MAT120 Assessments

Hey guys!

I know we covered a lot of material in class today. You guys are on the ball, though! I can already tell you'll do very well in this class.

Just for future reference I wanted to put a majority of that information here. That way, if you have questions about submitting homework or something, all of the information will be right here for you.

Every week you will be completing 3 homework massages. These will begin in Week 3, next week. Client 1 will always be done in class, probably on Tuesday. The remaining two massages will be due the FOLLOWING Thursday.

Your first homework will be done Tuesday, February 4th. The remaining two homework assignments will be due by Thursday, February 13th.

To complete your assessments, you're going to open the "Orthopedic Assessment Form" in the MAT120 course. On the top of the form will be a paragraph with a link to create an account that says "CLICK HERE."

Click on the link before completing anything.

Create an account, and a unique password for that form. Every time you do a homework, click that link. You can use the same username, but change your password for each form you do. That way, if you need to go back and change something in a past form, you can log back in with your username and that specific password, and it will bring the filled form back up again.

After you fill out the form, click "Submit." That form will go directly to Sharon, but you still have to go to a dropbox and let her know you submitted the form so she can grade you.

For instance, say you did your Week 3, Client 2 assessment on Meag's forearm. When you go to complete the form, click the link at the top, use your username and make a password like "meagsforearm" or something. Submit the completed form. Then go to Week 3 in the class, and find the dropbox for Client 2. Write a quick note in the dropbox saying you submitted the form. Sharon will grade you through that dropbox.

If you have to go back to that form for some reason, click on the link at the top of the form and log in using your username and the password "meagsforearm." It will automatically bring up the completed form and you can make whatever changes you need to.

When writing down problems, setting goals, and recording solutions, remember to be specific. For instance:

1. ^ Pain L ankle (5/10).
2. \/ PROM ankle d. flex. 30 %
3. + Tg P tib. ant. (6/10)
4. \/ Cl. edu evident by lack of self-care.

Then set an attainable goal:

ex. \/ Pain (3/10)

And record the results at the end:

ex. M (which stands for met). \/ Pain (2/10)

OR

NM (not met) \/ Pain (4/10)

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to send them to me or Sha. If there's anything I can add to this or change, let me know and I'll work on it right away. I want you guys to have a really good reference in the future, because I know this stuff can be confusing at times.

Have a great weekend :-)

~Jess

MAT Open Lab

Hey everyone!

Today is the first open lab of the semester. I'm not expecting many students to show up, considering you don't have much to work on (yet).

I also realized I haven't given any guidelines to the newer students about the open labs, so here are some rules for the new students, and refresher for the last semester:

~Come to open lab in your uniform (scrubs or polo and khakis).

~If you're planning on doing hands-on work, bring your own sheets!

~Although open lab isn't as strict as the classroom, we still need to act as professionals. Sometimes small school tours will walk through and come in to the clinic.

~Because of that ^ we also need to keep the clinic relatively neat while we're using it. Your stuff doesn't have to be in a locker, but don't leave a mess all over the place.

~Bring all materials (books, etc) to complete desired coursework. If you don't have a computer, we have laptops here.

~Come prepared with questions. If you come in and say to me "I don't understand massage," I can't really help you. If you say, "Can you show me how to use proper body mechanics?" THAT I can help you with.

~If you want to get a homework massage done, you are allowed to bring in a friend/family member. Just remember you have to remain professional.

Last but no least:

~You don't have to be nervous coming into open lab. We actually have a lot of fun here, and I know a lot of tips and tricks, some directly from Sharon and Berly, for passing the class and becoming a successful therapist. Second semester students can help first semester students, and vice versa! Many times I'll have my music playing on the speakers and there will be multiple students in the clinic working with each other and enjoying themselves at the same time. It's not a strict classroom where you have to sit down in silence unless I call on you. Trust me, I couldn't pull that off if I tried!

This is a safe, convenient (and free) space available for you to use for practice. Take advantage of it! It's totally worth it.

Hope to see you soon :-)

~Jess

MAT120 - Postural Evaluations

Hey guys!

I'm so glad to be back :-)

So, like Sharon said, deep tissue massage is a whole different ball game compared to Swedish massage, but we do build on the principles of Swedish, particularly body mechanics, types of massage strokes, and feeling the muscle tissue instead of just seeing it.

However, now we'll be adding an entire assessment component, as well as deeper pressure, new massage strokes for your toolbox, and a whole lot of stretching and hydrotherapy.

In case you want to go back and practice an innominate test, I'm linking the video here so you can watch it and practice at home. And yes, that's me in the video.

MAT 120 Innominate Pelvic Test

I love this class and I know what Sharon expects/looks for throughout the semester. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me.

See you next week!

~Jess

Open Lab

Hey everyone!

The open lab this semester will run from 10am-2pm in the clinic. We had to move it an hour earlier, which actually works out better for most people's schedules, anyway. The first open lab will be next week on Wedensday, January 29th. I hope to see you there!

~Jess

Welcome!

Orientation is this Tuesday! Or, if you're reading this on Tuesday, orientation is today.

I'd like to welcome all of our new students to the program! I hope the name of the blog doesn't scare you. I can't exactly remember why I called this a "survival guide" but it really isn't hard to "survive" this program. In fact, most (if not all) of you will thrive here!

I created this blog last semester with the intention of giving tips to new students so they'd feel comfortable in the program as quickly as possible, and to give some information I wish I'd known when I started. It sort of evolved over the course of the semester, and I plan on adding more pages, one introducing you to the staff, another on local bus routes, anything that I think would be helpful for you guys.

And of course, any constructive criticism is appreciated.

By the middle of the semester it will become more of a blog answering questions you guys have pertaining to massage, the entire program, BCC, or anything else I might be able to help you with. Last semester it was a HUGE success. Along with this I do open labs where you (the students) have a four-hour window to come into clinic on Wednesday and practice whatever you need for free. I'll be available to answer questions and show you different techniques that we might not have time to show you in class.

So welcome to the program! My name is Jessica Smith, I've been an LMT for over a year and I graduated from the Complementary Healthcare program in June of 2013. This will be my second year/4th semester as an SI/tutor for this program. I adore this job and helping you guys out. That's what I'm here for!

Ask Sharon or Kimberly for my cell phone number. I'd rather all of the students have it in case you have a quick question (I usually text back pretty fast). You can also contact me on here or through the Massage Community, but your best bet is texting.

I'm an SI in two classes this semester (as far as I know), I run the open lab, and I also do drop-in hours in the Academic Support Center located on the first floor of the eHealth campus.

If you want one-on-one computer help (or book work, anything but hands-on, really) you can call the Academic Support Center to make an appointment with me. I'm there from 2-5 on Thursdays.

The number for that is the main BCC number (508) 678-2811 ext. 4013, and ask for me. If you forget to make an appointment, I'm a drop-in tutor so I may not have a student and you can drop by and see me. I can't guarantee that I'll be available but I'm there every week on Thursday unless I specify otherwise. And I'll try to let everyone know what days I can't come in as soon as I find out.

Please don't be afraid to ask questions. I can't stress enough that I'm here for you guys if you need me. There is no such thing as a stupid question.

I'm looking forward to another fantastic semester :-)

~Jess

Potluck Pictures

To all my second-semester students on break, I may be a little late but congratulations on completing your finals, and I hope you're enjoying your well-deserved vacation. I wanted to post some of the potluck pictures for you (in case you didn't get any).

To all incoming students: we do a lot of work in this course, but we also have a lot of fun. If you're already enrolled, welcome! I hope you enjoy the class (which doesn't start up til the end of January).

Happy New Year!

~Jess