SMASH Day Reflection

For this SMASH day, we did another mission scenario. This time, we were on a submarine under the water. We were trying to find out what the "treasure" was. The problem was that the treasure was in a box and our periscope was too small for us to see into the box. So, we had to make another longer periscope using cardboard and mirrors. Mrs. Smith gave us a piece of card board, some paper, tape, and four mirrors.
Our group modified our periscope twice. First we had the angles right, but we couldn't see clearly into the box. So we changed our design just as spy time started. We folded the tope part of the box so that it will be holding the mirror deeper into the box. In the end, we could see the items in the box without using angles but only one mirror.
Each of us gave ideas and listened to each other. I think that we communicated very well but we had so many ideas that we had to rush.

I would advise others to talk to their team carefully and to plan it out first, that way you won't have to rush in the end. Also, don't think so deep because our team didn't even need to set angles in the end. Plus it makes it hard to see the items when you're looking through two mirrors.

Blog #3: Mirror Image

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you think others see you as you see yourself?

I think I'm a bit conceited and arrogant at times- or most of the time. I know that others see me as a little selfish sometimes. But I know that I'm not a bad person. No one is born a bad person but becomes one through experiences and tough times when growing up.
Yeah sure, sometimes I annoy my sisters and friends by being so selfish. I know that I sometimes only want to do my homework first before I help others. At times I can be nice when I want to.

A lot of people say I'm easy. I don't know why and I don't think I'm that but they do... which is weird because I'm selfish...not easy..

Blog #2: An Effective Communicator

An effective communicator in my life is one of my friends Jean- and also Ariel. When explaining things I do not understand, both of them can easily explain it without using difficult words. I think they really possess this trait because they have the ability to communicate with me, even though English is their second language. They are also very good listeners because they understand pretty fast when others explain to them, too.
One example of them being effective communicator was one of the first SMASH days we had with Mrs. Smith's class. Both Ariel and Jean were in my group and we have to communicate to build something. Only Jean knew what the original piece looked like and only she could talk to Ariel without showing her the item. Ariel could not see the item but using the information Jean told her, she had to tell me (I was all the way across the room) and describe how the object looked like so that I could build a replica of it. This proves we shared effective communication as our replica was the exact same thing as the original object...

Reflections on Video Project

My humanities Research Report video took a lot of effort in piecing it together. I used some of the 5 Learning outcomes while working on it and presenting it.

I think being an effective communicator is one of the learning outcomes you can't help but use while showing this video. I communicated to the audience through pictures and voice-over. My pictures showed what I had to say and nothing was out of place (eg. wrong information with wrong picture). The pictures were clear and easy to understand. My voice-over recording also showed being an effective communicator because I spoke clearly and used strong adjective to describe each picture.
I was also an active learner because I went further and did more extra research and went deeper in the areas of religion, economy..etc. I compared the culture areas of both ancient Greece and Rome thoroughly and explained the details.

I most of the content knowledge from this research report video comes from the original research report which is a written report sharing my thesis of how Ancient Greece and Rome's culture was entwined with each other. I did most of the research for that paper then used the content and showed it through a video.
I learned how to effectively set the time of picture in iMovie to fit the voice-over. If not, the voice-over would not match up to the picture I'm describing. I also learned how effectively showing pictures are than just writing a picture. The audience can understand better as a picture tells a thousand words. Instead of just typing stuff up on keynote, it's much easier for the audience to understand if it was just pictures...

Blog #1: Effective Communicator

Being an effective communicator is not just being able to talk properly but also to listen. To effectively communicated with another is to be able to communicate and ideas and listen to others.
Communication also involves a lot of body language and being able to explain clearly.

Effective communication is very important. Without it, people won't be able to communicate and talk with one another. Ideas are not understood and words are not comprehended. The world will be living in confusion and so will classes. Heck, classes would not exist because the idea of "school' will not be understood!

To be an effective communicator, you have to be able to explain and idea or subject to another. Not just verbally, but through action and writing. If the person listening understands what you are trying to put out, this is effectively communicating. Listening is also effectively communicating because you need to break down what others are trying to say in the way that you understand and reply if you have to. Body language and the way you present yourself to others is also effectively communicating because the atmosphere will change to the theme of what you are trying to say. I find acting out a word or phrase easy to get through people who doesn't understand something. It's so easy because if you are trying to say to kick the ball to someone who only speaks Arabian, you can act out kicking a ball.

Display the 5 student outcomes

Active learner. Critical thinker and Problem solver. Person of high character. Effective communicator. Community contributor.

During these past two weeks, I assume that I've display all five of the student outcomes in Humanities. Most of these examples of me displaying the 5 student outcomes happened during working with the team but also individually for the Modern Nations project.
I was an active learner these two weeks. While taking notes on my research of Colombia I wondered how they gained independence. So I added a few more questions I wanted to find out in the mind map research. This showed that I was an active learner because when I finished finding how the nation of Colombia was started, I went further and added questions because I wanted to. I would also like the recognize Cindy in my group because she's always so curious and asks a million questions. It can get annoying sometimes but its awesome that when she knows she doesn't understand something, she will push through anything to get her answer.
I showed that I was a critical thinker and problem solver this week when I was helping Jacky with writing up the presentation proposal. We knew we had to assign the jobs to the people who would be best in that particular area. We both evaluated each member of our team and chose the best jobs for them to do. Also, we did the same evaluation when assigning questions for the group mind map to make a page from the keynote.
Being a person of high character is very important. I guess I have been a person of high character. I did the work that the team captain assigned and I constantly remind my team mates to send me their presentations so they can be edited. Though, I think that that is not being a person of high character because I start to get annoying after pestering them to send me their presentation sections.
I managed to accomplish being an effective communicator even when I'm an English speaker in an all Chinese group. All the members of my team are all in ESL and sometimes its hard to communicate with them. However, I managed to explain to them what they wanted to know with not much problem. I think that all the members of my teams were great effective communicators, too, because they were able to listen and communicate with me effectively.
Contributing to my community, or in this case, group was fairly easy because contributing its just participating in the group meetings and when we go over what we plan. I think that all of the members of the group is community contributors because we all engage when we're in class and going over the project. I help remind people what to do for homework.

HIS Culture

HIS Culture

- Camp Taiwan: We've done it every year.
- Musical: We've done it every year.
- Family School: Every one treats another like family
- 1:1 Laptop School: We use technology and laptops instead of books
- Small School: We're a small international school
- WASC: An example of our school trying to grow and expand.
- 5 student outcomes; Active Learner, Critical Thinker and Problem Solver, Person of highs character, effective communicator, and community contributor.

Reflections on Student Outcomes

Active Learner> I'm an active learner during Humanities when I am researching on South Africa. I not only can apply what I find to my notes, but I can even ask myself questions that people in South Africa are experiencing.

Critical Thinker> I think I use my brain a lot in Humanities. Especially when trying to understand the lives of people living in poverty in South Africa and ways that the grant from the Gates Foundation can help.

Effective Communicator> I don't really talk when researching unless I'm point something out to my partner, Ariel, about something that I am researching that is related to what she is researching too. Also, I've been trying to encourage some other people from other classes to comment on my blog and my articles about South Africa and whether they have any ideas that they can help apply to my project.

Community Contributor> Even if people do not comment on my blog, they still read the articles. When I can list the things I can do to help South Africa, it not only tells the reader what I'm doing in Humanities of this "imaginary" grant request but they can also apply that to their own lives. When Grade 7s and 9s watched the movie, I think many were inspired to help the community like some villagers helped this woman in need.

Person of High Character> One thing i find in myself that I know is part of responsibility to do my homework is...the fact that I complete my homework on time. I do regular blog post about current events and what I'm doing with my AfricaQuest and I can complete assignments like Mind Map notes. When I'm assigned to listen to the podcast I try to find things that I could apply to my AfricaQuest which is a responsibility as I listen to a podcast that was advised in class.

Reflections on Student Outcomes

Critical Thinker> I have been a critical thinker this week on our AfricaQuest project. In able the win the grant we have to sell our country. Basically, I'm focusing on Africa's economy. I think that our country and make a lot by its safaris and the gold mines and all the special geological places you can find there. Mostly building roads and tourist spots and information centers need to built up for tourist that want to see Africa's sights. Maybe we can have it that if you visit the safaris you can get a free trip to Cape Town and its beaches. Maybe get more tourist bonuses and by that, get more people to hire for jobs and money to pay them.

Active Learner> I am not just looking at the internet for my resources. The books that are in class has also proven useful. I found a small time-line on South Africa and during the 1940s - 1980s mostly about politics. Which can be applied to the node on Mind meister of history and political science.

Community Contributor> I seem to be the only one to go on the Del.icio.us website to share websites and I actually find that easier as my partner can also see the sites that I've been to and find useful. I also put links to my mind map to show where i found th information. Also when my peers have problems with anything and they ask me, I help them out to understand the meanings of different problems they face.

Effective Communicator> When my partner asks a question, I can effectively explain her the problem and give her little pushes towards the answer. Other-wise the only times we talk is when we find something useful and we tell each other but we just research on what we are focusing on but also go deeper into the subject.

Person of high character> I am responsible during class and I'm doing the work instead of messing around. I find that i'm actually sometimes not interested in the subject. I don't really like having things down on paper and would rather talk to the Gates foundations rather than having to send a letter to them. I think that person to person communication is the best but in this case, we aren't actually going to send an actual letter the Mr and Mrs Gates.