Learning plan.
Engineering: Engage with major global issues at the interface of science, technology, society and the environment and engage in analytical and strategic thinking through defining the problem, developing possible solutions, and improving designs.
Engineering performance indicators:
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This year I will gain engineering proficiency through:
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Sustainability: Understand that humans’ impacts are greater than they have ever been, as are humans’ abilities to model, predict, and manage current and future impacts in order to maintain human societies and the biodiversity that sustains them.
Sustainability performance indicators: Climate Change: Use quantitative and qualitative data to create an evidence-based explanation for the causes and effects of climate change on earth systems.
(4) Using scientific data/ evidence and my knowledge of ecosystems, I can create a management plan for current or future human activity. |
This year I will gain sustainability proficiency through:
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Project work.
Food.
Money.
Climate change.
At the beginning of December I started a project called Food, Money and Climate Change. This project focused on the weaknesses within the agriculture industry, how it affects the environment and economy and how we can improve the agriculture industry, reduce waste and impact on the climate as well as maintain and grow strong economies.
Map comparisons. |
Window gardenFollowing the theme of the rest of my content areas, I have mostly figured out my plan for science as I go. The only project that has stayed the same through the year is my window garden project. This project was originally the reason why I applied to Pilot. I watched a Ted Talk about hydroponics and I was inspired to build my own window garden and to learn more about how I could combat climate change. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, instead, you use water with a nutrient solution. For growing mediums, you can use just water and the nutrient solution, you can also use Rockwool with the water and nutrient solution. I built a shelf with my dad to hold my plants, and I started growing romaine lettuce, strawberries, lemon mint, peppermint, mint, and spearmint in my room. I chose to start growing them at home so I could keep them in a more controlled environment than in the Pilot room, and I also could keep a closer eye on them. After several weeks of hydroponically growing these plants at home, I killed them and had to replant. This time only one plant sprouted and eventually died. I believe the plants died because I did not create a strict watering schedule, this combined with my awful sense of time lead to me watering the plants far too often. After my killing spree, I decided to try to grow plants in soil as well as attempt hydroponics again. This time I recorded every time I watered the plants. While my watering schedule was sufficient enough to keep the plants alive, I did not keep the growing tray in an area with enough sun. So, yeah, you guessed it: the plants died again. These plants died towards the end of January. I have not attempted to grow anything since January. After discussions with Ellen, Aanika and Amy, I have decided it would be better to grow plants at school. At school I have more lighting options, all of which are better than my house. I also think I would be more attentive towards the plants at school. After April break, I am planning on planting seeds in both soil and rockwool. I am documenting this project through two slideshows, one for the shelf and one for the plants. The plant slideshow I will be continuously adding to until June, the shelf slideshow should have been completed in January at the latest but you know me and that did not happen. I would like to have the shelf slideshow completed by the end of April. This project currently counts towards the engineering proficiency. |
This image is from a lecture I watched on YouTube about hydroponics: Building the window garden |