2020 Virsual Time Capsule

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History artifacts:

This is a news article about the death of Li Wenliang. It was published on February 7th, which is the day when Li Wenliang passed away because of the coronavirus. It marks the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, and it also warned everyone who was unaware of the presence of COVID-19. It reflects on history because the coronavirus crisis is the most important event so far this year, and it will probably become one of the most influential pandemics in modern history.

This is a news article about the successful launch and return of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The rocket was first launched on June 4th, 2010, and this launch (June 3rd, 2020) is SpaceX’s first crew mission and it is also the launch of one of the first partially reusable rocket. It reflects on history because it is the first crew mission of SpaceX, meaning that this is a historical moment in the science and technology history.

Geography artifacts:

This is a news article about the damage that the 2019-2020 Australian wildfire had caused. Almost every year a large wildfire will start in Australia, but this year’s wildfire was one of the most devastating ones in history with almost 500 casualties. The start of wildfires in almost every year in Australia shows a pattern/trend in their environment, and this wildfire was the most recent one with the most damage caused.

Economy artifacts:

This is a picture of a supermarket without any toilet paper left (not a picture of a supermarket near I live, but the ones that are close to where I’m living also experienced a shortage of supplies). It shows the scarcity of an economic good when it is on high demand, and when the sellers run low on supplies, the price of the supplies will also increase. A great example would be the high demand of toilet paper, and also the higher demand of masks and their ridiculous increase in price (before the pandemic, a box of surgical masks sells for 30 RMB, but after the pandemic started the price for each box of surgical mask increased to around 100 RMB).

This is a picture of the stock market in 2020. It shows the general trend of the stock market, and it is a good example of the law of supply and demand. In this case, there are most supplies than what people demand, and since everyone is at home and cannot purchase the supplies, the price of the supplies will fall.

Politics/civics artifacts:

This is a picture of Trump’s impeachment. It is an example of civic engagement for some people in the United States, and it also shows how much they promote voting (fairness, participation) in their systems because they also asked for US citizens’ opinions on Trump’s impeachment. It is one of the recent major events that happened to the US political system, and since the US is the most influential country in the world, the change in its political system might also bring an impact on the world.

3D Modeling Final Blog Post

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In this year’s 3D modeling, we learned how to create 3D models with Fusion 360. Below is the demonstration of the AirPods container (1:1) I created for my final Container Project.

At first, I brainstormed what I wanted to create, and I immediately thought of my AirPods because I use it very often. After that, I measured the dimensions of the AirPods and their container, and it was a bit challenging to get the exact measures because of the curves and shape of the AirPods. I did my best to recreate the AirPods in Fusion 360 using the Create Form feature, and it looks like the 2 figures beside my container in the video. I then started to work on the container. It started off with 2 rectangular boxes. After some sketching and using the fillet feature, I managed to make the general shape of the container. I started to work on the insides after that, creating the dents and the AirPods-shaped space inside the container. I did that by using the sketching tool and the Combine->Cut tool. The last step was to create the joints, and I think it was the second hardest part of the project (the hardest part is creating the AirPods models). There are 2 types of joints in this container, there’s a ball joint at the bad connecting the cap to the main body of the container, and there’s a hook-shaped joint that uses the plastic’s property in the front. After all of these were done, I just refined some of the parts to make it look nicer/work smoother, and improved it with the feedback I got from our teacher.

One thing that I am most proud of in this subject is that I can create 3D models pretty well, and I am probably going to develop my skills further in the future. The most challenging thing I’ve come across so far is creating models using the Forms feature. It is harder to create something with weird shapes, surfaces, and angles, and these are what this feature is for. However, I do find it quite enjoyable, and the results were satisfying in the end. The most important thing I’ve learned is how to use Fusion 360 to model, and I think it will be an important skill to have, especially if I want to study subjects relating to engineering.

G9 English Final Reflection

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In the final humor unit, I learned how the writers use various techniques like hyperbole and irony to make their writing funnier, and how the characters and settings can also create an impact on the audience that can give the writing/play a humorous effect. I would like to learn more about how the author decides what is a good time to use a certain technique. For example, in Mother Figure one-act, Lucy’s “mother figure” was exaggerated by showing that she treats everyone like a child to make the play funnier, and without exaggerations, the play would not be as interesting as it is.

At the beginning of this unit, I’ve set a SMART goal for myself. The goal is to be able to write a clear analytical paragraph and complete all my work on time. I think I have achieved this goal, because not only have I written paragraphs that analyzes the poems/plays, I have also been completing all my work in time.

One thing that I found challenging was explaining why a certain part of the writing/play is funny because to different people the funny part might be different, and sometimes it’s a bit hard to explain why it made you laugh. But most of the time, I could find a technique that the author used, and explains why it might appeal to the audience. Despite the many challenges, I had some success in identifying the techniques that the author used and how they affect the audience. For the play and the poems I picked, I can successfully identify the effects that the techniques have on the audience. For example, in my analysis for Sick by Shel Silverstein, I wrote that exaggerations used in this poem to create a more ridiculous scene and a larger twist in the end, and since the poem is about pretending to be sick to skip school, some of the audiences might be able to relate to it and find the poem funny because of the techniques used by the author.

I think I have met the standard for the Student as a Learner criteria of “Responsibility” and “Attitude”. For my responsibility, I have been accepting feedback and making adjustments, and I am always prepared for class before class starts. I’m also setting goals for my independent learning and is willing to accept new challenges that might be out of my capabilities. However, there are still rooms for improvement for my time management, since sometimes I am still struggling a bit to submit my work in time. I have been trying to improve this, but on some occasions, I still find it difficult to hand in a work that is not the best quality. It’s also a bit hard to stay on task all the time due to all the online learnings we are doing right now, but I’ve tried to minimize the effects it might have on my schedule and work quality.

In this year’s English learning, I have learned how to analyze a piece of writing, how to make my speech/writing more persuasive, how does the author use humor in their writing/play, and enhanced my learning on doing Socratic Seminars. I have accomplished many achievements, and with all the new skills that I’ve learned this year, I don’t think I will have a rough time in the next year of English studies. I hope that next year I can manage my time better, and I can develop the skills (writing, reading) needed to be good at this subject.

Countainer Project – 1

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In this project, I am going to create a new case/container for my AirPods.

The first two pictures are the first draft for my container. I first made two rectangle boxes and later modified into the container and the cap using the fillet tool and the combine tool. Then, I created two AirPods models using the form tool and the dimensions I got for my AirPods. I then moved the copy of the AirPods models inside the container to its proper spot and cut out the area, leaving two AirPods shaped space in the container.

I used two joints for my model. The first joint is located in the back of the container, where the container and the cap meets. There are two of them, one on the left, one on the right, and each has a circular nub on the side. There is also some space next to each nob for some slight adjustments. A rotation joint is applied to the two parts of the container for the first joint. The second joint is a clasp. There is an extruding part attached to the cap and a dent on the surface of the container body. When the cap is closed, the extruding part should fit in the dent, securing the container.

Below is the improved version of my first draft. I have changed my first design by modifying the fillet part to make the container look better. I also scaled the final AirPods model a little bit bigger because it is better to have more space in the container then have less space. In addition, the inside of the container is also made to look better and more similar to the actual AirPods case.

Political Cartoon Presentation Reflection

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I think I have done well on identifying the 6 dimensions of the improved rhetorical triangle because I was able to provide evidence and reasoning to support my claim.

I think I could improve on explaining how the techniques used in the cartoon impact the audience and keeping my presentation concise. I wasn’t able to talk about some points during the presentation since I was talking about the other points too much, and I think my presentation will be better if I just shortened some parts of it.

Engineering Project Day 9

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This is the final design for my project

The mask’s dimension is 17cm*9.5cm. It is made out of 3 layers. The outside and inside layers are either made out of non-woven fabric, or the paper used in medical paper masks. The outside layer will be blue with printed text saying “outside”, and the inside layer will be white with printed text saying “inside”. The middle layer should be a melt-blown material, which is cheap and can act as a filter. The 3 layers should have a few folds so that it could expand if you pull on it. The outside and the inside layer will be sewn together, with the middle melt-blown layer and the aluminum nose strip. The nose strip (0.3cm*11cm) is made out of aluminum, and it should be centered on the top of the mask. The floss-covered earloops should be about 14 cm (in length) each and the earloops should be sewed to the corners of the mask. Only the parts in the 2 figures above where I marked with a pencil will be sewn together.

I think this design is the best one so far because the materials to make it are relatively cheap and it’s easy to make. However, it doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to improve on. Next time, I would gather more feedback so I can know what other people think about my design better, therefore making more improvements according to their advice. I would also consider more of the ideas from the other people, and try them out to see if they work or not.

Engineering Project Day 8

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Today I’ve asked my parents and Bill for any potential ideas to improve my design. My parents thought that it would be better if the size of the mask is adjustable and that the nose strips and earloops could fit on the face better by modifying it a little bit. I thought those are some good ideas and decided to think more about them. My parents also thought that the mask should be biodegradable/recyclable. However, the materials that are biodegradable (like biodegradable sheets) don’t really fit and are less effective, so I think it will be hard to achieve if I add this idea to my design. I’ve also texted Bill and asked him a few questions on my project, and he also came up with a few ideas. His ideas were to label the inside and the outside of the mask (by using color or words) and to make the mask more aesthetically appealing. I thought his first idea was great, but I decided not to include his second idea because it might increase the price and it is hard to make a mask look good since it is a subjective opinion.

Engineering Project Day 6

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My project is a simple mask that can be made with basic mask materials. It should be similar to a surgical mask, but since it’s a makeshift one, it might not be that well made. The mask should be made from 3 layers, the middle one being the filter, a metal (aluminum) nose strip near the top, and 2 elastic ear loops on the sides. The inside and outside layers should be made out of non-woven fabric or paper. Earloops can be welded onto the mask or using other ways (welding a plastic holder first, stapler, sewing). Alternatives, like sewing them together (low cost) and using staplers (useful, but doesn’t look too good), might be more effective than welding the pieces together.

I have found 3 people to give me feedback on my project: my dad, my mom, and Bill.

My dad

3 things that he liked

  • It’s light and convenient
  • The ear loops don’t hurt your ears
  • Cheap, doesn’t take much to make

3 things he thinks should be improved/changed

  • The materials are not very effective (compare to N95) against some viruses
  • The nose strip might not attach very well
  • One-time use

My mom

3 things that she liked

  • Easy to make
  • Easy to wear
  • Earloops are soft

3 things she thinks should be improved/changed

  • Not very effective against some viruses
  • It might be too loose
  • Size might be hard to specify due to the size of different people’s face

Bill

3 things that he liked

  • It’s light and convenient
  • It’s easy to wear
  • Cheap, doesn’t cost much to make

3 things he thinks should be improved/changed

  • Does not look very good
  • Not very effective against some viruses
  • Sometimes people wear it inside-out, so the colors of the inside and outside layers should be different

Engineering Project Day 4 & 5

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After doing some research on the internet, I’ve come up with a design. It is based on the surgical mask, with white elastic earloops and blue/white mask layers and an aluminum nose strip. However, I made some changes to the layers. Instead of using a layer soaked in disinfectant, the middle layer is made out of melt-blown material, which can act as a filter (the old design proposed in Day 3 is still considered as an alternative option). The two outside layers that cover the middle layer are also different. It is (ideally) a non-woven fabric since the holes are smaller and can prevent larger particles from entering the mask.

The materials required to make this mask are:

  • A melt-blown layer/a layer that can act as a filter
  • 2 non-woven fabrics (ideally)
  • 2 floss covered earloops (soft and elastic)
  • Aluminum strip

This design can reduce the cost per mask, making them cheaper and easier to use.

Engineering Project Day 3

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I have decided to make a mask for my engineering project because it is more useful.

To create my first prototype of the mask, I will need:

  • Cotton layer/cloth
  • Disinfectant (like Delto, it kills other types of coronaviruses)
  • Sponge
  • Metal (aluminum) strip
  • Soft earloops
  • Something to hold them together (thread, etc.)

So basically my mask will be made out of 3 layers, with the middle layer being the filter. The middle layer will be soaked in the disinfectant, and the two outside layers will cover it up. The nose strip will be made out of aluminum, and the earloops are soft and stretchy, like the earloops of a surgical mask. Everything will be sewed together. This is a one-time use mask, and the materials are pretty cheap.

This is my timeline for this project, hopefully everything will go on according to the plan.

My success criteria for this project is:

  • Mask complete within the next 4 weeks
  • Mask is wearable and can protect the mouth and nose
  • Mask can fit on the face
  • Budget <200 kuai in total