In this lab, I worked in a group of three to successfully dissect and analyze a pig’s external and internal parts. We assigned each other roles and responsibilities, and my group was able to understand my reasons for avoiding cutting open the pig. Instead, my roles consisted of setting up the area, cleaning up after the pig, and the clean up after the lab. I was in charge of gathering the tools -scalpels, probes, and tweezers. I was also tasked with taking care of the preservative fluid that came out of the pig. Towards the end of our dissection, all of us equally helped with the cleaning but I had the responsibility of keeping the pig away. I would improve next time by thoroughly reading and listening to the instructions of the lab and by having more courage to experience cutting the pig. My group for this lab consisted of people whom I have closely worked with in the past therefore communication went smoothly. I was able to confidently share ideas on how to effectively dissect the pig without much resistance because my group was open to feedback. In return, I supported my members by working on the tasks assigned to me. We were able to work towards disagreements by giving constructive feedback and working towards projecting these feedbacks into our work.
Thinking and Core Competency
In the pig dissection lab, we carefully examined the pig’s internal organs to determine how everything worked. We worked as a team, comparing what we saw to what we had studied previously. We also researched on how various sections of the pig’s body interacted and worked together. This allowed us to make better decisions and comprehend the anatomy of the pig. We had aslo made smart decisions about how to properly dissect the pig after discussing and sharing our observations.
Personal and Social Core Competency
During the pig dissection lab, I wanted to ensure that my group members felt supported and comfortable. If someone seemed unsure or had questions, I’d share what I knew and offer advice. We worked as a team, helping each other out as necessary. I also made an effort to express gratitude for everyones hardwork. Creating an fun environment not only made the lab enjoyable but also improved our learning and success as a group.
For this project, I started by gathering information by researching thoroughly. I used materials that were provided , such as pdfs and notes, along with browsing the interent for more information to expand my research. I organized my ideas/thoughts in a chart then transfered my information on Canva, presented in a poster. One of the struggles I faced while creating this project was figuring out how to fit a lot of text and image while making it look cohsive and appealing. I overcame this by taking a couple of steps back and reimagining my ideas. It took a long time for me to make a design I was satistfied with. An area for growth would be comprehending information to distinguish the immediate, underlying, and long-term cause and consequences. In the end, I was able to present information and ideas in an oragnized way.
Throughout the first term, I worked in many different groups to achieve a common goal. I collaborated with my group members to summarize ideas and project these ideas in our work. I can take on roles and resposnibilites in the group. I support my peers by listening to their ideas attentively and respectfully. I can commuicate with the in a disagreemetn by giving constructive feedback. I can also recieve and act on feedbacks that are directed to me. However something I need to work on is identifying criteria that I can use to analyze evidence and experimenting different ways of doing things. I can work on this by figuring out if the evidencce is supporting my idea and if the evidence is related to what I’m trying to understand.
In this course, I was able to work with people that I was not familiar with at first. I was able to engage in the group activities and contribute some ideas on how to solve certain questions. Whenever it isn’t my turn to answer, I still give my full attention so that I am able to figure out how to answer that certain question.As a group, we reflected our notes into our work which enabled our group to finish almost every question. We worked well together and the people in my group managed to make every unit easier for me to understand.
Learning and using math Vocabulary
I was able to understand and use math vocabulary in this course. During a previous write up, I was able showcase my knowledge and incorporate math vocabulary in my work. When reading the workbook or going over the notes, I am able to understand the terms used. However in the workbook, I still encounter words that I don’t understand. I use my knowledge of different math vocabulary in quizes and tests as well as Photomath and the internet when I need to get more understanding of a unit. I sometimes have trouble understanding certain terms. In that case, I would typically ask for assistance from the teacher or my classmates.
Dealing with Challenges
A major struggle I encountered this semester for math is time management. In class, I manage my time efficiently and attempt to finish most my work however I come across questions that take up most my class time. At home, I attempt to do unfinished questions from that day or from previous chapters. If time at home isn’t enough, I try to dedicate at least one flex block for math each week. Math often takes me longer to understand and it also takes up much of my time so I always end up pushing it aside to do other work which causes my work to pile and it ends up doubling my work.
Advice
My advice to anyone taking Pre-Calc 11 would be to focus in class. You might not be occupied with your phone however you still need to give your full attention. Dont get distracted by other thoughts and try your best to focus. Asking quwsrions is also really important. When your stuck or ran out of options, it is better to asl help from people around you or the tescher. Lastly, when you study for a test remember to look at previous groupworks to get a feeling of what the test is like.
I made great effort into making sure I was sharing accurate information for this project and presented this new knowledge in a poster using Canva. I carried out a detailed research about my god and ensured that my sources were trusted. I believe that I was able to provide a sufficient amount of evidence that show how the god was associated with historical events, their religious and spiritual importance along with their long-lasting and widespread impact. An obstacle I encountered was the lack of certified websites and information. It took me a minimum of 30 mins to be able to finish a single section about my god. Lastly, If I could change anything, I would use my class time wisely in order to cut off workload.
Core Competency
In this project, I demonstrated Creative and Reflective Thinking Skills. I was able to create my own template for the poster. I came up with the color scheme and theme on my own. I was able to learn more about Ancient Egyptian Beliefs by exploring various sources. I was able to acquire new information and combine it with basic, known information to form a conclusion. I assessed data, connected it to related information and proved my understanding of it in my own words in a poster. Overall, I was able to deliver my information accurately.
In the formula y= a(x-h)^2 +k , ‘a’ determines the width and direction of a parabola‘s opening. The parabola becomes more compressed than the parent function if a>1. The parabola becomes more stretched than the parent function if a<1. In my given equation, a= -2. The ‘a’ is a negative therefore it flips and opens downwards. If the ‘a’ in my equation was a positive, the parabola would open upwards. ‘h’ tells us the shift of the parabola horizontally. If ‘h’ is negative (-) it shifts to the left. Likewise, if ‘h’ is positive (+) it shifts to the right. My h= -7 therefore it shifts to the left. The vertical shift of the parabola is determined by the value of ‘k’. If ‘k’ is a negative (-) it shifts down, if ‘k’ is a positive (+) it shifts up. k= -2 in my equation therefore it shifts down. In addition, both ‘h’ and ‘k’ also tells us the vertex of a parabola. ‘h’ gives us the x value of the vertex while ‘k’ gives us the y value of the vertex.
Self- Assessment
I was able to represent the mathematical idea in words and in a graph. For this assignment, I made sure to be able to explain the significance of a, h and k using mathematical vocabulary. I made sure to incorporate words such as compressed and stretched to describe parabolas. I was able to accomplish this by referring to the notes. I remembered to show both parent function and my equation graphed to show a visual representation of both equations to give proper understanding. I properly showcased my graphs and ensured that they were the appropriately cropped and sized.
For this assignment I demonstrated Communication and Thinking Skills. I had to collaborate on making a Social Psychology Monopoly. With a partner, we were able to work together to reach a goal. I was able to do the work I was tasked with doing. We split the work evenly amongst ourselves to achieve a suitable outcome. We were able to work well as a team and we did so in just a matter of days. My partner and I were able to communicate properly.
For this assignment, I had to work in a group of 4. We had to compose and prove a hypothesis via research by surveying our fellow students. We brainstormed ideas to each other and came up with a series of questions that can help confirm our hypothesis. I demonstrated Social Awareness Responsibility and Creative Thinking in this project. I was able to comfortably work with my peers and contribute ideas. I was able to come up with questions and participated on making the final report. I was able to support the group by respecting their opinions and attentively listening to their ideas as well as build on the ideas of others. In this assignment, I was also able to showcase Collaborating Skills. For most of the time, I took the initiative to speak up first. I took my role seriously and did my tasks properly and punctually. In the end, I managed to be able to work harmoniously with my peers and in return, we were able to receive a grade that we were satisfied with.
The first time I tried this problem, I made the mistake of only expanding the left side of the equation. Then, I attempted several wrong ways to solve the problem because I was uncertain of what to do with the number in front of the coefficient. I noticed that I was not getting anywhere and at last I searched for the practice key found on OneNote. I still had a hard time grasping the steps and later consulted the help of the app Photomath to further understand the question and learn the steps. The steps shown were still not enough for me to understand and eventually lunch came. It took my friend explaining rules like “what you do on one side of the equation you must do to the other” and the entirety of lunch for me to finally understand how to do it. Me and my friend did it together and in the end, I answered more questions similar to the given to better understand the topic. Next time when I encounter a difficult problem, I might try to think of the past topics we’ve talked about to check if the rules used in previous lessons can be applied to a the recent one.
In this class, we crafted a metal rose and vase for our first project. I started by tracing and cutting sheet metal. I sanded the metal with the sanding belt and various sanding tools before soldering the pieces together and bending the metal to form a rose. To continue, I started brainstorming vase ideas. Once I found a design, I cut up more metal immediately after. I bent the metal to form the swirls on both ends, adjusting the sizes in between when needed. I had to repeat this process a couple more times before getting the curves perfect. This step made the vase take longer to complete, as did learning how to function the bending tool. I then MIG welded the pieces to a scrap piece of metal to create the body of the vase. After discussing with Mr. Peterson, I added a heart to try to improve my work even further. I used a bike chain to create the heart and welded the hinges on the chain in place. The procedure was difficult because the chain always almost caught on fire. If I had done this project with more experience, I would’ve managed my time properly and have enough of it so I could braze my project and receive a better looking grade. Overall, I am quite proud of the final product and I enjoyed working with friends while learning new skills.
