Collaboration
For the collaboration TTG, the most memorable group project I participated in was Task 8, the Zoom Group Activity. This was an activity that involved the whole class where we had to rank the pictures from most zoomed in to least zoomed in by only describing the picture to other people. This worked on my listening skills since I had to really listen to what others had to say and I also had to talk to everyone to ensure my picture was placed in the right position.
When I disagree with someone in a group project, I always remind myself to calm down first. It’s important to keep in mind that they are working with you, not working against you. Then, I try to talk it out them. I listen to how and why they think that way and then I provide them with my perspective. Usually after that, based on what we both said, we can meet in the middle and come up with an agreement. I think in group projects it’s important to be flexible and keep in mind that we can’t always get what we want.
I assess my contributions to group projects by pausing occasionally and reflecting on what I have done to help the group. If I realized that I haven’t done that much, then I remind myself to help out more in the future.
Communication
For communication, the main apprenticeship task I participated in was Task 14, creating a Buzzfeed style quiz using Type form. This was an activity that challenged me since I had never used Type form before. In the process of doing the task, I had to figure out how to change the type of answer choice to multiple choice, how to add pictures, style the quiz according to how I wanted etc. This benefited my communication skills since I learned to communicate using a different type of media. Usually in my daily life, communication would be talking to other people or communicating online via text. However, communicating using Type form gave me a chance to express my ideas with others using pictures, little words, and colors etc., which I usually have less experience with.
I would say my communication style has changed from middle school because I am more honest and direct when I communicate now. Before, sometimes I would be afraid to say what I really think, and I would avoid harder conversations. However, now I feel more confident to express my thoughts and feelings and I try to have those honest conversations. I would say this has helped me be more honest with myself, though at times I could find it difficult to say what I really think.
Creativity
For creativity, the main apprenticeship task I completed was task number 8, creating a travel brochure. During winter break, my family and I went to Seoul. For this trip, I created a travel plan for each day that included pictures of the places I wanted to go to, descriptions of each place, and how to get from place A to place B. This helped me with my creativity skills since I had to figure out which destinations were interesting to me and my family. I also had to arrange the itinerary multiple times to ensure that I made the best plan that fit the destinations we wanted while also being time and cost efficient.
When I face creative blocks, sometimes I like to take a break from what I’m doing by going on a walk outside or doing something else I enjoy. I find that sometimes when I am doing something for too long, I lose my focus and will to continue, which causes ideas to stop coming in. When I do something else, my mind can reset, which allows ideas to come to me after. Even though this does not always work, I find that taking a break helps me calm down and prevents me from becoming frustrated and annoyed over not being able to come up with ideas.
Critical Thinking
For critical thinking, the main task I completed was Task 9, drawing obscure solutions for a question. I chose to make a series of drawing that would answer the question “how could a basketball, a broom, and a garden gnome be used to set a trap to catch a burglar?”. This really challenged my critical thinking skills because those objects are not usual objects people would think of when it comes to catching a burglar. My thinking process was I first thought of the characteristics of these objects. For example, a basketball could be thrown, a gnome is hard, and a broom is long. I then thought of tripping the burglar with a gnome attached to a broom and then throwing a basketball at the thief to ensure they can’t run away.
One time I encountered a challenge during Apprenticeship tasks was when I had to use Typeform to make a Buzzfeed style Quiz. I could not figure out how to put pictures into my multiple-choice answers. I ended up finding a website that taught people how to use Typeform, which explained how to solve my problem. This experience improved my problems solving skills because I learned the importance of using all your resources to help you solve your problems.
Resilience
The main task I completed for Critical Thinking was task number 18, identifying my character strengths. For this task, I took the Values in Action Character Strength Surveys. My top 3-character traits were humility, gratitude, and prudence. I think this could help me with overcoming and adapting to challenging life experiences since I could remember to be thankful for what I already have. Even if what I go through in the future is challenging, I would make sure to look at what I already have and appreciate that. I would also make sure to think through my decisions and not do anything I would regret later on.
One time I experienced a setback was when I went from Middle School to High School. This was challenging because I had to learn to navigate my way through new buildings and there was more work I had to complete. I learned to navigate through this challenge by talking to people I trust. For example, I talked to my sister about some of these challenges I faced since she faced them too when she made the same transition. She gave me some advice which helped support me through the process. I also started taking walks, listening to music, crocheting etc. to help me manage some of the stress I was dealing with. These methods were extremely in helping me overcome this challenge.
Big Project
The next big project I must complete is the upcoming physics project. For this project, we have to work as a team to create a drag race car, which includes building the model, doing the calculations/physics, and testing the model.
So far, we have learned some information that will help us with this project. For example, we have learned about the different forces, Newton’s Laws, and how to make a free body diagram. We learned about this both in class and using physics classroom. The information we learn now will especially help us during the building process, since we will understand how to create the fastest car according to physics.
We also started making contracts with our team. These contracts will help ensure that things run smoothly throughout this project. In this contract, we highlighted our strengths and weaknesses to get an idea of what we will struggle with and what we will succeed in during this time. We also brainstormed how we would practice the 7 norms of collaboration. For example, we said that we would pay attention to self and others by checking in with each other once in a while. I think this contract is very important because it helps us understand who we are and who our teammates are better.
Extracurricular Activities
One extracurricular activity I really enjoy is crocheting. I started crocheting in the beginning of 8th grade and I am happy with the progress I have made. I started with learning how to make simple stitches and now I am able to make pieces of clothing and other things I can use in my daily life. I enjoy the process of crocheting because it is very calming since I can just focus on making the different stitches and nothing else, especially when I am stressed from school or other activities. It is also very worth it when I can see the end products I make after putting in many hours. I enjoy gifting these products to friends or family because they are always happy when they see that I have created something for them by hand. Moving forward, I also want to start knitting, which is something I find more challenging. Learning to knit will expand the range of things I can create. I hope to start knitting the same way I started crocheting, by learning simple stitches first and making simple objects. In the meantime, I hope to continue crocheting whenever I have time.
Photo by Josephine Baran on Unsplash
Today, we went outside to do an activity that worked on our communication skills. Each person had a different image and we had to work on ordering our images from most zoomed in to most zoomed out. First of all, I feel like being outside made me feel really calm and focused. I also feel like doing this activity helped me listen to what different people had to say, while also inputting my ideas so that we could figure out how to order the images.
Through making a silhouette of a cat, I learned how to use Inkspace to create a silhouette of something I like and adjust its size. I also learned how to then transfer this to the right or left laser. It was challenging for me to trace the bitmap, but I ultimately learned how to do it after getting help. This aligns with the resilience TTG because it taught me how to continue doing something even when it was challenging.
Link to the quiz I made: https://ru8lnpr2u8w.typeform.com/to/Korhsg30
Making this quiz taught me how to use Typeform to communicate my ideas. Before this, I was not familiar with Typeform. However, after creating this quiz, I learned how to add text and visuals to create a fun and colorful quiz.
I chose to make a series of drawing that would answer the question “how could a basketball, a broom, and a garden gnome be used to set a trap to catch a burglar?”. In the first drawing, the kid sees a burglar stealing the money left on the table. The kid decides to take his basketball and broom and escape from the window of his bedroom as shown in the second drawing. In the third drawing, the kid holds a basketball in one hand, and the basketball and gnome in the other as the burglar approaches. In the final drawing, the kid trips the burglar with the broom and gnome, and hits the burglar with the basketball, causing the burglar to fall.
Photo by Hartono Creative Studio on Unsplash
My goal is to be in the habit of verifying AI-generated information using multiple credible sources. I would have reached this goal if I make sure to read through the content AI generates and check with other sources online if in doubt about the accuracy of the material at least 80% of the time. I will put sticky-notes on my computer to remind me of my AI-related goal.
I think it is important to be a critical thinker when we are using technology. There are so many online resources that we can access, and sometimes it can be hard to tell which resources are credible and which ones are false or misleading. That is why it is important for us to think carefully before trusting information online. We should use what we learned in class about credible resources to decide if the information we see is true. Additionally, we should also be careful about the personal data we share online because anyone online can obtain that data. It is our responsibility to protect ourselves when we are online.
This taught me about the different hub norms on behavior, such as keeping your voice low and movements calm so others can focus. This also taught me how to pick different library zones based on what you’re doing.
For me, middle school was a fun experience that helped me learn and grow. However, there was a few things I wished I had known.
Some of my fondest memories of middle school was participating in different after school activities and sports teams, where I got to spend my time doing what I liked with my friends. Yet, in the beginning, I was afraid to join different activities and try new things because I was scared it would be too hard. Looking back, I would tell my middle school self not to be scared and to just go for it.
Another thing I wish I’d learned was how to manage my time. Sometimes, I would spend too much time doing what I enjoyed that I left too little time for homework. I wish I would have learned to write down my assignments and activities on an organizer so that I could better plan my time and prioritize what was important.
Finally, I also struggled with asking questions when I needed help. I would struggle on my own instead of seeking help from the teacher. I want to work on this in high school by going to extended learnings. Moving forward, I hope to learn from these experiences in middle school to become a better student through taking risks, using a planner, and asking for help.
