Mark Bainey

Journal 4

1. What did you like about this project ?

For this project I specifically enjoyed incorporating english skills into science (through the creation of the advertisement). Another aspect of the project I enjoyed was the content. I enjoyed the science content is this project more than any other because It had a real effect on my life. Global Warming is currently an important topic being discussed in the scientific community at the moment and being able to learn about it was very interesting.

1. What didn’t you like about this project

The one thing I didn’t like about this project was the group selection. Although in the end my group did well I feel that I would have been more comfortable in a group with students who were at my level. I hope that for the next project students can select whom they want to work with instead of being randomly sorted into a group.

1. Suggest 3 ideas that could improve/make the project more engaging

One possible idea that could improve the project would be to have more non pbl lessons so that students can learn the content first so that they have the required knowledge to complete the project. Another possible idea that could make the project more engaging would be to create a more interesting and entertaining entry document video. By doing this students will pay more attention to the information being presented in the video

1. Did you like the driving question ?

Yes I did like the driving question.  I liked it because it required students to undertake an adequate amount of research to answer it. Furthermore the driving question was relatively straightforward and simple while at the same time it contained the required information to be answered. If in projects to come, the driving question is structured in the same way as this one then students answering it will find it easier to answer it in a professional manner.

Conclusion to ‘colliding plates’ practical:

By viewing the simulation of 3 different types of plate collisions I was able to gain some very insightful knowledge.From the three simulations  I was able to deduce (not darrell’s word) that when plates collide they result in the formation of something. For example when two continental plates collide they form a mountain, when two oceanic plates collide they form a chain of islands and when a continental plate and an oceanic plate collide they cause an earthquake.

Conclusion to ‘plates that separate’ practical:

From undertaking this practical we were able to view a simulation of the ocean plates separating at mid ocean ridges. This allowed us to watch in real time how plates separate at mid ocean ridges. From watching this simulation I learnt that when plates  separate they form new ocean ridges and  they also from a new layer of curst at the same time.

Conclusion to convection current practical:

We were able to infer that convection currents are only produced by hot not cool temperatures. This was discovered by viewing both the hot and cold convection. By carefully observing the behavior of the hot convection we were able to see that  convection currents were only produced in the hot convection not  the cold.

       Reflection Journal

1. Likes and dislikes of this project…..any suggestions on how to improve???

Personally I had many likes of the project. The main like in particular was the fact that we could choose our own groups. Also another thing I liked about this project was that we received an  outline of the content (main and background information). This made it easier to obtain a higher individual mark. My main dislike of this project was that we did not receive a test on the content. I was disappointed in the fact that we did not receive a test because we do not known how well we learnt the main content. When a test is given a smart student uses the mark they received as a guide on how well they know their content. Hopefully for the next project we will receive a test on the required content.

2. What areas do you think you have improved in from project 1 to project 4?

The two main areas that I have improved on from project one to four are presentation and written communication skills. These were two areas were the main reason to why I was not obtaining the best mark possible. But now these areas have been rectified I am now obtaining a higher grade for m individual mark.

3. What further skills would you like to develop over the next few projects

The main skill that I would like to improve on for further projects and for any other project, I complete is my content knowledge. I feel that if a can learn my content to a greater extent throughout the duration of the project by the end of it I will be able to obtain a higher content mark. This is my ultimate goal for now and for further projects that I will undertake.

1. What does the clip say to you

The clip says to me that people can come together through song and dance no matter what socio- economic class they come from or what country they live in.

2. What questions would you ask of the video

The first and most obvious question that I would ask of this video would be the reason behind the man dancing in the different countries. Also another question I would ask of this is video is how this man funded his trips to all these different places.

3. Why was it shown at this time of this project

This clip was shown at this particular time of this project to show us that if we come together and work together we can accomplish anything.

How do you feel the media portrays social justice issues?

I feel that the media portrays social justice issues differently depending on whether they provide a good return for the media outlet. This means that if the story is boring and they don’t feel that It will make them money they won’t report on it for too long therefore not wasting time on it. But if the issue is important and people are interested in it (i.e poverty) then the media will devote sufficient time towards this issue. Sadly this is only because it will rake in more profit for them.  

       Has it been difficult to find articles on social justice issues why/why not?

         It has been quite easy to find articles on social justice issues because my groups’ issue (celebrity exploitation – Mel Gibson drink driving) has been well documented in all forms of the media. Relating this back to question one they have only done this because it provides them with more money. This is a good thing for my group because it allows us to gather more information on this issue.    

       Do you think that the media operates from a moral framework? Give evidence by using your research.

Journal Entry Week 3

1. Analyse why red sunsets can sometimes be more impressive when there is more dust or pollution in the air than usual.

Red sunsets are more impressive when there is more dust or pollution in the air because the light rays are altered to a greater extent. They are altered further because of the fact that that more particles are being mixed in with the scattering process. This therefore makes the sun have a deeper red colour.

1. Describe what happens inside water droplets to cause a rainbow and explain how you can tell whether a rainbow is a primary or secondary.

Water droplets act like tiny prisms when they fall from the sky. The droplets refracting and undergoing total internal reflection cause the colours of a rainbow to shine. The way in which to tell whether a rainbow is primary or secondary is to look at where the red band is located. If it is located at the top the rainbow is primary, but if it is located on the bottom then the rainbow is secondary.

            JOURNAL ENTRY WEEK 2

Investigate the two types of sight defect- long-sightedness and short sightedness.

Find the following information:

Long sightedness or Hyperopia

a.       what causes the defect

Hyperopia has many different causes with the main one being genetics (the problem is inherited from your family). Other causes are diabetes, microphthalmia (small eye syndrome) and fovea hypoplasia (a condition where there is a problem with the blood vessels in the retina)

b.      the symptoms displayed

The main symptoms that are displayed by a patient diagnosed with Hyperopia are persistent headaches, eyestrain, inability to work on computers, excessive blinking and dislike or avoidance of reading.

c.       propose what sort of lens may be used to correct each vision.

The lens that would be most suitable to correct Hyperopia is a convex lens. A convex lens is chosen because it moves the image of a distant object forward onto the retina, therefore giving the patient a closer focus or an object.

Short-sightedness or Myopia

a.       what causes the defect

Myopia has a wide range of causes. Some of the main ones are genetics, near work e.g sitting close to the tv and working low light working conditions e.g reading in the dark.

b.      the symptoms displayed

The main symptoms that are displayed by a myopic patient include blurred distance vision, frequent eye squinting and eyestrain.

c.       propose what sort of lens may be used to correct each vision

The type of lens that is used to correct myopic vision is a concave lens. This is because a concave lens bends the incoming light rays slightly outwards therefore an image is produced further back on the retina.  

1. What influences your values about issues relating to your life?

I personally feel that the media has a strong influence towards my values about issues relating to my life. One such event in my life were I feel that the media has had an influence on my personal values was my selection of friends. The media says that ‘If you’re not with the in crowd’ you are a reject and you will have no friends. In addition, when I use to choose my friends I use to think about how they will be perceived by my other friends. Sometimes I use to ask myself why this would occur. I use to think that it was peer pressure but as my moral maturity has increased, I feel that I have not let the media tell me who should be my friend or who should not. Now I do not bother choosing my friends at all and for this I am a better person with stronger Christian values.

2. Do you ever compare images/values presented by the media to those of the bible? If so why? If not why not?

To be straight forth and honest I do not compare images and values presented by the media to those of the bible. Actually, the only time I consult the bible for information is in a learning context (to meet criteria). This is mainly due to the fact I have so much going on in my life and I do not make time for consulting the bibles values to those presented by the media.     

3. Has this project challenged you to examine your values? Why / Why not

This project has challenged me to examine my values. Now that I have learnt that the media has been determining my values I have a better understanding of them and how they are being used to make decisions I confront in my life. If I was not to undertake this project I would not have had the chance to examine my values and become a better Catholic and citizen of society.