Student Surveys - Post project reflection

Name: Michael Phuong

Project Name: Student survey of elective classes

Group Members: Michael Phuong, Jonathan Adams, Anthea Phuong

The goal of this project was to create a resource/guide that would help better inform students about elective courses that they can take here at Aviation High school. The project was fairly straightforward but we did have some difficulties finding time to create the surveys because of end of year projects and AP tests. We also had some difficulty since some teachers couldn't find time to give the surveys out to their students. All of these problems were resolved by having patience and doing things a little bit at a time. The day we gave out the surveys, we were able to collect most of the surveys except from 1 or 2 classes. We decided not to go to required elective courses that have different teachers (such as Spanish) since those classes tend to always be busy and each teacher also has their own unique style of teaching which can't be seen through a survey. Those decisions should be made by individual students communicating with the teacher or other students and deciding what kind of teacher they would learn best from. I envisioned the final product to be a kind of list which would rank ALL the elective classes. We decided to change this since we didn't want to hurt any of the teachers since it's very bad for a class to be listed at the very bottom of a category since it doesn't necessarily mean that the class is bad, just that it wasn't liked as much as other classes.
In the future, I'd like to expand this to include many more classes as Aviation grows and it opens up more flexible schedules and opportunities for our students. 

Student Surveys - Blog 2

Milestone 2: Have the survey completed and results compiled


It was fairly easy to get tot his milestone. We sometimes had difficulty since some of the teachers had difficulty getting the surveys taken but we checked in until they were completed. The results were fairly simple to compile. We found some interesting results that weren't expected at all as well. Our team split up all the survey forms and tallied the results. All of those results were then compiled in an Excel spreadsheet. We will print out a master form and place the digital copy somewhere that is easy to access for everyone.

Two students taking the survey

A student taking the survey

Student Surveys - Blog 1

Milestone 1: June 9, 2011-Have the survey sheet made and 400 copies created

By this date, we had a fairly effective survey sheet made. It addressed all the key points we wanted to know about and it was fairly well laid out. The copies were a bit of a nuisance as we debated whether to have each of us print out a third of the total copies we will need. We decided to go to a print shop and have 400 copies made as it was faster, easier, and most likely cheaper. We had some trouble putting together the survey because of time constraints caused by other projects and AP testing but we were able to reach this milestone without too much difficulty.

A group member posing with the completed forms

The completed survey forms

AP Chemistry prep class - Post-project Reflection

Name: Michael Phuong

Project Name: Chemistry review packet for Chemistry students that need review or incoming Chemistry students that want to get ahead

Group Members: Michael Phuong, Jonathan Adams

The changed project went off without a hitch but it was annoying to change the project at such a late date. However, many of the preparations in place for the AP Chemistry prep class were able to be switched and to be used in the review packet. I felt that this project isn't as helpful as an AP Chemistry prep class would be but since AP Chemistry is officially cancelled for the next school year, we had to change the project. The Chemistry packet was fairly straightforward and simple to put together. We basically typed out the notes that Mr. Shiroma had given us. This review packet also is intended for use by those who have already taken the course so practice problems aren't included. The packet is simply meant to help refresh the memory of those that have taken the course so generalized notations are included in the packet but not practice problems.
For the next projects in the future, I'd like to be able to not have to change projects. I would also like to help in an actual course and follow through with the original project idea as that is much more helpful to everyone. Especially to the people who will be directing the course because, many times, you learn a lot more from teaching than you do from just learning.

AP Chemistry prep class - Blog 2

June 15, 2011: Have the Chemistry packet completed

The Chemistry packet was completed on time. Similar to the Algebra test helper project, we also were stressed on time and had some gaps in the Chemistry packet. Eventually, those holes were plugged and we now have a completed version. We didn't have much difficulty reaching this milestone beyond having a slight lack of time. The fact that AP Chemistry may be cancelled caused some issues in our planning since our original project was to create an AP Chemistry prep class.

A student highlighting key basics of Chemistry included in the packet

The Chemistry packet

Chemistry packet

AP Chemistry prep class - Blog 1

June 1: N/a Project change

The project has been changed to Chemistry review packet. Next year, there is a strong possibility that AP Chemistry will be cancelled and so an AP Chemistry preparation course wouldn't benefit anyone at this point. We will be changing the project accordingly and a Chemistry review packet is a resource that any Chemistry student will be able to access. Incoming Chemistry students would be able to look at the packet to see what they already know, possibly learn a few things prior to class so that Mr. Shiroma's normal Chemistry course may progress even faster.

Helper Project 2 - Post project Reflection

Name: Michael Phuong

Project Name: Algebra test for incoming Calculus students

Group Members: Mr. Joshi, Michael Phuong, Jonathan Adams

This was a project that I found very important. I had taken Calculus this year, so I understood that the most difficult part of Calculus wasn't the Calculus, it was the Algebra to do simplifications. In order to make a good test, I made sure to speak with current Pre-Calculus students regarding what they had learned so far. I changed my test so that it wasn't too difficult, that the students would actually be able to complete the test so long as they remember how to do the things. I mostly based my test off of things that I knew the Calculus students would have to deal with such as using "fancy 1's" and logarithmic changes.
Initially, I had imagined that the final product would be a multiple choice test. After taking a look at this year's algebra test, I realized that a multiple choice test wasn't necessary unless it was a very difficult test. The main fear I had about this project would be that students who take the test won't recognize that this test is a chance for them to assess their skills, not a chance for them to cheat. Due to this fear, I was concerned about the types of questions I was writing so that students would not be tempted to cheat. Afterwards, I realized that the students who do resort to cheating are the ones who won't be successful in the class and so it is a decision that the test-takers are to make.
There were also a few obstacles that came up during the project. We already had many other projects going on during this time period so we were mostly focusing on doing Chemistry or AP Composition work. We weren't quite as focused on the test and so some of the questions were very simple or bad. These "bad" questions were changed later and they are now much more difficult than their initial counterparts.

For the next projects I will do, I would like to do something similar to this except for other classes. Specifically for the Chemistry project, I would like to take a more active role in determining what should go in the Chemistry review packet. I'd also like to have a hand in the distribution of the resource.