Online Resources (MAT110 Students)

Welcome to the program!

My name is Jessica Smith, I'm a Licensed Massage Therapist and a tutor in the Therapeutic Massage program. I've met some of you already, but there are many of you I still have to meet. Hopefully I will be able to meet all of you next semester!

I normally blog every week, different resources for the massage classes. Since there is only one massage class at the moment, I probably won't be blogging every week, but I did want to provide you guys with a few online resources that may help you in your online classes.

The first line of links is for free word processing software. That's kind of irrelevant now, because all students have free access to Office365, which gives you programs such as Word and Powerpoint. You can set up your account through them (if you haven't already), by going to your AccessBCC and clicking on the "E-mail" tab. I'm keeping the other links just in case you want them, but you'll have free access to Microsoft Word as long as you're a student.

Free word processing software 1, 2, and 3 (or just use Google Docs)

Make your own online flashcards or use other people’s here and here.

Turn a web page printer-friendly here and here.

Brainstorm on this free online white board.

Multiple different online calculators.

Store your online documents here.

If you need a quick place to paste some text, use this.

Fine-tune your typing skills with this fun game.

Browse tons of free documentaries here.

I also want to add that I am a tutor in the Purchase Street campus. I have a large availability this semester, and all you have to do is call the Academic Support Center at extension 4013 and ask for an appointment with me. Tutoring begins next Monday (September 8th).

Good luck this semester!

~Jess

MAT 126 - CCBC Photo Gallery

The semester is finally over!

I just had my final massage of the semester, and I'm now in the Academic Support Center, looking at all these awesome pictures from the Cape Cod Bay Challenge. I already miss you guys! I hope that we can do a little reunion down the road. You were all awesome SMT's and I know you will be even better LMT's :-)

Here are the pictures I've taken/collected from the CCBC. Save and share as you please!

Best of luck to all of you <3

~Jess

To All Students - Facebook Advertising

Hey guys,

I want to start out this post by saying I have a Facebook profile AND a Facebook business page. I'd also like to point out that some people I know actually have clients visit their business simply because, as they said, "I saw you on Facebook."

Personally, I have a little over 70 "likes," mostly from friends & family and I have a few people who interact on my page constantly... when I remember to update it.

Facebook is constantly asking me to pay money to "boost" my posts, or to get more "likes." I've never bothered, because I didn't really know how that worked and I figured any "likes" I received now would be from credible people that I know, instead of random strangers who just enjoy clicking the "like" button on everything they see.

I still have a few random strangers who've "liked" my page that never interact with me and I've never heard of them in my life. But it doesn't bother me.

Anyway, today I was browsing some of my favorite YouTube channels and I had to click on this video, because it pertained to Facebook and I use it all the time! It's 9 minutes long, but if you're considering using Facebook as primary advertising source, especially if you plan on investing money in it, please watch this first.

I'm not discrediting making a business Facebook page. In fact, I'm all for it, since people are more likely to go to your business if they can find you online and feel more familiar with you. And nearly everybody I know uses Facebook nowadays.

Facebook is a great way to quickly share information and to use social media as an advertising tool. But as the video says, be careful not to buy popularity. Those "likes" could be totally fake and could actually hurt your page. Rely on sharing your posts, or asking your friends and family to share your posts and your page, instead of paying Facebook to have fake people "like" it.

This was an interesting bit of information that I just wanted to share. What are your ideas on business advertising?

~Jess

MAT120 - Final Practicum Reminders

Hey guys!

The semester is already almost over (Sharon said it would fly by). Final practicums are this Saturday!

This Open Lab was supposed to be used for final review, and I know some of you were working in the make-up clinic so you couldn't come to Open Lab, but I only had one student show up today (so far).

I wanted to post a couple of reminders for you guys that might save you a few points during finals. Remember that none of us are trying to trick you, and we've gone over the scenarios plenty of times, so you don't have to panic over it!

Finals Reminders:

~ Don't forget the simple things! Be on time, clip your nails, wash your hands thoroughly, and have your client put all of their belongings away!

~Keep communication open with your client. Ask constant questions, keep checking in, keep obtaining pain scales.

~ Always test both sides of the body when doing assessments, so you have a baseline to compare the bad side.

~ Make sure you can effectively explain, locate, and treat trigger points! Don't forgot the isometric contraction/passive stretch!

~ Make sure you know the proper procedure when it comes to hydrotherapy.

~ You should probably do ROM and a MMT.

You have the scenarios to practice with. Go through them! I'm available by appointment only for one-on-one tutoring in the Academic Support Center. If you want to meet with me just to discuss the practicum and review the scenarios/notes/tests, send me a text. I have limited availability but I will try to work something out with you if you need it.

Good luck!
~Jess

A Couple Of Things

I'm here in open lab... And I know two students are on their way but other than that, nobody is here!

Today I'm hoping to review the pin & stretches we practiced on Saturday (for the rotator cuff).

I'm also hoping to review trigger point competencies and get a couple done. Everybody in the class has at least attempted the 1st competency. Nobody has done the 2nd on trigger points as of right now, and now we have a 3rd one added for hydrotherapy. These aren't graded assignments but they are mandatory for the MAT120 class.

If you can't make it to an open lab to complete the competencies, you have to see me during class to complete them.  Please contact me, either via text/e-mail or during class to plan when we can get them done. :-)

And just a tip for your massages (Swedish and Deep Tissue): when you're bringing your fingers up the neck and into the occiput, don't stop at the hairline. Most people stop at the hairline and it makes me feel short-changed. Stop above the hairline/occipital ridge. THAT'S where some of those muscles attach, so you don't get a full release unless you keep going.

Hopefully I see most of you today. One student is already here :-)

~Jess

Last Week in Open Lab

Last week in open lab, we did something a little different. Instead of me writing a deep tissue treatment outline on the board, I wrote the main categories and had the students brainstorm their own ideas. This is what we came up with (the notes on the right were something different). 

You can use this as a reference if you'd like! I loved some of the unique answers that were given that I've never even thought of! If you don't understand some of them... maybe you should come to open lab! ;-)

~Jess

MAT120 - Orthopedic Assessment Screenshot Tutorial

Hey guys! I'm hoping this will clarify how to do an orthopedic assessment.

I'm sorry the last one was cut off on the right. That was because, when I typed out my treatment, it moved the entire screen to the left and I couldn't get it all the way back to the right.

For the last part, "Techniques Used," you HAVE to check off all of the boxes and write something in them or it won't let you submit. Just type in "n/a." In the example above, I didn't do that, and it didn't let me submit the note.

If you have any other questions, let me know. I may edit some of this if Sharon tells me she wants me to change it.

Also, don't forget that you can't just complete this and think you're done. For each assessment you do, you have to go to the dropbox and submit it there. For instance, this note example I did was for "Week 4, Client 1." After you submit this note, go into the MAT120 class under week 4, find the dropbox for Client 1, and type "Done" in the text box. Submit that. That is how Sharon will grade you and provide feedback.

You're all doing great! :-)

~Jess