Tuesday, November 24, 2015
21st of November
The seniors in this class don't seem very driven. I had to work with my solar panel bracket team to make the first two sections of a Design Report. I have repeatedly felt throughout this project that if I didn't take charge nothing would ever happen. That was no different in class that day. I worked on a section called Technical Review for most of class, I did some research, wrote more than a page of Technical Review. When I finished, I realized that together they had written even less than I had during the class. In addition, we were given an example that told us what was needed in each section. Some of what had been written didn't even make sense based on the given examples. Why are these senior so lack luster? Why did they even decide to take this class? Many seem to lack motivation and to lack any talent for writing despite being seniors. I need to talk to my teacher about my group experience. I am very uncertain about the value of this class sometimes.
November (Women is Science)
November 13
We talked about how engineers use logic (a type of Algebra) to create complicated circuits and chips. Although the general capabilities of each separate current is on or off, they can combine many layers and using logic can create things as complicated an iPhone chip. Simulators test the accuracy of these logic based designs.
November 18
Judy took me on a window tour of the chip production process. There is so much that goes into the production of the chips. Some cool facts include the fact that these chips are so small that the people working have to wear full body suits to avoid getting any skin or hair on them and ruining them. The rooms are sealed by doors that push air out so that dirt is not blown into the room. Many toxins and gases are used throughout the process. I found it interesting that IBM or Global Foundries "makes" there own Nitrogen. It freezes at a different temperature than Oxygen and so they can extract it and release the rest back into the atmosphere.
Reflection
This is allowing me to view the world of electric, mechanical, and chemical engineers. Nothing that I've seen has sparked any passion like at CSG. However, I do admit that it might just take time. I believe that expose to and understanding these skills and processes is valuable experience. A job in a facility that simply produced technology is not at the top of my list, or even to design said tech. I am more interested in how the company deals with their toxins, acts towards the environment and other humans, and its efforts to be environmentally friendly. Hmm. Sadly these disciplines do not seem to mix despite being so connected.
We talked about how engineers use logic (a type of Algebra) to create complicated circuits and chips. Although the general capabilities of each separate current is on or off, they can combine many layers and using logic can create things as complicated an iPhone chip. Simulators test the accuracy of these logic based designs.
November 18
Judy took me on a window tour of the chip production process. There is so much that goes into the production of the chips. Some cool facts include the fact that these chips are so small that the people working have to wear full body suits to avoid getting any skin or hair on them and ruining them. The rooms are sealed by doors that push air out so that dirt is not blown into the room. Many toxins and gases are used throughout the process. I found it interesting that IBM or Global Foundries "makes" there own Nitrogen. It freezes at a different temperature than Oxygen and so they can extract it and release the rest back into the atmosphere.
Reflection
This is allowing me to view the world of electric, mechanical, and chemical engineers. Nothing that I've seen has sparked any passion like at CSG. However, I do admit that it might just take time. I believe that expose to and understanding these skills and processes is valuable experience. A job in a facility that simply produced technology is not at the top of my list, or even to design said tech. I am more interested in how the company deals with their toxins, acts towards the environment and other humans, and its efforts to be environmentally friendly. Hmm. Sadly these disciplines do not seem to mix despite being so connected.
12 of November
In Design class, we are building solar panel brackets that can optimize energy product. We have been learning about electricity, circuits, and solar power. We will be using that knowledge in this project. I don't LOVE the project, but I think that it is good for me. We have groups of three. I am with two seniors (I am the only Junior in the class). Although they do contribute, I feel like I am the leader by default. Me? The leader by default? I don't think I could have done that a year ago, but I realized that every experience at CSG helped me to grow as a leader. I practiced every day whether I was aware of it or not. I am a leader in this class despite being a year younger than everyone else.
12 of October (Women in Science)
Today was the first meeting with Judy for the Women in Science program. I am excited to explore the world of engineering. I am excited to learn about where and how they develop the technology, and the water purification process. Also, they are thinking about being more energy efficient and there is a test solar panel farm that we will visit. I am looking forward to learning more about the world, and about the human role in it and about what I might like to pursue. This experience is valuable because I am going out of my comfort zone and this means I will grow as a person.
10th of October
We researched a global problem and an existing solution. Then we analyzed the functionality, on a global scale, of the solution. I've actually enjoyed this project and love that it is open ended. To me, you get what you put into this class. The solution that reached was solar power instead of nonrenewable energy. I had to create an artifact to visually show my solution to the class. I created a method of holding a panel at certain angles. I actually got excited when I came up with a way to measure the angle of the solar panel without a protractor. I created 45 45 90 and 30, 60, 90 triangles with the measurements of the sides of the triangles. I think that this class is encouraging me to think creatively and even to use my math skills creatively.
24th of September
*This post also relates to the Women in Science program that I began participating in on October 12.
I have been struggling with the idea of myself as some type of engineer. Maybe this is due to low confidence, but it is just a new and scary idea. It could also be due to how I perceive it as a job for men. However, the Women in Science program is a perfect way to learn more about engineering. It will give me an idea if I want to pursue a career in some type of engineering, to see a women in the job, and a good way to build off of the Design class curriculum.
I have been struggling with the idea of myself as some type of engineer. Maybe this is due to low confidence, but it is just a new and scary idea. It could also be due to how I perceive it as a job for men. However, the Women in Science program is a perfect way to learn more about engineering. It will give me an idea if I want to pursue a career in some type of engineering, to see a women in the job, and a good way to build off of the Design class curriculum.
23rd of September
Yesterday, in class, we were all researching global challenges and existing solutions. I overheard the typical clump of boys. One said something along the lines of, "If the ocean is awrming than everyone should put ice cubes in it and all the glaciers would come back." Another kids said, "No, we don't want to ocean to be colder." I was shocked.
It has come to my attention before, but this reinforced the ideas that.
1. Our culture focuses on the symptoms instead of the causes of many global issues.
2. When the world problems reduce to a "How does it affect me?" question vs viewing the big picture, nothing can be solved
3. A big problem is making environment a priority only after war and politics. However, through fixing these issues many social and environmental issues would also be solved.
4. We need to educate, educate, educate the public and youth. Just like at Coastal Studies for Girls.
It has come to my attention before, but this reinforced the ideas that.
1. Our culture focuses on the symptoms instead of the causes of many global issues.
2. When the world problems reduce to a "How does it affect me?" question vs viewing the big picture, nothing can be solved
3. A big problem is making environment a priority only after war and politics. However, through fixing these issues many social and environmental issues would also be solved.
4. We need to educate, educate, educate the public and youth. Just like at Coastal Studies for Girls.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Reflection from September 10th
I've only been in this class for a week or so, but it still makes me nervous instead of excited. I'm not sure if this can be attributed to lots of self-doubt, the negative feeling I get from the mostly male class, or to the fact that I'm not used to a class with such freedom to explore and learn. This is especially challenging in a class full of people I don't know well. I suppose I fear judgement. I feel like what I do won't be enough, but I suppose after the first presentation I'll see that it is. I think that I can't do what will be asked of me, to create and present on something, but I've gone through this process before and while it might be true that I have not learned how to do certain things now, I will be able to do what is asked of me. I've done this before.
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