1. Which project did you have the most personal connection with this year? Why? The self portrait in Digital Arts because it allowed me to use and expand my photoshop skills.
2. What have you learned (skill, lesson, or knowledge) this year that will be most helpful for you in the future? I've learned that being able to know TEA format and writing skills will help me when turning in important documents because I plan to be a lawyer.
3. What project or projects have you done this year that have inspired you to want to learn more? Explain how you were inspired. The water filtration project in Physics because it made me realize how severe third world countries are and me want to learn how I can help. It gave me more knowledge to refine my filter.
4. How has your attitude toward learning changed this year? I am more open to project based learning because I have witnessed it firsthand and it's improved my education because I have grown up using the typical by-the-book teaching methods which never made me feel very involved in school.
5. What connections have you made this year between what you have learned in your classes and your own personal experiences outside of school? Going back to the self portrait, I had to take pictures outside of school, which I love, and incorporated it into my classwork.
6. How have your learning and experiences at AHS this year changed the way you see the world? I've grown both socially and culturally at AHS because of the accepting and open cultural atmosphere.
7. What work from this year would you like to look back on and remember when you are a graduating senior? I want to remember the socialization project because it made me more aware of how I have been socialized.
You as a Student and a Learner (Your Work and Your Work Habits):
1. What is the most important change that you have made as a learner this year? At the beginning of the year I was bad time management. Over the course of this year I can honestly say that I procrastinate less and more of my work done when I'm in flow.
2. How have you taken an active role in your education this year? Taking the hands on approach has made me more interactive in my school work along with the social and open environment.
3. What piece of work that you’ve done this year are you proudest of? Why? I am most proud of the Mask essay because it gave me a chance to do self-reflection which helped me write a great essay.
4. 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? I would refine the Money Manifesto Project because I wasn't there for most of the project and I didn't fully understand the purpose of the project. 5. If you were the teacher, what comments would your teacher make about your work habits? I think my teacher would say that I am an open person who helps out her fellow peers and tries to turn work in on time.
6. What might you want next year’s teacher to know about your work habits? My flow I inconsistent but when I'm in flow I produce what can be known as "beautiful work".
7. What is the most difficult thing you have done this year? Why was it difficult, and how did you deal with that difficulty? Dealing with personal problems with my friend who was going through a tough time.
8. How has group collaboration helped you as a student? Group collaboration hasn't really helped me as a student because I ended up doing all the work and I didn't find this beneficial.
Reflecting on Yourself and Our Model of Education
(Project Based Learning and our Student Culture)
1. What would you say to an incoming 9th grader about how to succeed in project based learning? Be more open to the idea of project based learning because it can be difficult sometimes but you also need to just be yourself because Animas is full of people who are very diverse and being yourself will help you succeed here. 2. How have any of the habits of heart and mind helped you be successful as a student or person? I think questioning and posing problems has helped me become a successful student and person because it helps to avoid drama or problems in high school. 3. How has a relationship with a faculty member helped you be more successful in school this year? I have become close with all my teachers but I think Matt Dooley has helped me the most because of the letters he asked us to write a couple weeks ago just to see how we were doing was amazing. He didn't want to know how we were doing academically but he wanted to know what was actually happening in our lives and that just really showed how awesome he is because no teacher I've had has done that ever. 4. How has the work in Advisory helped you grow or change as a student, as a friend, and as a citizen? Being able to go to your advisor with whatever it is that is bothering you is great. I know that having someone to go to is what keeps you sane. I love my advisory to so that just makes everything better. 5. 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. Being able to produce beautiful work that you are proud of is great. I know that I would choose PBL over traditional learning any day because I have the skills to explain how I solved a problem or to be able to know the next step I want to take because I have been taught in PBL.
S.M.A.R.T goal
S- At Animas High School, during semester two I want to improve on refining my work in all of my classes. I want to spend the most time refining projects.
M- To make sure that my goal is measurable I will use my planner to use for knowing when projects are due. I will go to office hours during lunch to work on all my projects. I will also use time efficiently at home when I can and during project work time. If I do need help I will ask two of my peers before going to the teacher.
A- My goal is attainable because I will be working with my peers, I will be going to office hours, and getting help at home.
R- This goal is realistic because by using refinement on my projects it will encourage me to do my best work to get a good grade. It is also realistic because I have no social life and will have no outside distractions…
T- To make sure I am staying on task and turning projects in on time. I will be sure to know when we are starting a new project and to know when the project is due.