Blog 24: Last Presentation Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your block presentation and/or your senior project? Why?
The thing that I was most proud of in my senior presentation was my activity. I did Jeopardy, and I didn't realize when I was first creating it, how engaged the entire class would be. It felt amazing knowing that everyone was involved and wanted to win. 

(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your block presentation?  Use the component contract to defend that assessment.

P 

The reason why I think I deserve this grade is because I felt like I did what was required for this lesson.  

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project? Use the component contract to defend that assessment.
  P   

The reason why I think I deserve a P is because I just did the what was needed for this project. I didn't do anything extra nor did I slack off on important assignments. 

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

What worked well was the fact that I was able to gain so much knowledge from my mentor about the universe. I don't think I could have done it without him, and I am so very grateful. 

(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your senior project?

One thing that I wished I could have done was take an astronomy class at Cal Poly. I would have an easier time finding research on my topic. 

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.

The senior project helped me realize that I don't want to make astronomy my career choice. Astronomy is very tedious. Usually you work alone in a lab for years just trying to figure out something in space. It can be long and frustrating which is something I definitely don't want to deal with.  

Exit Interview

Content:

(1) What is your essential question, and what are your answers?  What is your best answer and why?

EQ: How can the study of astronomy help infer what might happen at the collapse of the universe?

Answer 1: The universe will do a reverse Big Bang (The Big Crunch).

The Big Bang started from one point and soon expanded outwards creating everything, time and space itself. The universe expanded outwards for billions and billions of years, and is even continuing to do so today.Gravity, one of the main forces of the universe, will soon stop the expansion of the universe. The universe will slow down the expansion, have it come to a halt, and then have the direction of the expansion reverse. Because of this, the universe will shrink until it becomes a singularity. Everything, from matter to time, will cease to exist, leaving no trace of the universe ever existing.

Answer 2: The Big Rip will be the end of the universe.

There is another force that causes the universe to expand. We can’t see it, nor can we detect it, but we see the affects happening everyday. This force is called “Dark Energy”. Dark energy is not only making the universe expand, but it's making the universe expand at a faster rate each day. Soon enough, the rate of the expansion of the universe will be faster than the speed of light 299,792,458 m/s, and will continue to go faster. The rate of expansion will be too fast for galaxies to keep up, and will start to rip apart because of it. Everything, even atoms themselves, will start to rip apart because of the rate of the expansion. The universe will tear itself apart until matter is too small to ever bring itself apart. All matter in the universe will still be here, expanding, but it may never reach anything else again, making the universe lonely without ever really realizing it.

Answer 3: The universe will continue to expand, forever.

Gravity will continue to hold matter together. Galaxies won’t rip itself apart life in my last answer, unless it finds itself in a black hole. But, dark energy will continue to make the universe expand. Because of this, the cosmic horizon, the radius of the observable universe, will slowly come closer to us. That means that we are going to see less of the universe as time passes on because the light past the cosmic horizon will never reach us. The cosmic horizon will continue to come closer to us, until we can’t even see the thing right in front of us. Everything will be far apart of each other since the universe is stretching itself out. Everything may still be here, intact, but we will never see “thou art neighbor” ever again. The universe is together, yet divided.

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

Basically, the processes was just a lot of research and talking to my mentor. Most of the information I received about my answers were from my mentor. When he told me about it, I would try to find evidence online to back it up. Books were a definite no-no, because I wouldn’t be sure if the information written in it is outdated. Even things talked about  in astronomy last year might be out-dated.

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?

The biggest problem that I really faced was writing my essential question. I didn’t know which direction I wanted to go to, and when I did, I had no idea how to word it. Thankfully Mr. Piggott and Robert Machuca helped me reach it.

 

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

The two most significant sources that I have is my mentor and crash course astronomy. The reason why I choose crash course astronomy is because even though it is an online source, it made complicated ideas easy to understand, while having 12 minute videos packed with information. They also state where they get their information and their information is the most up-to-date. My mentor is also my most significant source because he was the one who helped me come up with my answers.

Blog 22: Independent Component 2

(a) Include this statement: “I, student name, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 31 ½  hours of work.”

(b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component.

George Blumenthal, Laura Kay, Stacy Palen, and Brad Smith. 21st Century Astronomy. Forth Edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2013. Print.

Crash Course. "High Mass Stars: Crash Course Astronomy #31." Online video clip. Youtube.  Youtube, 10 Sept 2015. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.

Crash Course. "Introduction to the Solar System: Crash Course Astronomy #9." Online video clip. Youtube.  Youtube, 12 Mar 2015. Web. 2 Apr. 2015.

Crash Course. "Low Mass Stars: Crash Course Astronomy #29." Online video clip. Youtube.  Youtube, 20 Aug  2015. Web. 2 April. 2016.

Crash Course. "Stars: Crash Course Astronomy #26." Online video clip. Youtube.  Youtube, 23 Jul 2015. Web. 2 Jan. 2016.

Crash Course. "The Sun: Crash Course Astronomy #10." Online video clip. Youtube.  Youtube, 19 Mar 2015. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.

Crash Course. "White Dwarfs & Planetary Nebulae: Crash Course Astronomy #30." Online video clip.
Youtube.  Youtube, 27 Aug 2015. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.

(c) Update your Independent Component 2 Log (which should be under your Senior Project Hours link)

(d) Explain what you completed.    

Basically what I did was create a little graphic novel explain the life of the Sun. I wanted the book to be short and easy to understand for the average comic book reader.

(e) Defend your work and explain the component's significance and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work.   

The significance of this independent component goes beyond the story written. The reason why I decided to learn about stars and the Sun was because in my third interview with Carol Hood, she explained to me that I had to understand the stars to fully grasp the concept of  the ending of the universe. She wanted me to know just how much work and years  a star did and lived, only to have it be alone in the end. It is the cycle of life, but not on Earth. This was a component that made me think more about how precious everything is and how significant the end of the universe will be.  Although of course it’s not going to happen for many many years.

Another reason why this component was significant is that I helped me learn how to teach astronomy to people who haven’t really learned about it. By doing this comic, I was able to understand how I should speak to my audience when talking about my EQ (the humor in the book was just kind of  a bonus).   

(f)How did the component help you answer your EQ? Please include specific examples to illustrate how it helped.

I already found all the answers I needed for my EQ long before this independent component, but like I said above, it helped me understand how I should execute the concepts of astronomy to people who haven’t really studied it.

Blog 21 - Interview 4 Reflection

1. What is the most important thing I learned from the interview?  
The most important thing that I learned from my interview is that I really shouldn't be scared about the final senior lesson. Instead I should focus on how to make it better. Of course this was after I conducted the required questions/2.  How will what I learned affect my final lesson?
It'll affect me by giving me reassurance and confidence.Instead of being timid and afraid, I learned that I should just do my best because I'm only going to be up there for an hour and a half. It's just like any other presentation. 

Fourth Interview Questions

I plan on interviewing Carol Hood, an assistant professor at Cal State San Bernardino (astronomy/physics). Her area of expertise is astronomy and physics.

1. What terms do I need to look up for my answers?
2. What are some key concepts I need to focus on in my answers?
3. Is there any history I need to look up to support my answers?
4. Can you explain to me how the universe expands?
5. Why will it continue to expand?
6. What was the big rip?
7. Why did we believe in that theory?
8. What was the big crunch?
9. When did we find evidence about how it was wrong?
10. What is the geometry of the universe?
11. Can you explain the potential shapes the universe may have?
12. How does that affect our universe as a whole?
13. Are there any resources I should look up to help me find more evidence to support my answers?
14. How do you think I should approach my class when teaching my senior topic?
15. What visuals should I show to the class?
16. How can I apply this to real life situations?
17. How can I make my answers easy to understand for people who don’t know anything about my topic?
18. What kind of activities do you think will be appropriate for my class to do?
19. How did you teach your class these concepts?
20. What background information to I need to provide before I start talking about my answers?

Blog 19: Third Answer

• EQ: 
• How can the study of astronomy help us infer what might happen at the collapse of the universe?
• Answer #3 (Write in a complete sentence like a thesis statement)*
• The universe will collapse by having the universe expand so much and fast that every little particle will tear itself apart. (The Big Rip)
• 3 details to support the answer
• The universe's expansion's acceleration rate
• Dark energy being the main cause of it, making up 72% of our universe.
• Models show how it may happen
• The research source(s) to support your details and answer
• #41, #37, #32, #31, #29
• Concluding Sentence
• The universe will not end with a bang, but with a rip. 

Blog 18: Answer 2

1.  What is your EQ?
How can the study of astronomy help us infer what might happen at the collapse of the universe?
2.  What is your first answer? (In complete thesis statement format)
The universe will not collapse but instead continue to expand further for all eternity. 
3.  What is your second answer? (In complete thesis statement format)
The gravity in the universe will cause a "big crunch".
4.  List three reasons your answer is true with a real-world application for each.
You can't really apply my answers to real world applications. This has no affect on us at all for trillions and trillions of years. The technology we build for the reseach that we do affect us, but my actual answers don't. 
5.  What printed source best supports your answer?
21 century astronomy textbook
6.  What other source supports your answer?
Crash course astronomy 
7.  Tie this together with a  concluding thought.
Although this may not apply to us for now, the knowledge we receive from this will benefit us in the future. 

Blog 17 - Interview 3 Reflection

Interview Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5GnVtEgOt4xa28tOFRpZTdzTnM/view?usp=sharing

1. What is the most important thing I learned from the interview?  
The most important thing I learned in my interview was some of the concepts I need to study to further my research. This mostly includes star formations and light.  I also learned that I need to create questions for myself  throughout my research to  further it even more. 2.  How has your approach to interviewing changed over the course of your senior project?
I think my approach to interviewing someone changed by how I confront them when I first meet them in person. I used to be a bit nervous or intimidated but, I learned that the people who I am interviewing just want to help. Knowing that it made it easier for me to have a better conversation with them and make each other feel comfortable. 

Blog 16: Independent Component 2 Approval

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

(REVISED: I will actually being doing a graphic novel)

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

I will show it through the logs and the actually graphic novel

3.  Explain how this component will help you explore your topic in more depth.

This will help me understand more of the underlining of astronomy. It will also help me execute more clearly to my audience

Independent Component 1

• LITERAL
• (a) I,Simrit Sohal, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 32 1/2 hours of work.
• (b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component.

Talcott, Richard, “The Sky this Week: December 25, 2015 - January 10, 2016.” Astronomy.com. Astronomy Magazine, 24 Dec. 2015. Web. 5 Jan, 2016.

“January Constellations”. seasky.org. Sea and Sky, n.d. Web. 5 Jan, 2016.

“February Constellations”. seasky.org. Sea and Sky, n.d. Web. 5 Jan, 2016.

• (d) Basically what I did throughout this project was observe the stars. My brother would take me up to the mountains for a few hours with a telescope and we would try to find planets and constellations. I read up articles beforehand to know when we should go to the mountains and where to look. Of course, the telescope might be difficult at times and it was a bit hard to find the constellations we were looking for because of all the stars in the sky. At the end, I was supposed to create a scrapbook with all the photos but my brother accidentally deleted all the photos we had and I lost all the work we had. So basically, I just explained in the scrapbook what we looked at and I gave small descriptions of each thing. It was not my proudest work, but I needed to do something.   

INTERPRETIVE

• Defend your work and explain its significance to your project and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work.   Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work.  

Like I said before, my brother deleted all the evidence we had in his camera. We took a lot of photos and now it’s all gone. The only evidence I have is my brother because he would be the one to drive me up to the mountains to look at the stars. Honestly, I am not proud; I lost all my work and I had to whip up something really quickly.

the scrapbook: http://www.mixbook.com/photo-books/interests/independent-component-1-13336062?vk=mK4wXkUjgU

• APPLIED
• How did the component help you understand the foundation of your topic better?  Please include specific examples to illustrate this.
• This helped me understand how astronomy all got started. Astronomy wouldn’t have become a part of physics if people were not curious of what was outside of Earth, Because of all the observations we had done, it showed why people want to observe. It showed me to we, as a species, are curious, which is why astronomy has lived on my many years, That is the foundation of astronomy, and that is what is holding it up.

Lesson 2 Reflection

*water reflection

1.What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?
What I am the most proud of is my tug - of - war activity because my students got really excited in it.

2. a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?
      P          

     b.     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.
I think I deserve that grade because I met the standards needed for that grade. I don't really have much to say about that.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?
What worked was all the information I had and my activity. 

4. What didn't work? If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?
I think what I would have done differently is go home and get the name tags I needed for my presentation. People were confused about where they should sit, ad I just so happened to forget the name tags at home.
5. What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?
I think my answer two may be about the universe calming down. I'm not so sure yet. 

Blog 13: 10 Hour Mentorship Check-In

1.   Where are you doing your mentorship?
I am doing my mentorship at Mt. Sac.
2.   Who is your contact?  What makes this person an expert?
My contact is Michael hood. What makes him an expert is that he teaches an astronomy class and he has a Ph.d in physics.
3.   How many  hours have you done during the school year? (Summer Mentorship Hours and Mentorship Hours should be reflected separately in your Senior Project Hours log located on the right hand side of your blog).
I have done 27 hours during the school year but I haven't done any hours during the summer.
4.   Succinctly summarize what you did, how well you and your mentor worked together, and how you plan to complete the remaining hours.
What I usually do is sit in during his lectures and observe what he does. I also take notes and I learn a lot from it. My mentor and I  work well together; he is very helpful and gives me advice of what I can look at to research. I plan to complete the remaining hours by doing what I usually do but also, there is an upcoming project he has that I can assist him with. I'll be getting my hours by that too. 

Blog 12: Holiday Project Update

1.  It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school.  What did you do over the break with your senior project?

i think that it is important that you use your break to relax and not think about school. That is the entire point of a break, or else it really feel like one now would it, I didn’t really do much with my senior project as I had a hard time contacting my mentor for hours.

2.  What was the most important thing you learned from what you did, and why?  What was the source of what you learned?

The most important thing I learned that it was okay to take that two - week break because that was the whole point. I didn’t necessarily learn this by myself but rather the adults around me told me.

3.  Your third interview will be a 10 question interview related to possible answers for your EQ. Who do you plan to talk to and why?

I might to plan to talk to my mentor wife as she is also an astronomy professor and researcher at Cal State San Bernardino.