#instacane

See what people are posting on Instagram with the #instacane hashtag.

How Smart Can You Get?

Practicing a "growth mindset" (the idea that you learn each and everyday through your experiences) is a fundamental of my agenda for our classes. If I'm out sick, please watch this program in class (It may be broken into five parts for web viewing. If so, click through to the next section when each section finishes).

Watch How Smart Can We Get? on PBS. See more from NOVA scienceNOW.

Infrastructure

It's been a heck of a storm on the east coast. We sure feel for all of those that have been effected by these events.

What is "infrastructure"? How has the storm effected the infrastructure in the regions that have born the brunt of the weather?

What types of natural disasters should we be prepared for here in Southern California? Are you ready for the unexpected? 

Puzzle Parts!

For our 3 x 3 x 3 puzzle cube, how many unique puzzle parts can you make with three blocks? How many with 4? How about with 5 or 6?

Alexis has the nicest looking parts I've seen this year. Crisp, straight lines and a consistent, colored shading scheme:
-

Better Learning Through Gameplay

The bell hadn't even rung for class yet and we have this level of interest...

MIT has an "open courseware" (free online class content) class on game design. We'll take a look at this since the majority of the class has been engaged with this game experience...

Let the Wheeling and Dealing Continue!

Lots of brainpower going into our negotiating game today...

Energy Sources!

Image from classroom-energy.org
Americans spend 500 billion dollars each year on energy. As populations and appetites increase, the world faces a challenge of significantly growing energy needs. Many unique energy sources are available. To meet future energy needs, engineers need to design technology to contribute new ways to harness energy, increase efficiency, and better transport and store energy.


Objective:
Your task as a class is to prepare a presentation on the different energy sources we use collectively as a society (9 types from the graphic above). The class must cover each of the sources listed.

Presentation Grading (5 pts)
The presentation is worth 5 points. 4 points will be earned by each team and the remaining point will be awarded collectively to the class. If you address the content and process standards below, you will earn 4 points. If the class collectively addresses the process standards the 5th point will be awarded.

Product:
- Energy Source - Overview, Steps for Harnessing Energy, Major Energy Uses
- Is the energy source classified as nonrenewable, renewable, or inexhaustible?
- What are the infrastructure requirements for utilizing this energy source?
- What emerging technologies will make this energy source safer, more usable, more efficient, cleaner, etc?
- Consideration of Efficiency/Conservation
- Costs - Setup, Consumer Costs
- Pros/Cons
- Outlook for the future

Process:
- Unified look/theme to entire presentation
- Reduced Text - Use bullets and talk to them
- High Value Images - do they tell a story?


Blog Post Grading (2pts)
Post the images of your section of the "Energy Sources!" Presentation to your Blog. Copy and paste the following questions into your post after your slides and answer them.

1. Describe one thing that surprised you about the energy source that you researched and presented.



2. Describe one thing that surprised you about an energy source that another team presented.



3. Describe and defend what you believe to be the most important technological need regarding energy.

Let the Wheeling and Dealing Begin!

Andoni and Ryan have gotten us going on our annual game of Diplomacy in the Projects Course. Although the setting of the game (early 20th Century Europe) might be better suited for a history class, the logic of the challenge and associated negotiations required to win are a perfect opportunity to hone our risk management and salesmanship skills (important for any technical project!). 

Everyone seems excited for this, it should be fun!

Andoni and Ryan explaining the logic behind the game: 

No dice and simultaneous reveal of moves in the game makes for lots of wheeling and dealing between teams. Ryan and Andoni had barely finished their talk and already we have all the teams pow-wowing:

Homecoming Parade!

Gangnam Style!!!!

Nice job CHS Teachers! :)

6th Period Canoes!

5th Period Canoes!

3rd Period at the Races!

7 entries for 3rd Period... Our largest field yet!
-

"Content is King" - Guest appearance by Mr. Farrar! :)

2nd Period at the Races!

Thanks to Mr. Rempe and Mr. Heskestad for stopping by as our VIP reviewers :)

"Technology as a Tool"

This is a big theme for my classes; the idea that you can use an implement (hardware, software, system, etc.) to leverage your time and effort to accomplish more than you could previously.

I was impressed that Alex had repurposed his cast into a tape smoothing tool. That's creative problem solving.

Jason was quick to come up with his own expedient solution :)
-

Fightertown USA

Apparently the Blue Angels are in town! It was the "Highway to the Dangerzone" over Casa Olson yesterday afternoon. A striking day for high performance flying.

It seems that we have students attend the air show each year. Lots of good hardware on display. If your attending and want to participate in our Airshow Photo Scavenger Hunt, let me know and I'll fill you in on the details.
-

First!

Team Fire and Ice is the first to complete their boat build. Congrats!
-

Engineering Projects

Jason and Putnam have a new split tail setup for their aircraft. Why is this significant to their design?

Eng Projects: Goal Setting

Work backwards from a general, high level goal to develop specific, accomplishable tasks that build off each other to support the outcome.

Individual tasks will support your weekly milestones.

This sheet is an example we used in class. It reflects a break out of Ryan and John's efforts to develop a business building handplanes for bodysurfers:

Use this as an example. First make a handwritten version, get some feedback and then flesh out a more professional looking one in powerpoint (or equivalent).

Canoes Are Getting Built!

Who will win our competition next week?:

"Fail Early, Fail Often..."

...You all hear me say it nearly every day.

These leaders were all entrepreneurs in one way or another. What if they had waited to get everything "just right" before they attempted their early efforts?

Even though these first efforts were "failures", what do you think they learned from them? How might this "growth mindset" have helped them in their life and nation defining roles? Can you choose to have a "growth mindset"? How do champions like Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods react to set backs? Can you react the same?

CHS Photo Scavanger Hunt Challenge - Who's room is this poster posted in?

Data Visualization

We'll watch this one on a rainy day:

 

What did you find most compelling in this presentation?

How could you present information in your future academic efforts to tell more of a "story"?

According to this data, what effect did increased quality/accessibility of health care have on countries' GDP?

Perspective

Chris in 3rd Period has drawn the best Perspective Sketch I've seen in my now third year of doing this activity. Nice job!

Mission Impossible: Federal Survey Card Competition!

UPDATE: Congratulations! 4th Period has persevered to achieve victory! This was a multifaceted effort and we can feel good that everybody came together to accomplish this goal. Nice work :)



Dear 4th Period Engineers,

Change of plan for our Federal Survey Card strategy! We designed our solution on incorrect information.

The cards may be turned in as soon as they are all collected. To be competitive, we will aim to turn them in before school!

This plan is complicated by the fact that I have an appointment in the morning and will not be in until 8:30... so I've devised a solution that ill let us remain competitive!

Do the following to help us achieve victory!:
1) Contact your agreed upon "buddy" to make sure they have completed their card and packed it for school. Please make sure they know we will now be turning them in before school!
2) Ensure your own card is complete and packed for school.
3) Return your card to the envelope in the folder taped to the Engineering classroom door (Rm 705). Do this before school! Mark off your name/number on the list on the holder once your card is in and arranged in the correct alphabetical/numerical order.
4) If you are the last student to return the card/check off on the list, immediately turn in the envelope of cards to Mrs. Kirk. If I am not in I can retroactively write a pass if you are on this task during first period.

The Stakes!:
If the class wins, we will lower the Term's grade threshold by 5 points. :)
If you fail to bring your card in, it was agreed that you owe the class cookies :)

Thank you, I look forward to celebrating a victory in the morning!

Mr. Olson