Final Learning Reflection Week 9

Final Learning Reflection

1. Planning

Our Project planner (Proposal)

Looking back at the planning we did at the start, I think we had a great big idea that we didn't entirely stick to.

FUCK YOU!

Having had the experience of this project, if I was planning another project I would chose it on a different subject and try and work with my group better.

2. Process

Links to our Group Planners:

• Week 5

• Week 6

• Week 7

• Week 8

• Week 9

Time management and workflow

Looking back at how we planned and then recorded each week's and day's work and managed our time, I think we got distracted too easily and weren't very interested .

Another time, I would chose a subject that we are all interested in so that we don't lose interest so quickly and easily and we might get it done sooner and in greater detail.

Collaborative skills

Considering how our group managed our relationships, discussions, decisions, and the way we shared out and contributed to the work, I think that we were able to complete the project by dividing the questions out so that we all had the same amount of work to do. And it really helped because we all knew each other.

In future, I wouldn't change anything.

3. Research

Our Research Process

Looking at our research and comparing it to what other groups did, I think that, personally, I don't really care about it.

Another time, I would chose a subject that actually interests me that I know something about.

4. Planning and Preparing our Presentation

Our Presentation Milestone 3

Looking back now at how we planned and prepared our presentation, I think we didn't really care too much. And right now I am extremely bored and frustrated!!

Another time, I would not do this.

5. Showcase Day

Our Presentation

Looking back on Showcase Day, you might want to consider some of the following questions:

What worked well for Showcase Day, and why? What didn't work well and why? Did you vote on the projects? Why or why not? Did you have a team member with your display at all times? Why or why not? Did you stay and talk about your project? Why/Why not? Were you able to answer visitor questions?

My positives for Showcase Day were that I got to be a doorman and this was good because if anyone had any questions I would not know how to answer them. Also,I was able to look at everyone else's presentations.

Another time, I would do a subject that I would know how to explain.

6. Reflection on the Project

a) What skills did you use, learn or develop during this project which will be helpful in your life beyond school?

How to communicate better and how to collaborate better and stuff along those lines

b) Would you like to do more of this kind of learning next year?

Yes, if I get to chose the subject.

c) What did you learn from this process that will help with future projects?

How to communicate better and how to collaborate better and stuff along those lines

d) What advice would you give to the teachers if they are running this or something similar in the future?

That you need to make sure that everyone agrees on what subject they are going to be doing this about.

Our final work!!

Learning Reflection Week 8

 Learning Reflection Week 8

Week 8 has been a very productive week for my group. Even though I was only there for two days we were able to complete our presentation board. And I know that when I was away they were able to decide on a really good experiment which is.... A SOLAR OVEN!! I will explain more in my next learning reflection/blog post update (this will be posted on Thursday, Friday or Monday so that I will be able to let you know how the showcase went).

1. What have you achieved/learned/found out since your last post?

We have completed our presentation board and have decided that we are going to do a solar oven experiment for week 9.

2. How effectively have you used your time this week?

I was only here for two days in week 8 and in that time we were able complete our presentation so I would say I (and my group) used our time very effectively.

3. How have you contributed to your group’s progress?

I helped glue the presentation onto the presentation board.

4. Glows: something that is going well in your project:

Everything. We are pretty much done. Woo hoo!!

5. Grows: Something you need to work on:

Nothing, we just need to finish our experiment in week 9.

6. Where could you get help with this? 

From some teachers in the science department.

7. What are the next steps for your project?

Complete the experiment and present.

Here is a photo of how our presentation board looks:

It's a bit messy but, meh.

Learning Reflection week 7

 Learning Reflection week 7

Our question: What is the most beneficial way of making power for Otaki?

I'm in a group with Jayden.S, Zion.T, David.D, and Lyla.K.

1. What have you achieved/learned/found out since your last post?

I caught up with everything I missed last week.We now have a really good resource website (a reliable one) which told us the average power cost in our region and the rest of the country. We have done slides on solar power, wind power, and hydro power giving information about them and how much they cost etc.

2. How effectively have you used your time this week?

Somewhat effectively. We have mainly been doing individual work this week.

3. How have you contributed to your group’s progress?

Like I said,we've been doing more individual work this week.

4. Glows: something that is going well in your project:

That we're all caught up with everything and we have good questions

5. Grows: Something you need to work on:

Answering those questions

6. Where could you get help with this? 

Teachers and Google

7. What are the next steps for your project?

Answering our questions. We have to answer 3 questions, technically 4, such as: why would ('nt) this work? Where can we put it? What is the cheapest/most expensive? And our original question.

Reflection for week 5 and 6

We're doing a project at Otaki College called Power to the People. It is about sustainable sources of energy and electricity.  I'm in a group with Jayden.S,  David.D, Zion.T, and Lyla.K! Our question is What is the most beneficial way to create power for Otaki? This means what is the most sustainable, cheapest and more. I was here for week five but away for all of week 6.

1. What have you achieved/learned/found out since your last post?

We learned about solar power, hydro power, geothermal power, wind power, nuclear power and why they would or wouldn't work.

2. How effectively have you used your time this week?

We were able to start and complete 6 slides, so yes, I would say that we used our time effectively.

3. How have you contributed to your group’s progress?

Yes.

4. Glows: something that is going well in your project:

Our research and our collaboration.

5. Grows: Something you need to work on:

Focusing on something and sticking to it.

6. Where could you get help with this? 

Our big fat brains.

7. What are the next steps for your project?

To answer some of the questions that we have come up with from our main question.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Essay

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Essay

In John Boyne's novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, an important relationship is the one between Bruno and Shmuel. This relationship helped me to understand a key message, which is friendship.

At first, the relationship between Bruno and Shmuel is good - they have things in common. They both like soccer, both were taken from their homes to Out-With (Auschwitz) and both have the same birthday, "I don't mean I don't believe you. I'm just surprised that is all. Because my birthday is April the fifteenth too. And I was born in nineteen thirty-four. We were born on the same day." This helped me understand that the boys have a lot in common despite the things that separated them such as: the fence, Shmuel being skinny and sad, and Shmuel having to wear striped pyjamas. 

Later in the novel, their relationship takes a turn when Bruno betrays Shmuel. He betrayed him because he was afraid of what Lieutenant Kotler would do to him if he found out the truth. As it turns out though, Bruno didn't really want to deny their friendship and when he finally saw Shmuel again, he was able to express how he really felt about what he'd done and that he was incredibly sorry, "'Shmuel,' he said, running and sitting down, almost crying with relief and regret. 'I'm so sorry, Shmuel. I don't know why I did it. Say you'll forgive me.'" This is one of the main reasons why I decided that the key theme to the book was friendship. Because, even though Bruno betrayed Shmuel, they still ended up being friends again. This could've been due to reasons other than loneliness of course (e.g Shmuel using Bruno for food), but they really were friends. This just goes to show that friendship is a true source of happiness and relief.

At the end of the novel, we see that their relationship is now stronger than ever.  This is mainly because Bruno keeps his word to Shmuel. He tells Shmuel that, "You're my best friend, Shmuel…My best friend for life." Bruno crosses the fence and helps him look for his papa. Bruno really proved himself to be a loyal friend, "...despite the chaos that followed, Bruno found that he was still holding Shmuel's hand in his own and nothing in the world would have persuaded him to let go." This helped me understand that Bruno and Shmuel were very loyal to each other even though they had had their ups and downs. 

Through the novel, the relationship between Bruno and Shmuel develops from having things in common to being best friends for life due to the fact that they had been through so much together and even when all seemed hopeless they were able to save their friendship and become loyal to each other. This relationship helped me understand the key message of friendship: that it is important to be there and support your friends and be loyal.