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