Okay, so now I have to answer some questions given by teacher truthfully.
Q: What did you intend to accomplish with your 20time project?
A: I wanted to create a picture book depicting the changes that the American Education System needs in order to improve its effectiveness on outputting knowledgeable people.
Q: What did you actually accomplish with your 20time project?
A: Well... I didn't get to finish it. I made progress from making the idea into something tangible, but I didn't get very far.
Q: Describe the impact of your project on yourself and others. How could you use what you learned to create a positive change in someone else or the community?
A: Since I never really got to finishing my project by the time of the presentation, it hasn't really gone far. I know it's let me realize my capabilities and my limits. What I really think could help people is the knowledge that when someone dedicates himself to a project, he can feel an immense pull towards the thought of completing a portion of it and will spend long stretches of time working on the part. I find that feeling to be the greatest part because I found myself losing track of time as I worked.
Q: What roadblocks did you run into? What were the areas of the project that were more difficult than you expected them to be?
A: I found drawing my story to be the most difficult, not the coming up with the story line or writing it down. I had to think creatively in how I wanted to represent my words so that the picture could explain itself. It needed impact and emotion, but I only have one brain so I didn't really know how that worked out.
Q: What new learning, if any, did you gain because of the roadblock? Did the roadblock give you new insight, change the course of the project, etc.? How?
A: I realized that I still have the ability to not back down from a challenge. Apparently I'm not that lazy. Ha.
Q: Finish this sentence: The thing about this kind of learning that works best for me is ...
A: The amount of freedom I get to do what I want at my own pace.
Q: Finish this sentence: The thing about this kind of learning that is a challenge for me is...
A: The want of proving myself to somebody when I don't need to.
Q: Would you consider your project a success? A failure? Somewhere in between? Explain your answer.
A: Eh... I think I fall in the in between category. I never really expected myself to go very far into the project for the amount of time we were given, but I am still disappointed that I couldn't get a little more done.
Q: Estimate how much time you spent on your 20-Time project per week:
A: Oh, well, just about an hour or so per week until near the last few weeks. Then it became more of like 4 hours.
Q: How does what you did in 20-Time connect with the IB Learner Profile? Discuss any and all qualities that apply.
A: You can read my 5th post for that.
Q: How does what you did in 20-Time show relevant learning in your English class?
A: What I did during the 20-Time presentation was definitely a communications thing. I did a lot more oral communication than I thought I would be doing.
Q: What advice would you have for teachers who are doing 20-Time projects in the future? What would you tell them that would make the project go more smoothly or more successfully?
A: I'd tell them that they should either start the project in the beginning of the school year or in the beginning of a semester. I felt that I needed more time on mine.
Q: What advice would you have for students who are doing a 20-time project in the future? What would you tell them that would make the project go more smoothly or more successfully?
A: Go at your own pace, but don't do nothing during the time given. Work on something related to your 20-Time, so by the time you have to present it, all of the little things will have added up to a larger thing.
Q: Will you continue with your independent learning/creating beyond this class? Why or why not?
A: Yeah, because I still gotta complete it for my Golden Awards for Girl Scouts. I'm not sure if I'm still doing CAS anymore. So much for the "3 birds with one stone" metaphor.
Q: Anything else you would like me to know?
A: Actually, yes! Carolyn Chang, Alex Arons, and I are starting a new club next year called Patchwork Club. It's sort of like 20Time except for the fact that you don't have to actually present anything. It's a way to force time into one's busy schedule for a hobby or two to develop and nurture. :) It would be great to get your support.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Post 5!!!!!!!!!
Okay, so time to reflect on things.
So far, I haven't got the time to continue with this project thanks to exams, but I know that I will have time during the summer to work on it.
I have to say, though... I learned a lot from this:
a. Illustrating your own book is a lot harder than it seems
b. The most interested people in my project are people from the school board
c. I should have used a larger board when presenting
d. I should have had food and business cards so people could remember me
e. This list could go on and on
Okay, now I wonder if I can incorporate the IB Learner Profile into this. You know, the inquirer, the risk-taker, the caring, etc.
Personally, I found that I had to take some risks while doing this project. Of course my first risk came up when I was choosing my topic. Questions of What should I use to attract the attention of a large, yet specific group of people?, Who could I afford to criticize?, Who would be on my side?, and the likes. I needed to have a position, and by taking a position, some other people will disagree, and that's totally fine. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion; I'm just making mine larger and more open to an audience.
Then I think that I had to be a knowledgeable person to take on such a task. Or at least strive to become one. I need the confidence to write a story about the education system in America, and in order to be confident in my skills, I need to know what I'm doing first and thoroughly. If I don't do that, then my little book will just be a bunch of blathering rants with no goal in mind.
Truthfully, I don't like my first draft of this book. I'm probably going to change the writing style and art style as time goes on. Hopefully, I can get this finished before my graduation from high school. Wouldn't that look really cool on a transcript? But in actuality, I'm not doing this to look good for college pickings or job interviews, I want to do this because this feels like it will be one of the few things that can become great if I keep trying.
Anyways, I'm off! Wish me luck on my studies and I will get back to you all as soon as I can!
So far, I haven't got the time to continue with this project thanks to exams, but I know that I will have time during the summer to work on it.
I have to say, though... I learned a lot from this:
a. Illustrating your own book is a lot harder than it seems
b. The most interested people in my project are people from the school board
c. I should have used a larger board when presenting
d. I should have had food and business cards so people could remember me
e. This list could go on and on
Okay, now I wonder if I can incorporate the IB Learner Profile into this. You know, the inquirer, the risk-taker, the caring, etc.
Personally, I found that I had to take some risks while doing this project. Of course my first risk came up when I was choosing my topic. Questions of What should I use to attract the attention of a large, yet specific group of people?, Who could I afford to criticize?, Who would be on my side?, and the likes. I needed to have a position, and by taking a position, some other people will disagree, and that's totally fine. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion; I'm just making mine larger and more open to an audience.
Then I think that I had to be a knowledgeable person to take on such a task. Or at least strive to become one. I need the confidence to write a story about the education system in America, and in order to be confident in my skills, I need to know what I'm doing first and thoroughly. If I don't do that, then my little book will just be a bunch of blathering rants with no goal in mind.
Truthfully, I don't like my first draft of this book. I'm probably going to change the writing style and art style as time goes on. Hopefully, I can get this finished before my graduation from high school. Wouldn't that look really cool on a transcript? But in actuality, I'm not doing this to look good for college pickings or job interviews, I want to do this because this feels like it will be one of the few things that can become great if I keep trying.
Anyways, I'm off! Wish me luck on my studies and I will get back to you all as soon as I can!
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Oh, look at the time...
Surprise, surprise, everyone. Look at me gettin' things done!
Probably will fix the "M" later so it's the same height as the A. The circle isn't exactly a circle either...
Watercolorzzzzzzzz :)
Yeah, the cover page~!!! I didn't know what the title should be, so I kinda randomly wrote something down. It sorta looks like "Allow Men". Lol. The colors aren't spreading as evenly as I thought, especially for the sky.
I finished the cover and... it looks really weird. I don't really like it as much. Hm...
The watercolor isn't consistent and it looks super awkward, like it was done in marker instead. I don't know if the finch is too smack-dab-in-the-middle or something. Oh, well. What's done is done, and I'm keeping it.
(Oh, man. It's lopsided, too. **cries**)
Sunday, April 27, 2014
BLUB 8)
Okay, what style of art should I go with?
I'm thinking kind of a simple stamp look to it with all its nice flowing lines and stuff, but I also think abstract would be okay (I don't like abstract).
How should I draw thisssssss.......
Oh, and you probably realized, this is not really a real children's book. More or less like a picture book addressed towards adults. :D
I'm thinking kind of a simple stamp look to it with all its nice flowing lines and stuff, but I also think abstract would be okay (I don't like abstract).
How should I draw thisssssss.......
Oh, and you probably realized, this is not really a real children's book. More or less like a picture book addressed towards adults. :D
More Ideas
I think I may just write the story in iambic pentameter
and in rhyme. Or in 10 syllable rhyme.
For some, it's been a long time from school life
From piling homework and young love's strife; they
Forget the stress behind a rosy lens,
Finding nothing in their past to cleanse. What
Forces upon us children to compete,
Fickle matter need not to repeat, has
Found itself bereft loyal companion.
p.1
Floundering in desperate attempt, we
Forgive and forget, nothing left exempt.
Filled with what we call life, we give in, too
Faulty to our own oblivion ...
p.2
Finch, to be swallowed by vast canyon, who
Flies a lonely path throughout this nation?
"Fellow", he replies in migration, "that
Fool who thinks of himself with importance;
False, I say, because his performance shouts
Fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, sham!"
p.3
Forgive me, dear Finch, for I just am not
Following. Whatever you mean, pray tell.
"Fine lad," he spoke, "may I say, it fell, the
Fragile structure of prime education.
Fossilized by time, ...
p.4
**I'll edit this post later for more***
Tell me if it sounds forced so far or whatever.
I'd love to hear feedback!
and in rhyme. Or in 10 syllable rhyme.
For some, it's been a long time from school life
From piling homework and young love's strife; they
Forget the stress behind a rosy lens,
Finding nothing in their past to cleanse. What
Forces upon us children to compete,
Fickle matter need not to repeat, has
Found itself bereft loyal companion.
p.1
Floundering in desperate attempt, we
Forgive and forget, nothing left exempt.
Filled with what we call life, we give in, too
Faulty to our own oblivion ...
p.2
Finch, to be swallowed by vast canyon, who
Flies a lonely path throughout this nation?
"Fellow", he replies in migration, "that
Fool who thinks of himself with importance;
False, I say, because his performance shouts
Fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, sham!"
p.3
Forgive me, dear Finch, for I just am not
Following. Whatever you mean, pray tell.
"Fine lad," he spoke, "may I say, it fell, the
Fragile structure of prime education.
Fossilized by time, ...
p.4
Funny how new reforms did not change much.
...
...
p.5
**Ugh, I can't write anymore for now....****I'll edit this post later for more***
Tell me if it sounds forced so far or whatever.
I'd love to hear feedback!
Monday, March 31, 2014
Some Possible Sources to Refer to
Listed below are some possible sources of information for my book:
1. Ryan, Julia. "American Schools vs. the World: Expensive, Unequal, Bad at Math." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 03 Dec. 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
1. Ryan, Julia. "American Schools vs. the World: Expensive, Unequal, Bad at Math." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 03 Dec. 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
"Not much has changed since 2000, when the U.S. scored along the OECD average in every subject: This year, the U.S. scores below average in math and ranks 17th among the 34 OECD countries. It scores close to the OECD average in science and reading and ranks 21st in science and 17th in reading."
2. This one is a collection of issues in the US Education System. It has multiple sections, each addressing a different problem:
Let me know what you think about these for credibility, accuracy, and bias.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Start of a New Project
When we begin a journey, one of the first questions asked is "Where do I start?". It's always easy to set a goal, but so much harder to actually start the project. Why is that?
Currently, I have a general outline of what I want to do for my project. Here's the objective list:
1. Brainstorm what to write for the picture book (something engaging that addresses issues about the current education system of America)
2. Write out the storyline and have someone edit it for grammatical mistakes
3. Generate pictures to go along with the text
4. Have said pictures scanned and copied with the text in the desired fashion
5. Distribute proto-copies to parents and receive feedback
6. Request a publishing company to publish it
7. Have a hard-covered version by the end of my high-school career
Ultimate goal: Sell at least 20 hard-cover copies and donate all income to charity organizations that I deem beneficial to mankind and effective in their work
Well, now that I look back at this bare, back-bone list, I realize that I a lot of communicating to do. I worry a little at the scope of this project, but this one is also covering not just for my 20Time Project, but also for my Girl Scout Golden Award Project and for my IB CAS Project. It's like killing three birds with one stone; instead of killing birds, I'm using one arrow to hit 3 targets, hopefully smack dab in the center.
Wish me luck!
Currently, I have a general outline of what I want to do for my project. Here's the objective list:
1. Brainstorm what to write for the picture book (something engaging that addresses issues about the current education system of America)
2. Write out the storyline and have someone edit it for grammatical mistakes
3. Generate pictures to go along with the text
4. Have said pictures scanned and copied with the text in the desired fashion
5. Distribute proto-copies to parents and receive feedback
6. Request a publishing company to publish it
7. Have a hard-covered version by the end of my high-school career
Ultimate goal: Sell at least 20 hard-cover copies and donate all income to charity organizations that I deem beneficial to mankind and effective in their work
Well, now that I look back at this bare, back-bone list, I realize that I a lot of communicating to do. I worry a little at the scope of this project, but this one is also covering not just for my 20Time Project, but also for my Girl Scout Golden Award Project and for my IB CAS Project. It's like killing three birds with one stone; instead of killing birds, I'm using one arrow to hit 3 targets, hopefully smack dab in the center.
Wish me luck!
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