For Mr. Chaffee’s socials 9 class we were instructed to create an invention. This invention either had to be 100% original or an improvement or a pre existing one. While working on this assignment with my parter Paulina, we were first tasked of coming up with a list of 10 or more brainstorm ideas of possible inventions. We eventually decided on the floating umbrella which is basically a durable umbrella with a drone built into, making it levitate above one’s head.

Though out this specific assignment I not only used critical thinking while brainstorming invention ideas but I as well used it while designing my invention . I was experimenting with different designs and ideas, I monitored my progress and constantly was trying to improve on the look of my invention and smooth out any flaws. For example when my parter and I had difficulty coming up with ways on how we would have the umbrella float / levitate. After doing some research on pre existing floating objects we decided to simply use a drone. We planned to have an app on ones cell phone where the drone is programmed to follow the iPhones coordinations.

While working on this assignment however I felt as thought there were a few things I could improve on for next time. Starting with the instagram page, I found this particularly difficult seeing as through I didn’t physically have an invention to take pictures and post. instead I found a couple pictures of broken umbrellas and explained how over 1.1 billion umbrellas are thrown out every year. But over all I think I could have put a little more effort into that portion of the project. Another thing I believe I could have improved on was the sketch of the invention. Instead of taking my time and putting a lot of effort into the drawing I more so roughly sketched out the floating umbrella and submitted it.

During Science 9, one of our assignments was to bake a cake and decorate it like a cell. We had to label all of the parts of the cake and make sure that the cake looked like a cell. For this project, my group and I all decided on making an animal cell cake. For this assignment, I used the core competency skill communication. For this project, I was in a group, and I had to use my communication skills to get the end result I wanted on this project. I used the following skills in science 9: connecting and engaging with others (to share and develop ideas), acquire, interpret, and present information, collaborate to plan, carry out, and review constructions and activities, and lastly, explain/recount and reflect on experiences and accomplishments.

I demonstrated connecting and engaging with others during this project. I was able to ask and respond to simple and direct questions. For example, when someone in my group asked me what I wanted to do or if I had any ideas, I was able to respond, explain, and share my thoughts and ideas with my group. I was also able to be an active listener and support and encourage the person speaking because when someone else had ideas that were either the same or different from mine, I was able to listen and respect the person talking by being quiet. At first, we had so many ideas on what we all wanted to do. We all had different ideas but had to work on the same project. We had to consider everyone’s ideas and form them into just one big idea. We worked together to make one big main idea that everyone loved. I had to recognize that there are different points of view and that when I did not agree with something, I had to disagree respectfully. I find that I was able to do that because I understand that in life not everything can be my way.

Not only did I just connect and engage with others in this project, but I also acquired, interpreted, and presented my information. I was able to understand and share information about a topic that was important to me. This project was important to me because I wanted to get a good mark. I found this topic was easy to understand. I presented the information clearly and in an organized way. I presented online via a Teams Meeting with my teacher. I was able to explain my thoughts clearly through the meeting and I could answer the questions she was asking me. I was able to present to my teacher even though I did not know her very well and it was also online during a global pandemic. Presenting over a call during a pandemic was definitely very different but I think I did well on the assignment.

I was able to collaborate to plan, carry out, and review constructions and activities. With my group, we all had to work together to create one amazing project. We worked very hard and all collaborated even if our group members disagreed at times. I could work with others to achieve a common goal because for this project that is exactly what we had to do. We had to combine everyone’s ideas into one. I did my share of the project as well. I demonstrated that I can take on roles and responsibilities in a group. My role in the group was to bake the cake. I did not need any reminders from people telling me that I had to do my part, I was able to be independent and do my part. I could also summarize key ideas and identify the ways we agree. We had many things that we either agreed on or disagreed on and I could see that when we agreed on things we got a lot more things done. I had to cooperate rather than just do what I wanted. We agreed on what items we would use to represent the cell organelles. Since we agreed, we were able to spend more time doing the project rather than arguing.

I could explain/recount and reflect on experiences and accomplishments while participating in this project. I could give, receive, and act on feedback. My teacher gave me some feedback for next time. She told me that I had to have more knowledge about the actual subject. So for next time, I will spend more time researching my topic of the project before I start. I am able to recount simple experiences and activities and tell someone something I have learned. For this project, I had to explain to my teacher what I did and what I had learned. I think I could do a good job of explaining myself to people in school and just in my everyday life. In this project, I could represent my learning and tell how it connects to my experiences and efforts.

I know I had strengths and weaknesses during this project. I feel like one of my strengths was definitely being able to communicate with my group members and share my ideas. I think I did a good job of this because I could explain myself super well and if someone asked me a question, I could answer them and tell them my thoughts on it. I was also able to listen to their ideas and what they wanted to do even if I did not necessarily agree. One of my weaknesses during this project was to be more prepared and what I mean that is knowing more about the actual subject, not how appealing the cake was. I needed to have more of a balance. It was visually appealing, but I needed more knowledge. Now I know what I can do next time I have a project. I know my strengths and weaknesses and how I can improve. I will be able to continue using these skills I learned/demonstrated in Science 9. I will be able to apply them to other classes and in my everyday life.