Passion Project #3

I haven't done a Passion Project update in about 5 weeks and in that time I have changed my focus to the evolution of humans rather than the beginning of the earth. However the information I was studying for the first few weeks is helpful to understand this topic. I realized how much work I have to do to put all of my information into a presentation. In the beginning I wanted to make something but I'm not sure I'll be able to do so due to time.

Passion Project Update 2

In the past two weeks, I haven't gotten as much work done as I thought I would. I was able to start the document that will begin to get me organized for my presentation. One problem I have noticed is getting lots of similar information from different sources. Also the sources I have been using aren't organized in the best fashion. Ms. Mystrena gave me a resource this weekend so I will be watching that video this coming Friday. My goal is to continue to gain knowledge about the subject and put that into a document and then a powerpoint. 

Passion Project Update 1

My first two Fridays have been pretty successful in my opinion. I didn't know much about my topic so I wanted to really look into the very beginning of the Earth. It is just the basics so far (how did the Earth form? Dust particles.) but it's a good start. I now have a foundation to my research and I'll be able to get a better understanding for the rest of my project. In the coming weeks I want to start putting a document together of important information that I gathered from the video.

Passion Project Update

I began researching paranormal activity but for the next two weeks I wasn't looking forward to working on my passion project so I decided to change my idea.... surprise, Ms. Mystrena! I've been working on a project on nerves for about 3 weeks. I chose this to continue my project because I want to be a doctor and this is part of the medical field that interests me. So I am sort of 2 weeks behind and that is one of my set backs. I have to work even harder to catch up but overall I think I will be fine because we have about 7 classes left. I took a different approach to my presentation this time which is helping me. Last time I set up a Google Doc and typed up all my information and then I categorized my information into my Prezi... that was not a good idea. I am now titling my slides first and then I am researching for the specific slide. It's working much better. One other thing is I need to practice so I know my information like the back of my hand. In my last presentation I wasn't confident that I knew my content well enough.

So with 7 classes left I think I will have more than enough time to get everything finished and polished!

20% Project Reflection

I am learning about lightning for my 20% project.  There is lots of information about lightning which is good for me so I have a lot to learn about my topic.  So far I have a lot of information, but it is kind of random and I need to put it into a presentation.  I think the information I have is interesting and people will enjoy learning about it because common, lightning is a pretty cool natural phenomenon.  The one problem I've been running into is a lot of the same information.  Also I have a Google Doc full of sooo much information but I only have about 2 Prezi slides done.  
I still have to see what information I want in my Prezi.  Then I have to organize it into categories that make sense and set a good order then my Prezi should be finished!  Once my Prezi is finished I have to figure out exactly what i want to say.   

Grades

     Grades.  For some, a sore subject.  For others, a proud topic to converse about.  But all in all, grades are merely numbers.  Grades are there to show how the student is doing in their classes but they grades we have now are also just a shortcut for teachers.  They can easily put in a number grade instead of having specific comments for different skills.  It is easier for teachers and parents to look at the grade quickly to determine how the student is doing.  So they think by seeing that ONE number it shows how the student is doing for every different element in the class?
     Overall, I don't like the current 100 point grading system.  However I think that it is easy to look at, It really isn't very accurate.  They can have much more specific categories for the grades.  With more specific grading specifications, students can most definitely do better in their classes.  
      I do not think the current system accurately represents my learning and knowledge.  This is because I know much more than some of my grades show. On many of my recent tests I haven't gotten my perfect 100% in a while and I think with the standards-based grading would more accurately represent how I am doing because I know the skills, I just normally make silly mistakes.  
     I think that schools could use a combination of the 100 point grading system and the standards-based grading.  You can see you number grade still just like we're used to but you can also see how you did on an assignment specifically all at the same time.
     

The new school year has arrived and I am now as busy as ever.  So far, my year in 8th grade has been pretty good.  I am on a team with many people I didn't know so I've met new people but there are also people I am very close with on my team.  I decided to do school soccer in addition to travel so I am now very busy.  Recently I starting campaigning for class council and won class secretary.  I am very excited for the rest of the year and soon I'll be off to high school...