Semester Reflection
This semester, I feel I could have improved on my productivity. Mainly when it comes to the small writing assignments on paper. I had a lot of trouble getting motivated to do those. I want to improve in my ability to complete assignments that I am not as motivated in. I feel that I worked extremely well with the time that I was given. The main contribution that I made to the team was in the print shop. I learned and began to perfect the art of backing the photos with Andrew. This was crucial to the exhibition. I got a lot of work done this semester compared to others. I am looking forward to perfecting/learning more spanish. If i could re-do a part of this semester it would be getting into even more projects.
Week 13
Link: Final Writing Piece Critiqued
Critique Reflection
Senan and Kai W were the two students who critiqued my final writing piece. The Biggest piece of feedback they gave back to me was small grammatical errors. Also, the idea to break my writing piece up into different paragraphs.
Senan and Kai W were the two students who critiqued my final writing piece. The Biggest piece of feedback they gave back to me was small grammatical errors. Also, the idea to break my writing piece up into different paragraphs.
Link: Week 13 Planner
Week 13 Reflection
I only went to school on Friday this week. Monday-Thursday was spent climbing in Bishop Ca. It was an extremely successful trip for climbing and was able to capture some great images. Sadly none of the images had correlation to the project. On Friday I came back and had a ton of work to do on the blog and final writing piece.
I only went to school on Friday this week. Monday-Thursday was spent climbing in Bishop Ca. It was an extremely successful trip for climbing and was able to capture some great images. Sadly none of the images had correlation to the project. On Friday I came back and had a ton of work to do on the blog and final writing piece.
Week 12
Link: First Draft of Final Writing piece
Link: Week 12 Planner
Week 12 Reflection
This week I really focusing on my blog and processing photo/video. I had a ton of blog work to do so I started on that. Monday through Wednesday I worked on making up my blog. I had not completed some past work so I made it up and worked on this weeks. Next I had recently gone in climbing trip and had one coming up. So this means clearing a ton of data off my cards and organizing it. So I did this for the remainder of the week.
This week I really focusing on my blog and processing photo/video. I had a ton of blog work to do so I started on that. Monday through Wednesday I worked on making up my blog. I had not completed some past work so I made it up and worked on this weeks. Next I had recently gone in climbing trip and had one coming up. So this means clearing a ton of data off my cards and organizing it. So I did this for the remainder of the week.
Week 11
Link: Final Writing Piece
Week 11 Reflection
This week I worked on fixing up my blog. I had a lot of work to do on my final writing piece. So I first wanted to work on that. I had a little bit of work done, but i needed a lot of work on it. I asked a few friends to critique it. Next I wanted I had to work on processing photos and the song analysis. Although I did not do much work on the song analysis, I was able to complete a massive amount of photo processing.
This week I worked on fixing up my blog. I had a lot of work to do on my final writing piece. So I first wanted to work on that. I had a little bit of work done, but i needed a lot of work on it. I asked a few friends to critique it. Next I wanted I had to work on processing photos and the song analysis. Although I did not do much work on the song analysis, I was able to complete a massive amount of photo processing.
Week 10
How Rocks Are Made
All rocks are made with heat and pressure. The amount of heat and pressure define the type of rock it will be. For example, diamonds are made from much more pressure than sandstone. This explains the density of the rock. But, to explain the density we can go a little deeper. When we were learning about how rocks were formed, I asked Andrew, what changes the density of a rock? His answer was more in-depth than just heat and pressure. The density boils all the way down to how the molecules are shaped. For example, a less dense rocks molecules will have offset shapes and when compacted will leave space in between them. But, a diamonds molecules will have square shaped molecules, when combined they fit together extremely tightly. This creates an extremely dense rock.
All rocks are made with heat and pressure. The amount of heat and pressure define the type of rock it will be. For example, diamonds are made from much more pressure than sandstone. This explains the density of the rock. But, to explain the density we can go a little deeper. When we were learning about how rocks were formed, I asked Andrew, what changes the density of a rock? His answer was more in-depth than just heat and pressure. The density boils all the way down to how the molecules are shaped. For example, a less dense rocks molecules will have offset shapes and when compacted will leave space in between them. But, a diamonds molecules will have square shaped molecules, when combined they fit together extremely tightly. This creates an extremely dense rock.
Link: Week 10 Planner
Week 10 Reflection
This week, I worked a lot on outside projects, again. I had a competition coming up, so admittedly my focus was a little off. At the end of the week, I began to learn how to process astro images from Andrew. This proved to be extremely challenging. Far more challenging than I had expected. Other than that, feedback from peers had began to come in on the website. So I had started working on that ASAP. After the first round of feedback, it was apparent to me how important peer feedback was. It was amazing how many great ideas that had, also help full feedback. It was crucial for the website and any other big projects I had.
This week, I worked a lot on outside projects, again. I had a competition coming up, so admittedly my focus was a little off. At the end of the week, I began to learn how to process astro images from Andrew. This proved to be extremely challenging. Far more challenging than I had expected. Other than that, feedback from peers had began to come in on the website. So I had started working on that ASAP. After the first round of feedback, it was apparent to me how important peer feedback was. It was amazing how many great ideas that had, also help full feedback. It was crucial for the website and any other big projects I had.
Link: Graphic Organizer
Week 9
Phases of Matter: Oobleck.
Oobleck was a recent subject of interest for me. When handling it I was amazed by how it acted. When asked to explain how or why it behaved like this, I would have to dig deep into my understanding of phases of matter. Overall, oobleck behaves as more of a liquid, in my opinion. I say this because except when put under pressure or smacked it acted like a liquid, this is the majority of the time. The only way I can explain this is, how the atoms behave. The atoms of oobleck are large and but are still able to slide past each other, like a liquid. But when put under pressure these atoms compress together forming like a solid.
When we did the experiment of turning dry ice into snow, we were being shown phases changing. Phases change with heat and pressure. How the dry ice changed to snow was with pressure. When pressurized to such an extreme state dry ice in compressed into a snow like material. When you look at the Drake equation there should be life everywhere around us. So the question is, why don't we? The Fermi Paradox dives into this. If there should be life all around us where is it? Could it be hiding from us? Could we be experiments in some alien scientist's lab? All this is brought up in the Fermi Paradox.
When we did the experiment of turning dry ice into snow, we were being shown phases changing. Phases change with heat and pressure. How the dry ice changed to snow was with pressure. When pressurized to such an extreme state dry ice in compressed into a snow like material. When you look at the Drake equation there should be life everywhere around us. So the question is, why don't we? The Fermi Paradox dives into this. If there should be life all around us where is it? Could it be hiding from us? Could we be experiments in some alien scientist's lab? All this is brought up in the Fermi Paradox.
Link: Week 9 Planner
Week 9 reflection
Week nines main focus was on developing my website. Our due date was at the end of the week so it was important that we finished it. The next step was to send it out to friends and family for critique. Starting Monday we had a bunch of work to do. Everyday during and after school was spent getting all the detail perfect. For anyone who has dabbled in designing a website they understand the insane amount of work it can be. But, we did end up finishing it by Friday. We were extremely pleased with this and sent it out for critique the day after.
Week 8
Spider 6x6 writing piece
The process of capturing this spider was really fun. We set out with the idea to capture just any insect. Sure that the unseen details would create an extremely captivating photo. Something that I have really learned to appreciate in photography is when a photo shows you something common, in a new light. Something you may have seen as part of everyday life and taken for granted. This type of photography is extremely easy, when it comes to micro photography. Microphotography will always show you something more in-depth, than the human eye. The first thing I should point out about spiders is that they are not insects. Commonly mistaken for insects, spiders have eight legs, making them arachnids. If you look closely at the photos you may notice the eyes as well. How they sense things around them is actually very interesting. While most have six to eight eyes, there eyesight is commonly not the best. Usually they have to rely on other senses, to see the world around them. Vibration, touch, and taste is how spiders will generally locate their prey.
Solar Blog Post
When looking at images of the sun, I am first taken to the amazing surface texture. From flare to hot pools, it is all extremely interesting. The sun is mainly made up of carbon and hydrogen. These are able to react at such a high level that they can form something like the sun. There is also a small percent of the sun that isn’t carbon or hydrogen, but is just a combination of other elements. These elements include things like iron, magnesium, and sulfur. The process of of seeing sun light begins in the center, with protons. For these protons to escape the core it takes a surmountable amount of time. But once at the surface, only takes a short amount of time to reach us. This light that we see is on the electromagnetic scale as ultraviolet light. This ultraviolet light has been filtered through our atmosphere as well, before we see it.
Link: Week 8 Planner
Week 8 reflection
This week I had a ton of work to do on blogpost and the MSC website. Our due date for the website is next week so, that was a big focus. Although, I had began to fall behind on blogpost, especially in chemistry, because of this website. So, I made sure I finished or put in a ton of work on those. Lately, I believe I could improve on separating my work better. I get to focused on working on one specific things and forget about all the other things due.
Genocide Post
The Cambodian genocide really caught my interest because of the shear size in death toll. I also found the subject of genocide interesting because, other than the holocaust, it is not a heavily covered subject in schools. It is sad, but still extremely interesting. To understand what makes people motivated to kill, such mass numbers, while thinking what they're doing is right perplexus me. The Cambodian genocide began with Khmer Rouge overthrowing Cambodia's government. He was a communist, with an idea of building a perfect form of Cambodia. So of course he began killing all who disagreed with him. He was well known for being extremely unforgiving and would kill for anything from disagreeing with him, to something you wear. The death toll by the end of his reign was near 2 million. If local Vietnamese communists had not overthrown him, we could have seen a even more massive death toll.
Week 7
How To Make an Element: 4 Questions
1: How have scientists been able to create the 24 new elements?
2: Why does the periodic table of elements ignore neutrons and electrons?
3: How is there another way for plutonium to occur other than naturally?
4: Why do some stars radiate more energy than they can produce?
1: How have scientists been able to create the 24 new elements?
2: Why does the periodic table of elements ignore neutrons and electrons?
3: How is there another way for plutonium to occur other than naturally?
4: Why do some stars radiate more energy than they can produce?
Getting That Shot: Work Sheet
Link: Week 7 Planner
Weekly Reflection
This week was compiled of a lot of make up work. Because last week I finished my time in the Grand Canyon. So the first day was mainly processing photos, and catching up on math work. Tuesday I began making up the blog work I was missing. Wednesday I had to start planning photos because we are falling behind there. We are planning to capture an image of 4 water balloons popping at once. Then Thursday I finished all my blog work. What was working well was I was following the plan really well. I think I could improve in the field of staying focused for a while. I always get bored and start processing photos.
This week was compiled of a lot of make up work. Because last week I finished my time in the Grand Canyon. So the first day was mainly processing photos, and catching up on math work. Tuesday I began making up the blog work I was missing. Wednesday I had to start planning photos because we are falling behind there. We are planning to capture an image of 4 water balloons popping at once. Then Thursday I finished all my blog work. What was working well was I was following the plan really well. I think I could improve in the field of staying focused for a while. I always get bored and start processing photos.
Week 6
Link: Gun Violence Writing
Link: Scientific Writing
Link: Week 6 Planner
Weekly Reflection
This week was the most productive yet. We had planned and executed our micro photos. This was important because we were beginning to fall behind in our photos. We ended up taking photos of a spider, flower, and pinsir bug. These were all really interesting to photograph because you don't understand how complex these things are because of their size. It was really eye opening to see them at this angle. Also I had the opportunity to visit the Grand Canyon this week. We learned a lot and did a ton of meaningful work. Overall it was a very productive week.
This week was the most productive yet. We had planned and executed our micro photos. This was important because we were beginning to fall behind in our photos. We ended up taking photos of a spider, flower, and pinsir bug. These were all really interesting to photograph because you don't understand how complex these things are because of their size. It was really eye opening to see them at this angle. Also I had the opportunity to visit the Grand Canyon this week. We learned a lot and did a ton of meaningful work. Overall it was a very productive week.
Week 5
Link: Weekly Planner
Planner Reflection
This was the first week we had our weekly planner. At first it was hard for me to get used to me planning everything out day by day. Just because I am more of a last minute person. So I guess this is good for me. But over all I did pretty well with missing two days of school. I feel that I could have worked better with my group. I never really collaborated with them, so I could have done better there. Next week I want to do a better job of working on my planner earlier and working on my project more.
This was the first week we had our weekly planner. At first it was hard for me to get used to me planning everything out day by day. Just because I am more of a last minute person. So I guess this is good for me. But over all I did pretty well with missing two days of school. I feel that I could have worked better with my group. I never really collaborated with them, so I could have done better there. Next week I want to do a better job of working on my planner earlier and working on my project more.
Light Post
There are two types of light, reflective and emitted. Both are pretty close to what the words describe them as. Reflective light is when the atom deflects the waves hitting it. For example green is a reflective light. But on the other side, emitted light is when the atoms contains the light and when it is released, it results in light. The colors are all on a spectrum of waves. How these waves react with atoms is how we see light. This is why when there is a lot of smog in the air, the sunsets are know to be much more vibrant. This is because the particles in smog are large. When these waves hit the particles, they are dispersed creating much more vibrant colors. An example of this, when you shine light through a glass prism it is dipurced into the rainbow. This helps us understand the universe because each element emits waves that we can receive and then identify. We can study and break apart far away stars and anything that emits waves. Scientists have also been able to use this information to calculate many other things. Scientists have been also been able to identify the size and density of foreign objects. This has become one of the main way that scientists have been able to study the universe.
There are two types of light, reflective and emitted. Both are pretty close to what the words describe them as. Reflective light is when the atom deflects the waves hitting it. For example green is a reflective light. But on the other side, emitted light is when the atoms contains the light and when it is released, it results in light. The colors are all on a spectrum of waves. How these waves react with atoms is how we see light. This is why when there is a lot of smog in the air, the sunsets are know to be much more vibrant. This is because the particles in smog are large. When these waves hit the particles, they are dispersed creating much more vibrant colors. An example of this, when you shine light through a glass prism it is dipurced into the rainbow. This helps us understand the universe because each element emits waves that we can receive and then identify. We can study and break apart far away stars and anything that emits waves. Scientists have also been able to use this information to calculate many other things. Scientists have been also been able to identify the size and density of foreign objects. This has become one of the main way that scientists have been able to study the universe.
Week 4
DIY Microscope
Our group was planning on building a cardboard holder for our phone. It would have slots cut in it, so you can adjust focusing. We designed it to have an 3 x 7inch base, with 2 inch slots cut in the end of each side. Then 2 x 5inch slots of cardboard will stick out of it. These pieces will have slots for the bottom piece with specimen on them. Then we will have an 2x5 piece with a hole holding the phone. The phone will have a bobby pin with lens taped to the outside.When looking at these images I really learned that everything is relative. Something that seems so small and meaningless actually have so much amazing detail to them. This exercise just made me think about how much smaller can we get? It would be cool to grab really high powered microscope to look even deeper into everyday things.
DIY Design
Acrylic Backed PhotoThis picture is of the main meadow at Mt. Laguna, from the other side of the campground. I chose this image because I really like the colors in it. The green of the grass and trees, that slowly bend into the red, blue, and purple of the sky really looks nice. Also it really shows what it looked like there during that sunset. It is hard to truly show what things look like through photos, so I really liked how the photo looked.
The processing of this image was what really made it come to life. First I pulled it up onto photoshop. I noticed it may have some potential because of the composition. I started by the usual, slightly bringing the brightness down and contrast up. Next I pulled highlights down and played with shadows, whites, and blacks. Once I got the general photo together. I really began to go into detail. With the magic wand tool I selected the sky and clouds. Really pulled the vibrance and deeper colors on them. But to make sure there was good separation I next selected the foreground and tree line. I turned up cyan, green, and blue. Finally, Andrew helped me patch up some messy areas that magic wand didn’t catch, with the band aid tool. Then, it was off to the printer. |
Week 3
Laguna Photo
This trip to Mt. Laguna helped me learn a lot. I found it really helped me learn more about photography. Not only the technical aspects of it, but also the fact that you really can’t control everything. Sadly during this trip we had a large cloud front, preventing the main shots I was planning on getting. Although this was frustrating, I ended up getting one of my best shots ever. I also was completely planning for a astro shot. As you can see, my best photo ended up being a landscape of the meadow. I chose this photo because I really like the vastness of the meadow with the bright sunset above it. It really captures what it looked like to be there. It had actually been a frame of a timelapse I was trying to capture. But when looking over the images I found it was a much better still photo. This goes to teach you, even when things don’t work out the way you planned. You can still end up getting one of your best shots. 10 years from now I will think back onto this trip. It will have taught me to not be so frustrated with things I can’t control like clouds. Even to use these things, like the clouds, to my advantage like I did in the photo. For my next outing I would still like to use the RASA. This new telescope could really be the next big step in out deep field photography. These improved deep field images and hopefully a great sunset to milky way timelapse will be a big step step in my photography/videography.
Astronomy Documentation Plan
On this trip to Laguna I have a few objectives in mind. One being an timelapse from sunset to the rise of the milky way in the meadow. The second being a shot of the Andromeda galaxy with the new RASA scope. I believe we will be able to capture Andromeda galaxy like we never have before. I am excited for both of these because i'm going to try to make them things that people have never done before. This will be a little more difficult with the timelapse because this is a common thing to do. But I want to find an new angle that makes it much better.
Week 2
Laser Microscopes
Link: Laser Microscope Reflection
My Quatrain (8 lines of Poerty)
When I'm coming home and I smell it from out the door
The anticipation is high, I can wait no more
As I walk up the steps and through the door
As I walk in, I see it there across the floor.
Pasta, it's what get me out of bed in the morning
Without it I would be mourning
If it has been a few weeks without it I should be forewarning
Because,most people would find my love for pasta slightly concerning
When I'm coming home and I smell it from out the door
The anticipation is high, I can wait no more
As I walk up the steps and through the door
As I walk in, I see it there across the floor.
Pasta, it's what get me out of bed in the morning
Without it I would be mourning
If it has been a few weeks without it I should be forewarning
Because,most people would find my love for pasta slightly concerning
Week 1
Poem
Moment of truth
By Gang Starr
Actions have reactions, don't be quick to judge
You may not know the hardships people don't speak of
It's best to step back, and observe with couth
For we all must meet our moment of truth
Moment of truth
By Gang Starr
Actions have reactions, don't be quick to judge
You may not know the hardships people don't speak of
It's best to step back, and observe with couth
For we all must meet our moment of truth
I chose this poem because Gang Starr is my favorite hip hop group. They are especially well know for clever lyrics. For this reason i thought they would be perfect for poetry. I'm not sure this poem really makes me feel a certain way. I think it's cool that they were able to create lyrics with such complexity and depth. It makes me think about all the true genius's out there that are just stuck in the ghetto with no way of escaping, that's messed up. I think this relates to everyone, its just saying everyone got something there dealing with. You got to remember that before you go off judging them.
Telescope
Telescope Reflection
I learned a lot about lens and general construction through building this telescope. We decided to go with a PVC construction because this would be the strongest compared to other paper designs we saw. We ran into a few problems with converting bigger pipes to smaller ones. But with a little bit of think tanking and help from Andrew we figured it out. Overall the project went really well, all the problems we ran into we were able to figure out relatively quickly. I learned how telescopes work, also that for the most part they really aren't the most complicated things. I would like to continue to build bigger, better, and different telescopes.
I learned a lot about lens and general construction through building this telescope. We decided to go with a PVC construction because this would be the strongest compared to other paper designs we saw. We ran into a few problems with converting bigger pipes to smaller ones. But with a little bit of think tanking and help from Andrew we figured it out. Overall the project went really well, all the problems we ran into we were able to figure out relatively quickly. I learned how telescopes work, also that for the most part they really aren't the most complicated things. I would like to continue to build bigger, better, and different telescopes.
Wonderings of Space
In class we recently discussed elements of everything around us. During this discussion Andrew talked about black holes. I have always been really interested in black holes, mainly because I do not know much about them. He talked about how if two people were dancing, as one got closer to the black hole time would slow down for them. Until eventually, to the person away from the black hole, they would have stopped moving. The person near the black hole would then see the whole universe unfold in front of them. This was really hard for me to understand, how can you see the universe unfold. Also, the hole theory of how black holes work is amazing to me. I would like to do more around them, to learn more.