1. In preparation on writing a term paper, I can consider myself semi-ready. The closest I have come to writing one was over the summer for my AP Gov/Econ class. Although it was my only experience, I hope to actually practice and write a few within my senior year, the amount I expect my teachers at Vallejo High School to give me. My teacher for English 12 P will DEFINITELY NOT assign or teach neither our class, nor any of her other classes about term papers. I am extremely disappointed for this fact because it is setting me up for failure as I attend a 4-year University of California. Despite the setback, I will ask guidance from those teachers that I know can help me and others in need, such as Mr. Tillay.
2. The last time I've written a book report was the beginning of last year’s AP English class for Ms. Nelson. Due to it being so far back and me unable to remember the rubric, I am not sure if it can be considered “formal.” My abilities as of now in writing one would be almost good enough to obtain a passing grade. I must also obtain help with this type of writing.
3. My ability to write a persuasive essay is strong, but not as good as it could/used to be. Thanks to Mr. Acac and Ms. Philips, I was able to pass the AP exam, in which a persuasive essay is a third of the possible grade. To help improve my abilities in this style of essay, I need to review what I learned last year and practice.
4. On a scale of 1-10 on being a good reader, I grade myself as an 8 average on a variety of genres. Although I don’t like to read much, I am still able to perform at high expectations such as analyzing the text’s content. I am not actually sure how many pages I can read in an hour because of the wide range of how many words can fit on page, etc.
5. If I were to do a lab that lasts 3-5 hours, it must be something that I am interested in (most labs interest me). I can tolerate the time length of the labs because I am a patient person who likes to achieve the desired results from experiments. I must also have a good lab group, if required, to work with. This group must contain the ability to have open ideas and work proficiently to maintain our focus and achieve the desired results.
6. Writing a formal lab and turning it in the day of the lab may be of some difficulty. I usually like to take my time in structuring my lab write ups so that they are informative and proof of my understanding. With a deadline like this, I will have to work fast in typing it up, while at the same time making it better than they usually are. As of now, I need to practice writing lab reports faster and more efficiently to be up to par with those who are in their first year of college.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
2 Million Minutes in 2 Class Periods
1. Life for high school students in China and India is straightforward: their lives are based on studying and having to deal with lower class conditions, including poverty. Students in these countries are focused on studies alone, rarely on anything else such as sports or having fun with friends. They also have to structure their lives on poverty-like conditions. Their environment in which they grew up motivates them to work hard in life to make a life. Compared to the US, the conditions and results are almost completely opposite. Students in the US basically study less and play more. Life is easy and academics are not taken as seriously, creating a dim future for the US.
2. Chinese high schools take education seriously. For instance, the Chinese school day is approximately 9 hours, aside for the extra two month long school year if compared to the US. The things that they study are important to life after high school such as advance topics that their high schools don’t even have access to/teach. Students try hard because of their economic status. Their view of life is either a degree or poverty. For entertainment, they “sometimes” hang out with their friends or do “fun” things related to school work.
3. High school life in India is also harsh due to the conditions that students face in everyday life. Majority of the students live in poverty and have to study hard to have a possible future. Many of the students there study to become engineers because it is a common goal for families. Their families and poverty are used as motivation to do well in school and study hard. Their school days are also long in preparation for college, aside from the fact that majority do rigorous studying over weekends.
4. Students in India and China know what they will be doing in ten years because they have everything planned out. If their main plan doesn’t fall through, they have a back-up plan to support their future and save them from poverty. They will basically graduate with a degree or experience poverty.
5. Parents in China and India take their children’s education seriously. They enforce the amount of studying their children are required to do both at school and at home. Some believe that their children are not studying enough, even when they are to the point at which they have no social life. Parents in the US are less aware that their student’s work is not sufficient enough for them to compete against the world.
6. Students in China and India were selected to compete against students in the US because a greater contrast was needed to realize how much the US failing at education. Both of these foreign countries are also two of the top four in the world in being the most advance.
7. This statement clearly shows that students in the US are not able to compete with others around the world. Their efforts in contributing to the economy will be less of an impact due to how far they are behind everyone else.
8. Vallejo High School is not, as a whole, helping me prepare for college. There are multiple gaps and areas in which I need to be helped on to succeed in life after high school. The lack of commitment of certain staff from my school greatly affects whether I perform good or bad in college. As an individual, I have done things such as challenge myself more and stepping up my efforts in education.
9. Compton is a father of a US girl in high school whom in which he thinks is not getting good education. His plan is to evaluate the curriculum of the schools in the US and compare them to two top countries and compare them to see what is needed to be done.
10. Mr. Tillay is correct when all of the given examples are not concerned with our learning in school. Based on our self evaluations and comparisons to others who are greater prepared, we are able to see what is needed to be done by others so that we ourselves can progress. I've learned that as a Vallejo High School student, I have little help left to receive and I must do the rest on my own to succeed in life after high school.
2. Chinese high schools take education seriously. For instance, the Chinese school day is approximately 9 hours, aside for the extra two month long school year if compared to the US. The things that they study are important to life after high school such as advance topics that their high schools don’t even have access to/teach. Students try hard because of their economic status. Their view of life is either a degree or poverty. For entertainment, they “sometimes” hang out with their friends or do “fun” things related to school work.
3. High school life in India is also harsh due to the conditions that students face in everyday life. Majority of the students live in poverty and have to study hard to have a possible future. Many of the students there study to become engineers because it is a common goal for families. Their families and poverty are used as motivation to do well in school and study hard. Their school days are also long in preparation for college, aside from the fact that majority do rigorous studying over weekends.
4. Students in India and China know what they will be doing in ten years because they have everything planned out. If their main plan doesn’t fall through, they have a back-up plan to support their future and save them from poverty. They will basically graduate with a degree or experience poverty.
5. Parents in China and India take their children’s education seriously. They enforce the amount of studying their children are required to do both at school and at home. Some believe that their children are not studying enough, even when they are to the point at which they have no social life. Parents in the US are less aware that their student’s work is not sufficient enough for them to compete against the world.
6. Students in China and India were selected to compete against students in the US because a greater contrast was needed to realize how much the US failing at education. Both of these foreign countries are also two of the top four in the world in being the most advance.
7. This statement clearly shows that students in the US are not able to compete with others around the world. Their efforts in contributing to the economy will be less of an impact due to how far they are behind everyone else.
8. Vallejo High School is not, as a whole, helping me prepare for college. There are multiple gaps and areas in which I need to be helped on to succeed in life after high school. The lack of commitment of certain staff from my school greatly affects whether I perform good or bad in college. As an individual, I have done things such as challenge myself more and stepping up my efforts in education.
9. Compton is a father of a US girl in high school whom in which he thinks is not getting good education. His plan is to evaluate the curriculum of the schools in the US and compare them to two top countries and compare them to see what is needed to be done.
10. Mr. Tillay is correct when all of the given examples are not concerned with our learning in school. Based on our self evaluations and comparisons to others who are greater prepared, we are able to see what is needed to be done by others so that we ourselves can progress. I've learned that as a Vallejo High School student, I have little help left to receive and I must do the rest on my own to succeed in life after high school.
Monday, October 26, 2009
What I Learned Today
After working together in class on the Unit 6 Test I realized that when collaborating, we are able to achieve higher test scores. Not only do we achieve higher scores but obtain a better understanding of topics. Through working together, we as individuals provide input from different point of views. These ideas may fluctuate in either being similar or different. It was discovered that there are also times when a person must assert themselves to support their own arguments, knowing from their point of view that it is correct. Once the class had given their scores that they would have received without help, I was amazed that majority had scored an average of C’s and D’s on the multiple choice questions. I guess this also shows that we ALL have to try harder at mastering the subject of physics.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Quarter 1 Reflection
AP Physics Effort/Performance/Progress Matrix
Name: Nicholas Date: Oct. 12, 09
SUCCESS is the result of personal effort, patience, nightly studying, working through frustrating times, having a Socratic dialogue in class, and staying motivated to master the subject matter. You will be submitting this form electronically and creating a summary on your blog. The evaluation scheme is 6 = above and beyond; 5 = excellent (A); 4 = well done (B); 3 = good (C);
2 = poor/little effort (D); 1 = no attempt (F).
1. CORNELL NOTES for Chapters 1 through 5. 4
2. COMPUTER Notes/Tutorials Units 1 through 4 4
3. FUSION WEBSITE USE – Calendar, Section Files & Links 3
4. TEXTBOOK Chapters 1 through 5 Questions 4
5. CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT WORKBOOK USE 2
6. HICKMAN PROBLEM-SOLVING WORKBOOK USE 1
- didn’t use this yet
7. BOYLE WORKBOOK USE 1
- didn’t use this yet
8. PHYZ GUIDES Reading and Highlighting 5
9. TILLAY PROBLEM-SOLVING HANDOUT completion 4
10. BOARDWORK for Points – at least once a week required 6
11. CLASS NOTES – taken from lectures and problem-solving 5
12. VIDEO NOTES – taken carefully, reviewed, & highlighted 5
13. LABS – all seven completed, electronically completed 6
14. ONLINE GIANCOLI PRACTICE QUESTIONS – all done 5
15. ONLINE GIANCOLI PRACTICE PROBLEMS – all done 2
16. MATERIALS – brought to class every day 5
17. ATTENDANCE – on-time every day! 5
18. NOTEBOOK – everything organized, used effectively 4
19. QUIZ – see Mr. T for your average for Units 0 to 4 3
20. GRADE EARNED for the first quarter 3
BLOG Work. COMPLETE the items below on your blog. SEND your blog URL to Mr. T tonight. WRITE responses using your knowledge of Technical Writing. Use separate paragraphs for each item below.
21. DESCRIBE why YOU earned the grade listed for #20. GIVE SPECIFIC Signs of
Excellence…look at how you answer the questions above it!
I deserve a 3 out of 6 for a grade because I personally know that I didn’t try my hardest in this class. My progress throughout the first quarter can be described as hectic and frustrating. Although I have participated and done majority of the given work, I have not mastered the subject like I am supposed to. My success within this class can be viewed through my labs that I perform successfully with my group and from my participation within the weekly group presentations.
22. IDENTIFY your three areas of STRENGTH and NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT.
My three areas of strength within this class are doing labs, working in groups (collaborating), and understanding basic concepts with the use of calculus. These can be seen through my lab write-ups, group presentations, and work/notes that requires math. My three areas that need improvement are doing the practice problems online, doing better on tests/quizzes, and understanding everything that is taught. These things can all be fixed through studying and trying harder within the class – going “above and beyond.”
23. WRITE your own DEFINITION of PHYSICS based on your knowledge to date.
Based upon all that I have learned to this point, physics is the study of matter and how it behaves. It is also the observation and understanding of how matter and its behavior are related to everything throughout the world.
24. HOW can Mr. T help you become a BETTER student?
Mr. T can help me become a better student by explaining concepts to me if needed. As of now, I have to personally make progress of my own to become that “better student.” He has already made excellent progress in helping me to become who I am now and realize who I need to be, leaving it up to me to finish what he started.
25. WHAT should Mr. T consider changing to HELP you become a BETTER student?
There isn’t anything that I prefer Mr.T to change to help me become a better student. The only source of error in my learning is my individual performance within the class. I need to personally change my study habits and ways of learning things to master physics.
26. LIST who you regularly study with in this class.
On a regular basis, I mainly study with my study group, which includes Reedge Abueg and Arron Ercia. We help each other answer questions and divide work evenly, while at the same time gaining equal amounts of understanding towards the topic(s). There are also times when other students within the class ask for help, mainly certain individuals from different groups.
27. SUMMARIZE your time log: number of entries and number of hours studied.
My overall time log is slightly under the required amount of time necessary to succeed in this class. Although I put in x amount of time into studying, it is not an amount that is considered enough to master the subject of physics and all that relate to it.
28. Any other concerns or comments?
One of the main setbacks that I experienced this quarter was not having internet. This class is completely related to electronics and the internet, making it important to have a computer with internet access. My failure to have one led to part of why I have the grade I earned/deserved. I promise that I will become a better student and it will be acknowledged. Thank you for being such a great teacher/mentor. You will be the closest I can get to actually experiencing a real college class.
Name: Nicholas Date: Oct. 12, 09
SUCCESS is the result of personal effort, patience, nightly studying, working through frustrating times, having a Socratic dialogue in class, and staying motivated to master the subject matter. You will be submitting this form electronically and creating a summary on your blog. The evaluation scheme is 6 = above and beyond; 5 = excellent (A); 4 = well done (B); 3 = good (C);
2 = poor/little effort (D); 1 = no attempt (F).
1. CORNELL NOTES for Chapters 1 through 5. 4
2. COMPUTER Notes/Tutorials Units 1 through 4 4
3. FUSION WEBSITE USE – Calendar, Section Files & Links 3
4. TEXTBOOK Chapters 1 through 5 Questions 4
5. CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT WORKBOOK USE 2
6. HICKMAN PROBLEM-SOLVING WORKBOOK USE 1
- didn’t use this yet
7. BOYLE WORKBOOK USE 1
- didn’t use this yet
8. PHYZ GUIDES Reading and Highlighting 5
9. TILLAY PROBLEM-SOLVING HANDOUT completion 4
10. BOARDWORK for Points – at least once a week required 6
11. CLASS NOTES – taken from lectures and problem-solving 5
12. VIDEO NOTES – taken carefully, reviewed, & highlighted 5
13. LABS – all seven completed, electronically completed 6
14. ONLINE GIANCOLI PRACTICE QUESTIONS – all done 5
15. ONLINE GIANCOLI PRACTICE PROBLEMS – all done 2
16. MATERIALS – brought to class every day 5
17. ATTENDANCE – on-time every day! 5
18. NOTEBOOK – everything organized, used effectively 4
19. QUIZ – see Mr. T for your average for Units 0 to 4 3
20. GRADE EARNED for the first quarter 3
BLOG Work. COMPLETE the items below on your blog. SEND your blog URL to Mr. T tonight. WRITE responses using your knowledge of Technical Writing. Use separate paragraphs for each item below.
21. DESCRIBE why YOU earned the grade listed for #20. GIVE SPECIFIC Signs of
Excellence…look at how you answer the questions above it!
I deserve a 3 out of 6 for a grade because I personally know that I didn’t try my hardest in this class. My progress throughout the first quarter can be described as hectic and frustrating. Although I have participated and done majority of the given work, I have not mastered the subject like I am supposed to. My success within this class can be viewed through my labs that I perform successfully with my group and from my participation within the weekly group presentations.
22. IDENTIFY your three areas of STRENGTH and NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT.
My three areas of strength within this class are doing labs, working in groups (collaborating), and understanding basic concepts with the use of calculus. These can be seen through my lab write-ups, group presentations, and work/notes that requires math. My three areas that need improvement are doing the practice problems online, doing better on tests/quizzes, and understanding everything that is taught. These things can all be fixed through studying and trying harder within the class – going “above and beyond.”
23. WRITE your own DEFINITION of PHYSICS based on your knowledge to date.
Based upon all that I have learned to this point, physics is the study of matter and how it behaves. It is also the observation and understanding of how matter and its behavior are related to everything throughout the world.
24. HOW can Mr. T help you become a BETTER student?
Mr. T can help me become a better student by explaining concepts to me if needed. As of now, I have to personally make progress of my own to become that “better student.” He has already made excellent progress in helping me to become who I am now and realize who I need to be, leaving it up to me to finish what he started.
25. WHAT should Mr. T consider changing to HELP you become a BETTER student?
There isn’t anything that I prefer Mr.T to change to help me become a better student. The only source of error in my learning is my individual performance within the class. I need to personally change my study habits and ways of learning things to master physics.
26. LIST who you regularly study with in this class.
On a regular basis, I mainly study with my study group, which includes Reedge Abueg and Arron Ercia. We help each other answer questions and divide work evenly, while at the same time gaining equal amounts of understanding towards the topic(s). There are also times when other students within the class ask for help, mainly certain individuals from different groups.
27. SUMMARIZE your time log: number of entries and number of hours studied.
My overall time log is slightly under the required amount of time necessary to succeed in this class. Although I put in x amount of time into studying, it is not an amount that is considered enough to master the subject of physics and all that relate to it.
28. Any other concerns or comments?
One of the main setbacks that I experienced this quarter was not having internet. This class is completely related to electronics and the internet, making it important to have a computer with internet access. My failure to have one led to part of why I have the grade I earned/deserved. I promise that I will become a better student and it will be acknowledged. Thank you for being such a great teacher/mentor. You will be the closest I can get to actually experiencing a real college class.
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