Extra Blog: break;

[Note: I've done this blog 3 times now due to this Blogger phone app not doing what I want. This is either due to my inability to use phone apps properly, lack of a user friendly design, or the general lack of functionality phones can provide. I'd like to believe it's the last one on that list.]

As college appeoaches its finals week, my 5 hour, bi-weekly homework is finally coming to an end on Monday, Dec 1. What this means is that I will not only get a break from staying up till 3am, trying to finish half of what I'm supposed to accomplish, but that I will have more time to work on my independent component - creating a website using HTML, JavaScript, and a little bit of CSS. However, for the time being, I'm concentrating on finishing the last of this boring homework, writing this blog post, and, most importantly, finishing my UC application so I can submit it before Nov 30th when the UC servers get jammed.

As for my independent component, I am planning to first create a logo, then learn HTML formally through the use of my pretty HTML and CSS book, then design the layout of how I want it to look, and lastly, coding and testing it. I hope to get from this experience a clearer perspective of what a programmer does in the 21st century, what were some things that worked and did not work during this process, and whether my current answers will be stronger or weaker in answering mu EQ. But for the time being, I will (attempt to) enjoy my Thanksgiving break at Las Vegas - walking around during the day; sitting in my room and working on assignments at night.

[Another note: I can't put photos in here, so I can't really format this post with pictures in the way I want. I'll upload a picture here about this app. I don't really know where it will show.  Someone, or maybe in the near future, me, should make an actually intuitive word processing application for mobile phones. But who uses their mobile phones for anykind of seriously formal work? I certainly don't. *looks away from cell phone screen as I type this]

Photo caption: This interface is misleading. If you exit this program without clicking 'done' at the top left, your progress is all erased. It's basically a "save" button, so why not label it "save." I mean, what if I'm not "done" and I want to save? There's no option for that, is there?

Blog 10: EQ

1. Review this. Confirm by stating "I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ."

Essential Question
Once a topic is chosen, the student will develop a working essential question. The purpose of the working essential question is to help the student build a strong foundation of research which will allow him or her to create an essential question that encourages depth and rigor in the chosen topic. An essential question must:

Provide a framework for studies (It calls for breadth and depth of research, Is not a yes/no question)
Take a stance (It allows you to argue some point, Cannot be a recitation of facts or a list)
Format (It is specific, The wording makes sense)

I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

2. Review the following EQs and

Tell us if each meets the rule of three.
Tell why they do or don't. 

a. What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?

Does not meet rule of three

Research is not in depth; can find information to this question with a google search.

Not specific on what "healthy weight loss" is

Answers can be given as a word or as a list (e.g. going on a diet, exercising, sleeping well, ect.)

b. What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?

Meets the rule of three

Format is specific on the topic of "securing a conviction"

Allows research to be in depth towards finding what is "most important" to securing a conviction.

Answer can take a stance on what is most important, answer is larger than just a one word answer since securing a conviction is complex

c. What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?

Does not meet rule of three

Not specific on what customer sanctification is.

Format is ambiguous and confusing; is it asking what is most important in actually doing the customer's hair or developing a style suited to the customer'd interests?

Research can be in depth, but the topic being researched about needs to be clear first.

d. How can an anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?

Meets the rule of three

Gives frame work of study to figure out the best way to treat chronic pain

Specific on the topic of chronic pain

Allows stance on what methods and ways can BEST treat the pain, not just simply treating it

3. Based on your review of the rule of 3 and your experience with assessing four EQs, please write another draft EQ for your senior project. The senior team will be meeting with students shortly for EQ revision and approval; you are expected to bring your research notebook to that meeting with your EQ draft written inside in pencil.

How can an individual become a successful computer programmer in the 21st century?

Blog #9: Lesson 1 Reflection

1. Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your Lesson 1 Presentation and why?

I am most proud of speaking exactly what I wanted to say at the pace I wanted to say. I had enough information planned to extend as far as 15 minutes or more, but I was able to quickly omit, speed up, and leave time for me to get all my points across in ten minutes. I am proud that I had enough preperation and knew my topic well enough to be able to do this.

2. Questions to Consider
       a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 1 Presentation (self-assessment)?

       AE/P

       b.     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 1 component contract.

Professionalism:

• Volume/enunciation: Had clear volume and clear speech, fumbled over words a few times
• Body language/eye contact: Felt relaxed and move to the boards as I needed to. Looked as various places in the room and not just one spot
• Engages audience/content clarity: Engaged audience twice, used presentation method as an example in itself for my 1st answer, and clearly enunciated what I was going to talk about and what the purpose was for.

Justification of Foundation:

• Application of research made evident by referencing specific examples: Cited or showed about 10 examples of content through props and pictures.
• At least one published research cited: Mentioned 3 printed sources, 1 book, 2 internet articles
• Mentorship and/or interview referenced: Referenced mentorship twice, one for suggesting the book I read and one of her actual experience in the work place.

I deserve an AE/P because I met and went above and beyond the listed P requirements on the contract by doing extensive preparation, engaging the audience in meaningful exercises, and incorporating the presentation itself as actual content of my presentation (Answer to the EQ of having foundation knowledge; Teaching basic fundamental concepts in the presentation) while making this apparent to the audience. I also had fun teaching during my time up at the front of the room.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 1?

Getting the audience involved and getting multiple participants to answer questions. Also, content all related to each other and I was able to explain something complex in to simplistic terms the audience could relate to and understand. Also, the powerpoint worked to show examples of my topic, rather than containing content in itself. Knowing what I wanted to say and studying the topic thoroughly helped tremendously.

4.  (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 1?

What didn't work was the whole paste code on the white board with tape. It didn't work because it became too much of a hassle and would have wasted too much time. I had to skip part of putting the whole code up on the board. If I could go back and do something differently, I would have reminded myself that I could use technology to do that code, or that I could use the doc cam rather than big pieces of paper. Also, I would not use a powerpoint since I didn't really need it; I knew the examples and knew what I needed to say. I could have visually shown the examples on the doc cam, but I wasn't aware that I could use when I was planning for the lesson.