TPoL Reflection Questions
Which project did you have the most personal connection with this year? Why?
I had a personal connection to the Mask project because it was about us as a person and a personal connection was required in order to create an honest and quality project.
What have you learned (skill, lesson, or knowledge) this year that will be most helpful for you in the future?
The ability to problem solve in a scientific context is one that will be incredibly useful in my future scientific pursuits in both school and in my career. This is demonstrated by the complicated, multi-step procedure used in my capstone lab, which is shown here.
What project or projects have you done this year that have inspired you to want to learn more? Explain how you were inspired.
Science fair was the most inspiring project this year, not through my research itself, but through the projects I was able to see at the fair.
How has your attitude toward learning changed this year?
Quite frankly, it hasn't. If anything, it has strengthened my stance that education and thus school is the most important thing in my life (besides family).
What connections have you made this year between what you have learned in your classes and your own personal experiences outside of school?
Speaking to the judges about my science fair project helped me to be able to speak and write eloquently and clearly.
How has your learning and experiences at AHS this year changed the way you see the world?
The perceived brevity of this year and how quickly it has passed put into perspective the fleeting nature of human existence.
What work from this year would you like to look back on and remember when you are a graduating senior?
I would like to look back on my science fair and Mask projects. Science fair was fun, which is reason enough to look back on it every year as I am going to participate in it in the future. My Mask project contains the physical component of the first project I have ever completed; I made the tunnel back in 6th grade.
What is the most important change that you have made as a learner this year?
How have you taken an active role in your education this year?
I came in during two teacher-development days to work on science fair.
What piece of work that you’ve done this year are you proudest of? Why?
The piece of work that I am most proud of is the project I submitted for science fair. This is due to the immense amount of work I put into it and the overall quality of the final product.
If you could go back and refine one piece of work this year, what piece of work would you refine and how would you refine it?
I would redo several of the labs that I 'completed' in Chemistry. I did very poorly on them and am not proud of the final product or the grade received. I would have put more time and work into them and used the resources available to me.
If you were the teacher, what comments would you make about your work habits?
I would say that I put the final product before the grade. I would also say that I am ambitious, sometimes overly so, and that can sometimes result in a less complete final product. My video project is a perfect example. I went above and beyond but not in the ways that the rubric would have liked me to. This resulted in a sub-par grade and a disappointing grade for the class and 9th grade in general.
What might you want next year’s teacher to know about your work habits?
I want them to know that I am ambitious and that I think this is a good thing and should be rewarded rather than punished in the gradebook.
What is the most difficult thing you have done this year? Why was it difficult, and how did you deal with that difficulty?
The most difficult project I completed this year was the project I submitted for science fair. I procrastinated a lot and was lost for much of it. When I had finally understood the topic and science underlying it, I had about a week to complete the project. That resulted in a huge workload over a short period of time that was hard due to the density. I just worked on it and got it done.
How has group collaboration helped you as a student?
It has shown me that I need to work on my ability to work with others. I like to be responsible because then I know that a task will be completed with quality and attention to detail.
What would you say to an incoming 9th grader about how to succeed in project based learning?
Don't procrastinate and talk to your teachers if you need assistance and/or time.
How have any of the habits of heart and mind helped you be successful as a student or person?
The habits of heart and mind don't really help in the moment, but are a way to categorize and identify areas for improvement.
How has a relationship with a faculty member helped you be more successful in school this year?
Chemistry has been the best class I have ever taken. I have learned more this year in science then I learned in middle school in the same field. My relationship with Steve has been an integral part of this class and its value.
How has the work in Advisory helped you grow or change as a student, as a friend, and as a citizen?
I have missed the majority of Advisory classes over the course of this semester. It has helped me by giving me a time to complete work for Chemistry.
Project based learning is a different model than traditional models of education. Explain how Project based learning has influenced your learning and your production of work.
Project based learning has influenced me by making my learning applicable and requiring me to use skills I had learned previously and build upon them.
I had a personal connection to the Mask project because it was about us as a person and a personal connection was required in order to create an honest and quality project.
What have you learned (skill, lesson, or knowledge) this year that will be most helpful for you in the future?
The ability to problem solve in a scientific context is one that will be incredibly useful in my future scientific pursuits in both school and in my career. This is demonstrated by the complicated, multi-step procedure used in my capstone lab, which is shown here.
What project or projects have you done this year that have inspired you to want to learn more? Explain how you were inspired.
Science fair was the most inspiring project this year, not through my research itself, but through the projects I was able to see at the fair.
How has your attitude toward learning changed this year?
Quite frankly, it hasn't. If anything, it has strengthened my stance that education and thus school is the most important thing in my life (besides family).
What connections have you made this year between what you have learned in your classes and your own personal experiences outside of school?
Speaking to the judges about my science fair project helped me to be able to speak and write eloquently and clearly.
How has your learning and experiences at AHS this year changed the way you see the world?
The perceived brevity of this year and how quickly it has passed put into perspective the fleeting nature of human existence.
What work from this year would you like to look back on and remember when you are a graduating senior?
I would like to look back on my science fair and Mask projects. Science fair was fun, which is reason enough to look back on it every year as I am going to participate in it in the future. My Mask project contains the physical component of the first project I have ever completed; I made the tunnel back in 6th grade.
What is the most important change that you have made as a learner this year?
How have you taken an active role in your education this year?
I came in during two teacher-development days to work on science fair.
What piece of work that you’ve done this year are you proudest of? Why?
The piece of work that I am most proud of is the project I submitted for science fair. This is due to the immense amount of work I put into it and the overall quality of the final product.
If you could go back and refine one piece of work this year, what piece of work would you refine and how would you refine it?
I would redo several of the labs that I 'completed' in Chemistry. I did very poorly on them and am not proud of the final product or the grade received. I would have put more time and work into them and used the resources available to me.
If you were the teacher, what comments would you make about your work habits?
I would say that I put the final product before the grade. I would also say that I am ambitious, sometimes overly so, and that can sometimes result in a less complete final product. My video project is a perfect example. I went above and beyond but not in the ways that the rubric would have liked me to. This resulted in a sub-par grade and a disappointing grade for the class and 9th grade in general.
What might you want next year’s teacher to know about your work habits?
I want them to know that I am ambitious and that I think this is a good thing and should be rewarded rather than punished in the gradebook.
What is the most difficult thing you have done this year? Why was it difficult, and how did you deal with that difficulty?
The most difficult project I completed this year was the project I submitted for science fair. I procrastinated a lot and was lost for much of it. When I had finally understood the topic and science underlying it, I had about a week to complete the project. That resulted in a huge workload over a short period of time that was hard due to the density. I just worked on it and got it done.
How has group collaboration helped you as a student?
It has shown me that I need to work on my ability to work with others. I like to be responsible because then I know that a task will be completed with quality and attention to detail.
What would you say to an incoming 9th grader about how to succeed in project based learning?
Don't procrastinate and talk to your teachers if you need assistance and/or time.
How have any of the habits of heart and mind helped you be successful as a student or person?
The habits of heart and mind don't really help in the moment, but are a way to categorize and identify areas for improvement.
How has a relationship with a faculty member helped you be more successful in school this year?
Chemistry has been the best class I have ever taken. I have learned more this year in science then I learned in middle school in the same field. My relationship with Steve has been an integral part of this class and its value.
How has the work in Advisory helped you grow or change as a student, as a friend, and as a citizen?
I have missed the majority of Advisory classes over the course of this semester. It has helped me by giving me a time to complete work for Chemistry.
Project based learning is a different model than traditional models of education. Explain how Project based learning has influenced your learning and your production of work.
Project based learning has influenced me by making my learning applicable and requiring me to use skills I had learned previously and build upon them.