June 17-23

Organizational Skills

            As I did a lot more sightseeing at the Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Teton National Park with my family than sitting at my computer this week, my parents did most of the time managing for me. However, I decided on a few of the places we went to which were beneficial to my Personal Project and how long we would stay. I took a lot of notes (all in the same notebook so I would not misplace any of them), pictures (all on one camera for the same reason), and accumulated brochures and business cards in a folder.

Communication

            My father and I spoke with several rangers in the two national parks, asking about the various environmental conservation programs they have or had and their impacts on the environment. In addition, I spoke with a professional nature photographer who gave me tips on how to take good nature photographs, and later visited the gallery of a different nature photographer and spoke to the people there. We also went to other places in which there were people that might be able to help me with my project. The notes I took are in a notebook, and pictures of me with some of the people I talked to are below.

Angelica Aquino, Grand Teton National Park 

Jay Koeppel, Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center

Mike Conlin, Jackson National Fish Hatchery

Sarah, Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center

Information Literacy

            I gained a lot of experience in photography as I took a photograph of almost everything that I saw in the various places my family and I went. I constantly tried to take the best photographs I could because I might be able to use them in my calendar to help raise awareness on a particular aspect of the environment. I also learned quite a lot about measures that regular people can take to help the environment, such as the Leave-No-Trace Policy in the Grand Teton National Park (whatever one takes in the forest or on the trails, they take back out with them). This policy is beneficial not only to the park, but in forests and natural areas everywhere because if one left their empty drink can somewhere in the forest then an animal could come and choke on it and die due to them thinking it is some kind of food. In addition, people can help save the environment by conserving water and energy.

June 10-16

Organizational Skills  
            This week I used my time to brainstorm ideas about what to do for my Personal Project. To make sure I did not cram all of my brainstorming until the last minute, I set aside a certain amount of time each night this week to think exclusively about the Project. 
Communication
            During a few of my brainstorm sessions, my father helped me by suggesting ideas that I could possibly use as my product. Sometimes he built on my ideas as well to make them better. It was through such a session that I thought of my product: a calendar to raise environmental awareness. In addition to my father, my supervisor, Mrs. Grace gave me feedback about my ideas and told me about the key elements I will need to get a good grade.
Information Literacy
            
            I learned that coming up with good ideas takes a lot of time and effort. Also, other people’s suggestions can be invaluable when brainstorming ideas. One idea can lead to another, others can build on it and eventually one will have a great concept of what they will do. This does not apply only to the Personal Project, but also to other projects in various school subjects, and to solve problems in many situations such as within one’s family, church, or business. In addition, I discovered that talking and note taking are more of my personal means to brainstorm, not mind mapping or drawing my ideas. However, probably the most important thing of all that I learned this week was the rubric that everyone will be graded on and the Summative Checklist near the end of the Personal Project guide. If I follow each of the criteria, hopefully my chances of getting a good grade will be higher.