God bless our troops.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
CAD Work (2 Assignments included)
Below are the more simple CAD models that we made from nothing, just the sheet of paper with the designs on a grid.
These below seem harder because they are more complex, but I had an easier time with these. We didnt exactly make them from scratch like the previous activity. Still, Im not great at CAD.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Architecture Sketches/ Minecraft
(Above) Our original sketch of the layout of the room. Below is our Minecraft version, all in all it was pretty accurate.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Minecraft Free Build
I built all of this in one class period, two different structures. I decided to make a castle sort of building where the floor is above the water, with a glass bottom. The rest was just playing with colors and letting my imagination run wild. Lots of fun! 
CAD Train
Matt Bond did a great job in helping the class create our train bodies, he deserves extra credit for sure! I made my train have a wood texture to make it look like a toy train.
Unfortunatley I never got to finish the whole thing, But I completed the body and a fair amount of the small parts. By FAR the hardest thing for me that we did in class.
Friday, April 20, 2012
TED Challenge
1) What is the TED organization about? TED is an oganization with the goal of spreading new ideas of up and comming innovaters with a global impact in mind.
2) What is the purpose of their website and how does the functionality of their site support that? The purpose of the website is to showcase the new inventions and ideas in an organized way making subjects and material easy to locate.
3) As Engineers and Problem Solvers, which topic areas (the choices from the "Show talks related to:" section on the sidebar) are of most interest to us? Justify your answer. I would argue that Design is the most relavent to our class, but then again, we are a class of 2012 and so we use technology a lot. Those combined really relate to our engineering class and our daily lives.
4) Based on your previous answer, what are 3 talks (videos) on the site that appear like they would be of most interest to you as an Engineer/Problem Solver? Justify your choices. I think that Gaming really is important, just look at the Gaming industry. Its smart this day in age to know a little about computers and gaming. Also the video about increasing the creativity in a classroom. Creativity and intelligence are hand in hand.
5) Each student will watch a unique video (clear your choice with me... first come, first served!). Watch the video. Embed the video in your blog post and create a bulletized outline of the key issues presented in the talk. embedded This video is about a man from Africa who built a windmill for his family. He actually wrote a book about it called "The Boy who Harnessed the Wind." It is truly inspiring. I think that afluent countries really take our education for granted. We could all do amazing things like this, things that could impact the world and create a chain reaction of good. This video just really opened my eyes to tghe human potential.
6) How could you get involved in the field/technology/issue you chose to hear about? What experience/skills/training/education would you need to learn to get involved with this field? This is a tricky question for this video seeing as this man had littole education or practice. This was really a mind of matter situation. I feel like anyone could do this, the hard part is getting the motivation and the heart that it requires.
2) What is the purpose of their website and how does the functionality of their site support that? The purpose of the website is to showcase the new inventions and ideas in an organized way making subjects and material easy to locate.
3) As Engineers and Problem Solvers, which topic areas (the choices from the "Show talks related to:" section on the sidebar) are of most interest to us? Justify your answer. I would argue that Design is the most relavent to our class, but then again, we are a class of 2012 and so we use technology a lot. Those combined really relate to our engineering class and our daily lives.
4) Based on your previous answer, what are 3 talks (videos) on the site that appear like they would be of most interest to you as an Engineer/Problem Solver? Justify your choices. I think that Gaming really is important, just look at the Gaming industry. Its smart this day in age to know a little about computers and gaming. Also the video about increasing the creativity in a classroom. Creativity and intelligence are hand in hand.
5) Each student will watch a unique video (clear your choice with me... first come, first served!). Watch the video. Embed the video in your blog post and create a bulletized outline of the key issues presented in the talk. embedded This video is about a man from Africa who built a windmill for his family. He actually wrote a book about it called "The Boy who Harnessed the Wind." It is truly inspiring. I think that afluent countries really take our education for granted. We could all do amazing things like this, things that could impact the world and create a chain reaction of good. This video just really opened my eyes to tghe human potential.
6) How could you get involved in the field/technology/issue you chose to hear about? What experience/skills/training/education would you need to learn to get involved with this field? This is a tricky question for this video seeing as this man had littole education or practice. This was really a mind of matter situation. I feel like anyone could do this, the hard part is getting the motivation and the heart that it requires.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Marshmallow Challenge (winners)
David, Sean, Israel and I won the challenge, building a tower at 26 inches high! We built it in the last three minutes under pressure and came out on top. Overall, it was a fun experience and we learned a couple things about engineering and how we as a group work best. 
Friday, March 23, 2012
Egg Droptastic Event
Total Achievements- 25 (for now)
Drawing of our three original ideas, we went with design 1
Mark I, sketchy original design
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The Kh(awesome)n Academy
The video I chose is about probability and statistics using something simple, a deck of playing cards. We are learning about this in math and I thought it would be relavant to watch a video about something I am already a little bit familiar with.
Provide "sustain" (positive) and "change" feedback regarding your experience with using the video to supplement your learning.
+ He explained inb detail to the veiwer exactly what he was trying to convey and repeated himself numerous times, that way it really stuvk into my mind.
+ uses colors to illustrate which ideas and problems were linked.
+ related something somewhat boring to most people, to something more interesting. I feel like I am ready for Vegas now!
- The only real change I can think of is pretty nit picky, he stuttered a lot so i think it would be good to almost write all of his ideas down, maybe a little more scripted?
"Sustain" - what works well for you with the video you chose? What works well for me is that i am a very visual and vedrbal learner. It really helps me to hear in detail, and even be able to go back and watch it again. He went slow and really made himself clear.
Would "flipping the classroom" work out? I think that it would totally work, only if the students had the will power to actually do what they were assigned at home. We all know that there will be those kids who dont do the lesson at home.
"Change" - Is there anything you would change regarding the video or the concept of "flipping the classroom". There isnt really anything i would change about the video, maybe add more Poker based probability? Like, gettting a royal flush or something. As to flipping the classroom, it really does sound like a good idea to me.
Should education institutions work towards this new paradigm? YES. I find myself getting bored to easily because, not to tute my own horn or anything, I work fast and end up having nothing to do. Ity would be nice for students to be able to entirely wortk at their own speed and level without any peer influence or time constraint.
Provide "sustain" (positive) and "change" feedback regarding your experience with using the video to supplement your learning.
+ He explained inb detail to the veiwer exactly what he was trying to convey and repeated himself numerous times, that way it really stuvk into my mind.
+ uses colors to illustrate which ideas and problems were linked.
+ related something somewhat boring to most people, to something more interesting. I feel like I am ready for Vegas now!
- The only real change I can think of is pretty nit picky, he stuttered a lot so i think it would be good to almost write all of his ideas down, maybe a little more scripted?
"Sustain" - what works well for you with the video you chose? What works well for me is that i am a very visual and vedrbal learner. It really helps me to hear in detail, and even be able to go back and watch it again. He went slow and really made himself clear.
Would "flipping the classroom" work out? I think that it would totally work, only if the students had the will power to actually do what they were assigned at home. We all know that there will be those kids who dont do the lesson at home.
"Change" - Is there anything you would change regarding the video or the concept of "flipping the classroom". There isnt really anything i would change about the video, maybe add more Poker based probability? Like, gettting a royal flush or something. As to flipping the classroom, it really does sound like a good idea to me.
Should education institutions work towards this new paradigm? YES. I find myself getting bored to easily because, not to tute my own horn or anything, I work fast and end up having nothing to do. Ity would be nice for students to be able to entirely wortk at their own speed and level without any peer influence or time constraint.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Money Ball Movie Discussion
1) What was the “Moneyball”approach that Billy Beane and Peter Brandt applied to the Oakland Athletics 2002 season? Was it an “art” or a “science”? What single statistic did they boil their value consideration down to? - The money ball approach was a very scientific and statistic based approach. They picked players only based on their number, not what they look like how how they act. The one statistic they based it on was the players OBP, On Base Precentage
3) What is design? - Design, in my own words, is identifying a problem and trying to fix that problem in the best way possible. In essence, it is to create something functional in the best, easiest, most cost effective way possible.
4) Describe 3 situations where movie characters (intentionally or not) applied a step from the PLTW 12 Step Design Process. Explain both the (a) situation as well as (b) how the step is relevant:
1 - Billy sitting at the table telling everyone to identify the problem. You have to be aware of the exact problem before you can even think about a solution.
2 - When Billy traded Giambi he fixed part of the problem because that player was keeping others from functioning at their highest potential.
3 - Billy bought Jonah hill's character, knowing that he could help fix the money issue.
5) What is “Leadership”? List the three aspects of leadership that we come up with in class.
1 - When you say something, people respect it and they listen withought question
2 - A leader is someone who you can put your faith in
3 - Leadership is putting your own ass on the line for what you believe in.
6) Describe 3 circumstances from the story where a character exercised effective leadership:
1 - Beane
2 -
3 -
7) According to the movie, what was the A’s record at the start of their winning streak? 68:51
8) What does this ratio simplify to (roughly)? 68:119
9) How long was the A’s record setting winning streak? 20 games won.
10) Given the A’s win/loss ratio at the start of the streak (listed two questions above), what are the odds of winning 20 games in a row? Run the numbers. .57 to the 20th power = .000013
11) Based on your calculation, do you think the A’s got lucky or was there something to the Moneyball approach? There is no way, with those numbers, that they got lucky. You cant leave that up to chance, like in black jack they beat the system with MoneyBall.
12) Did Billy Beane strictly apply the “science” of Moneyball to his management approach? Was there an “art” to his efforts as well? Describe a circumstance where he broke from the Moneyball approach to make a positive change for the team. - For the most part, it was strictly science. he set emotion and feeling aside and stuck to the numbers. The only time he strayed from the approah was when he cut Giambi, he did that to increase moral and productivity in the team.
3) What is design? - Design, in my own words, is identifying a problem and trying to fix that problem in the best way possible. In essence, it is to create something functional in the best, easiest, most cost effective way possible.
4) Describe 3 situations where movie characters (intentionally or not) applied a step from the PLTW 12 Step Design Process. Explain both the (a) situation as well as (b) how the step is relevant:
1 - Billy sitting at the table telling everyone to identify the problem. You have to be aware of the exact problem before you can even think about a solution.
2 - When Billy traded Giambi he fixed part of the problem because that player was keeping others from functioning at their highest potential.
3 - Billy bought Jonah hill's character, knowing that he could help fix the money issue.
5) What is “Leadership”? List the three aspects of leadership that we come up with in class.
1 - When you say something, people respect it and they listen withought question
2 - A leader is someone who you can put your faith in
3 - Leadership is putting your own ass on the line for what you believe in.
6) Describe 3 circumstances from the story where a character exercised effective leadership:
1 - Beane
2 -
3 -
7) According to the movie, what was the A’s record at the start of their winning streak? 68:51
8) What does this ratio simplify to (roughly)? 68:119
9) How long was the A’s record setting winning streak? 20 games won.
10) Given the A’s win/loss ratio at the start of the streak (listed two questions above), what are the odds of winning 20 games in a row? Run the numbers. .57 to the 20th power = .000013
11) Based on your calculation, do you think the A’s got lucky or was there something to the Moneyball approach? There is no way, with those numbers, that they got lucky. You cant leave that up to chance, like in black jack they beat the system with MoneyBall.
12) Did Billy Beane strictly apply the “science” of Moneyball to his management approach? Was there an “art” to his efforts as well? Describe a circumstance where he broke from the Moneyball approach to make a positive change for the team. - For the most part, it was strictly science. he set emotion and feeling aside and stuck to the numbers. The only time he strayed from the approah was when he cut Giambi, he did that to increase moral and productivity in the team.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
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