Sunday, December 5, 2010

Name two goals for the remainder of the year.

My first goal is to fully grasp the meaning of the Periodic Table. I do not want to just memorize it, but I would like to fully comprehend details such as why the elements are there and how they were discovered. It would be cool to obtain a good knowledge about characteristics of elements, not just the ones I research for projects.
Second, I want to have more confidence in chemistry, not just blowing it off as a "hard" class that is acceptable to not do well in. I want to make an effort to visit Ms. Fowler when I do not understand something, and take a test knowing I mastered the material, finishing it saying "I think I made an A."

Thursday, November 11, 2010

E-Portfolio Reflection

1.            Why is this exhibit a good choice for placement in your e-portfolio?

I think my Helium Superhero Poster was an awesome choice for placement in my e-portfolio. It has been a while since my last poster presentation, and it was a great, fun way to show my creative ability while learning about my element, Helium. (who I made into a superhero.) I am very proud of my work on this exhibit and I think the time and effort I spent on showed through and was represented on the poster.

2.      What did you find most interesting about this exhibit activity and why?

I found it interesting searching for all the facts about Helium. I did not know that Helium had the lowest boiling point out of all the other elements. I also found it interesting that I could learn so much about one element, while making an art project also.
 
3.      In what way(s) did you find this exhibit a challenge to complete?

This exhibit had a couple challenges that made it difficult to complete. First, space was an issue and I had to make sure everything was spaced out and looking nice. Also, I am not a great artist so the drawing of my cartoon was a challenge for me, even though I think my superhero turned out better than I expected.

4.      If you were to do this activity again what changes would you make and why?

If I had to make any changes, I would probably laminate the facts on the poster board to keep it from looking sloppy, considering the glue isn't holding very well. Otherwise, I am very happy with how my project turned out.

5.      What change(s) in attitude or behavior helped you to meet the challenge?

I altered my attitude to take this project seriously. I decided that I would put in a lot of effort to make my exhibit look creative and neat. Usually, for projects like this, I would not try very hard and work up to my full potential.

6.      What grade would you give yourself for these reflections, from “1” to “4”, where “4” is the best? (Refer to the E-Portfolio Reflection Rubric.)Give specific evidence explaining why you gave yourself that grade.

For these reflections, I would give myself a "4." My answers are thoughtful, personal and specific. I judged the quality of my work honestly, providing specific examples. Lastly, my constructive self-criticism will help me on future projects and personal changes from this exhibit.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

If you were an element what would it be like?

If I were an element, I would pick the element lithium. It is violently reactive to water but also soft enough to be cut with a butter knife. Lithium is an alkali metal causing it to be it highly reactive. Sometimes, I can be happy, kind or shy, but other times when I am angry, people could say I'm "violently reactive."  Lithium is most commonly found in oceans. It floats on water, but also reacts to it. My star sign is Pieces, which is a "water"sign. Ironically, I do not enjoy water much like lithium. This element is special because although it is very soft, it is unexpectedly extremely reactive.

Monday, October 11, 2010

What am I learning about myself as a student in chemistry?

In chemistry, I have learned that doing homework the night that it is assigned is very important. That way, the information you learned in class is fresh, which makes chemistry homework a lot easier.