The year in general was a very interesting experience for me. Although, this was the first year of the class for the school, it seemed well thought out and very organized. The events that were planned from the Arcade Fair to the end of the year Maker Fair Showcase, were exciting. Being able to work with my hands and choose my own projects or designs was the best part about this class. I don't exactly have one favorite experience because everyday was a new experience. A maker I want to give props to is Ms. Rivera. She was always there for everyone and offering help whenever needed. I greatly appreciate her effort in making this class work and dealing with all my questions regarding where materials were. All in all, this was one of my favorite classes I looked forward to everyday and I hope I can continue this in Makers 2.
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Here is the beginning of our digital story. For our final presentation we plan to model, explain, and pass around the "Placket" to keep our audience engaged. Also we plan to talk more than what the slides show. We are somewhat behind schedule and thus will be working outside of class mainly in Learning Labs and after school to get our project done.
Starting a with a new project, I have new partners. With me on the journey to create an aweful toy (get it?), are Jennifer, Nohemi, and Simon. Jennifer is passionate about apple juice and chocolate. Nohemi like pomegranates. Lastly but not least, Simon likes to swim.
1. What is your favorite part about working in the Learning Studio? Learning Studio = MAKER/DESIGN STUDIO My favorite part is being able to use my hands and problems solving skills in the class. I love puzzles and anything that needs to be tweaked or improvised for the same end result. 2. What have you learned about yourself through participating in the Learning Studio? I am really good at measuring creating detailed blueprints/design plans. They are almost like instructions made by someone else for me to use. 3. How does your teacher help you be a better maker or designer? What kind of experience does he or she create in the Learning Studio? She allows us to come up with what ever we want and lets our ideas take hold in a physical form for others to admire. Whenever we get stuck, she helps provide solutions or gives us "clues" on a different path for the same result. 4. What do you think are the most important values or character traits a maker or designer should have? I think an open mind really helps. Don't just think that it has to be this way or that way. Just taking what is already in front of you and adding or building upon it. 5. Imagine there is a new student in your class who has never been exposed to a making environment. What advice would you give them to be successful in the Learning Studio? Meet the requirements, but don't follow the instructions. Find what you need to do but don't follow others or the exact path way for building something. Do things your way and let your ideas flow. However, follow safety measures of course. 6. Has your experience in the Learning Studio impacted your goals for the future? If so, how? I really like anything that has to do with mechanics and building something with my own hands. Ever since I started high school, I really liked computers and how they fit together. However, Learning Studio pushed my interests back towards things like mechanics and robotics/clockwork. 7. Have you made or designed anything for another person? What was it? What did you learn about that person through designing something for them? I have made small gifts for othes before. Sometimes, halfway through making the gifts, I realize a much better thing to add to the gift, like adding a certain color or adding a bow/picture for them. 8. Has making and designing changed the way you think about the world around you? If so, how? Not really because the way I think in Makers is how I have always thought. I believed that the world around us can be changed and made with our own hands for the better. 9. Do you find yourself using the skills you use in the Learning Studio in other classes or in other parts of your life? If so, how are you using making and design skills outside of the Learning Studio? I sometimes use these thinking strategies when I play objective games or even how to manage time. 10. What have you made that you are most proud of? What about the project makes you proud? I am most proud of my Lights Project where we designed and created our own lampshade. I really liked how we weren't limited and allowed to just do as we pleased with the materials provided. 11. Is making important to you? If so, why? It's important because it is the future. Without being able to make anything we can't create anything new or look for new solutions, better solutions. Optional: 1. Can you tell us about the kinds of projects have you worked on in the Learning Studio? Which were the most fun or most challenging? Which were your favorites? So far we have created an arcade game and designing our own lampshade. Currently we are working on making a box with a top made of wood. I really like the wood working project because of the design process behind it. 1. Was there a project you disliked? If so, what made you dislike it? None really. 1. Is there anything you have been surprised to learn during the process of making? I was surprised to see that I was fairly proficient in creating detailed blueprints/design plans with little to no errors. 1. Did you see yourself as a maker or designer before working in the Learning Studio? Has that changed in any way? I have always thought about being a designer my whole life. I for sure want to be some type of engineer and obviously it involves designing and working with my hands. 1. Is there anyone in your Learning Studio (this could be a teacher or peer) that you admire? Why do you admire them? I really admire anyone who comes up with an idea that is really different and appealing, or rather anyone who can do things that I can't. 1. If you could solve any problem in the world, what would that problem be? How would you solve it? One thing I would try to solve is the inequality of opportunities. Its not fair that someone's life completely changes and they can't do something they originally wanted because of something they can't control. For example, someone who wants to go to college but then in their Junior to Senior their parents decide to divorce and it screws up everything, or they get in a car accident and they can't use their hands anymore. Its just saddening that some people get their entire life completely messed up because of something they didn't do. I want to fix this but it has so many situations and different scenarios that it's too complex to try to fix. Honestly, I would not know how to solve this, but the solution will present itself sooner or later. A Learning Studio is a place where learners define the problems they want to solve and design solutions to address them. Leveraging powerful technology, students engage in activities and projects that expose them to skills and concepts such as design thinking, three dimensional design, and social entrepreneurship. Learning Studios are currently in place in 60 schools across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. To support educators in the Learning Studios, Digital Promise Global provides professional learning opportunities, facilitates an online learning community, and develops and curates creative learning activities and projects for students. We are also directing a research effort to learn from student and teacher experiences and curate stories from the project. As the project progresses, we will share stories, resources, and research from the Learning Studios so that anyone can learn from them. Part of HP and Microsoft’s Reinvent the Classroom initiative, the Learning Studios network inspires instructional innovation and next-generation learning experiences. Learning Studios support advanced blended learning, international collaboration, and the maker movement in education. Here is the design plan for the upcoming Box Project. We were given limited wood, and required to design and build a box with a closed top. My design is for a simple three step puzzle box for a little extra security.
For this week, we are continuing our Lights Project where we create a lampshade of your own design. Here is my prototype, it is based off of an origami magic ball, but instead of using it as a ball. I am going to place it around a light source and a lampshade. Stay tuned for updates in the next week.
Seth is a Maker that inspires me. I find his way of thinking unorthodox but oddly effective and interesting. He always puts a smile on everyone around him with his personality and his thought processes brings a joyous and cheerful aura.
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AuthorI'm quirky and have a habit of picking up new hobbies... Archives
June 2017
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