of me. I don;t know, maybe it's just me. I like to think of myself as an advocate against hypocrisy, and I have to admit even I did jump to conclusion at first when I looked at that kid. Like I said in the first para, the posture, the comfort, lack of supervision and unrestricted consumption, and seclusion are all viable factors that can lead to a sedentary life. I don't know if you have ever seen the movie Wall-E, that's where most of humanity is headed. Not me though.
It was a tasteless conversation, to be completely honest. Out of nine students, five spoke at most, murmured even. In hopes to impress the facilitator, every speaker was being passively aggressive, trying to get one over each other. Being me, I said words. Some made sense (to me), most were bogged down by the relentless sniveling of a particular student. When the facilitator took over, he made some good points. His mannerism reminded of another professor I had in college. Again, i'll talk about it later. He talked about knowing things, not just lecture notes and textbook knowledge, but, as he called knowledge about the world. He asked around the group about anyone who knew anything on the Brexit issue. I did. I answered promptly. Then he asked about any world cup happening as of currently. I did. The Rugby world cup. I guess he was sort of impressed, I don't exactly remember, but he said that I must be watching a lot of TV (I read the news, not the same thing) and that this will help me. Then he mentioned something about not being enslaved by technology, which I didn't pay attention until five minutes before I started writing this post.
Everyone in the group basically intended to degrade the child in the picture. We kept going over his age as a factor, the nutrients or lack-there-of in the food as a factor, and the obvious physical appearance as a factor resulting in a weight disorder. It is very easy to belittle someone, even someone we don't know, when what we do is an reflection of it. I am typing this post while keeping my laptop close to my face, munching on peanuts like I missed dinner, which I haven't. I had a good dinner, yet I find myself snacking on food, with two devices in front of me. I don;t know, maybe it's just me. I like to think of myself as an advocate against hypocrisy, and I have to admit even I did jump to conclusion at first when I looked at that kid. Like I said in the first para, the posture, the comfort, lack of supervision and unrestricted consumption, and seclusion are all viable factors that can lead to a sedentary life. I don't know if you have ever seen the movie Wall-E, that's where most of humanity is headed. Not me though.
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