Spring 2015 Personal Connections and Adult World Connections:Which project did you have the most personal connection with this year? Why? I chose the, “Mask Project” because we all got to know each other more and we also got to see how everyone in our class socialize. I thought that this project was fun and interesting because we got to use our creativity when we were painting our masks.
What have you learned (skill, lesson, or knowledge) this year that will be most helpful for you in the future? The P.O.L presentations that we do because it helps us with the future presentations and with our careers. At first I didn't like it at all because we had to present what we learned in each class and that we had to present it in front of our class mates and parents. But after thinking about it Animas High School is preparing us for the future and that not a lot of schools do these kind of presentations.
What project or projects have you done this year that have inspired you to want to learn more? Explain how you were inspired. I said the, "Brave New World" Project when we made a poster and wrote an essay about it. I really enjoyed that project because we had a partner who would be an artist or an author, I was the author and my partner Tori was the artist. We chose the scene where John couldn't live in this crazy world anymore he was done being told that he was different and was only seen as an entertainment. John ended up committing suicide because what he's been through, and this scene that we chose was very depressing but we wanted to do it. We chose it because we thought that it really powerful and what we learned that society doesn't always accept you but being yourself is better than masking who you are. How has your attitude toward learning changed this year? I was more interested with what our teachers were teaching and every project that we've done has been so much fun. I also liked how the mini projects tied into what we were doing for our big project, it helped a lot because it teaches us the skills we need to know when we do the actual project. What connections have you made this year between what you have learned in your classes and your own personal experiences outside of school? I learned that I can be more creative with my writing and my projects and also when I'm collaborating with others we put our ideas together to create something different. How have your learning and experiences at AHS this year changed the way you see the world? I felt like that I was more motivated this year with my school assignments and with communicating with my teachers. This year at Animas the teachers supported me and encouraged me to get things done in class, also from my friends who would motivate me to do my work. What work from this year would you like to look back on and remember when you are a graduating senior? I would say the, "Shakespeare" Project because I almost over came my stage fright and became more confident with my acting skills. The project has been lots of fun I noticed that I have grown to be comfortable with the people in my classes. You as a Student and a Learner (Your Work and Your Work Habits):What is the most important change that you have made as a learner this year? I listened a lot more and tried my best to get my work done. I also supported my friends more and helped them with their essays and gave them some feedback. How have you taken an active role in your education this year? I communicated to my teachers more than I did in 8th grade and I also used my planner a lot more to remind me of the work I needed to get done. What piece of work that you've done this year are you proudest of? Why? The, "Teacher Creature Project" because I never messed with Adobe Photoshop and during the process of learning how to use the tools was challenging. But once I finished the project I was proud of my work it made me happy because it was defiantly challenging and it all paid off. 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? The video project because I didn't like how it came out but I was also proud of my group and what we created. I did like the video but I thought it could of used some more refining and we should of used our time wisely because when it came to the last minute situation we still had lots to do.The timing was terrible and we did put lots of effort into filming it we just felt rushed at the end and we put anything to the video and turned it in like that. This was a lesson to be learned, now that we know not to mess around and make sure to use our time wisely. If you were the teacher, what comments would your teacher make about your work habits? For assignment wise it would be good job all you have to do now is turn it in.
What might you want next year’s teacher to know about your work habits? I do my work but sometimes I won't turn it in because I would forget about it or I don't want to. I do ask to come in to work on missing assignments and I also get shy when I ask for help. 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 thing I did this year was the P.O.W's we did this year in Algebra 1 because I was never good at those and I found it difficult to work on individually and with a partner. I do understand what we have to do but it's the problem solving that throws me off. Instead of turning it in I would just avoid it as much as possible because I always felt like my answer would be wrong. How has group collaboration helped you as a student? It helped me with being more social with other people and getting to know them. Reflecting on Yourself and Our Model of Education (Project Based Learning and our Student Culture)What would you say to an incoming 9th grader about how to succeed in project based learning? Do all your assignments and when you miss a day make sure to talk to your teacher about what you missed because if you don't it will affect your grade. When you need someone to talk to you can always go to one of the teacher and talk to them because they are all so nice and caring. E-mail your teachers to communicate if your too shy to talk to them as long as you talk to them then your good, it could be about your assignments or when your feeling down. How have any of the habits of heart and mind helped you be successful as a student or person? It has helped me as a student a few of the words gave me motivation to do my best in school. One of the words I used throughout this year was advocacy,
How has a relationship with a faculty member helped you be more successful in school this year? In middle school my teachers didn't communicate with me until we had a parent teacher conference and at Animas the teachers connect more with the students and give them the help they need. How has the work in Advisory helped you grow or change as a student, as a friend, and as a citizen? It has grown me closer with my advisory class because at first I didn't talk to anyone in there unless we had to. It changed me as a student because when we checked our power-school grades it gave me motivation to fix the grade I had. It also reminded me to talk to my teachers about certain missing assignments. 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. I didn't expect us to do a lot of projects and exhibitions but it was all fun especially when we did our first exhibition we had to present our big project in front of a lot of people. I liked it a lot and I'm glad that I chose Animas.