Prove it or Lose it

I took a class called Prove it or Lose it. In this class, we are covering different things such as mirrors, reflections, translations, and such. We set out to prove things in math rather than actually solving the problem. This is important because while the process is important understanding it to a different degree is even more important. For this project, we needed to take a picture of something, reflect it across a line and then prove it was a reflection.

 

In conclusion, I think this was a very interesting project since I had to directly connect in-class work to real-world items. I learned a lot, to say the least, starting with GeoGebra and I know it a bit off topic but GeoGebra is a really helpful program that allowed me to show my work and lay it all out in one place. I also learned different ways to prove that a reflection is a reflection. I used many different methods to prove this such as circles. triangles, and slope. I think the biggest takeaway from this project is that the math we learn is all around us whether we realize it or not. 

Jerry Joyce

I took a class called Rhetoric this semester. This class is about many different things, so far we have learned about how rhetoric is used for good or bad and how it plays into advertising. We have taken a couple Field Experiences such as a trip to the Chicago Music Exchange. We took this trip because we had to look up one of their antique guitars to make our own advertisement for so we needed to see it in person. Another trip we took was to an MLK memorial. We went there so that we could talk to the creators of the memorial to better understand why they felt the need to put a statue there. Finally for this project we needed to make a speech for a current mayoral candidate. We needed to make a video of us presenting our speech.

How Will you Address Violence In The City?

 

The Gravediga

I took a class called Design and Engineering. In this class, we learned about a couple of different things including vectors, simple machines, and how to design something for a certain audience. As far as Field Experiences go we went to Home Depot to learn about gardening tools so that we can better understand the market. We also went to Beyond Design which is a design firm that designs things for a living. Going to these places helped us understand the topic even better. For this project, we had to recreate a gardening tool for elderly people. I chose to recreate the sledgehammer.

Before starting this job I had to do prior research to make sure I made the best design possible. The research I did prior included an interview, going to Home Depot and personal research. I interviewed my sister so that I could understand how tools caused stress to certain joints. I went to Home Depot to ask questions of the professionals working there, and finally, I did personal research such as understanding the competition so that I could properly differentiate from them and make my tool better.

I learned that sledgehammers are too heavy for most elderly people to use. Second I learned some elderly people can handle the weight but not the placement of the weight. And finally, I learned that sledgehammers are typically not ergonomic because they stress out the same parts of the body.

Empathy is when you put yourself in someone else's shoes to understand what they are feeling. This relates to the class because to design something for a certain audience you need to be able to make it specifically for them.

I learned a lot from doing this project because while yes I was already very knowledgeable on the topic before entering the unit I hadn't done a sledgehammer or garden tool before so this was something new. I also think this project was beneficial because I now have a better understanding of how empathy fits into the project.