Final Reflection by PHH

Final Reflection: Matthew

I worked on the web server for the majority of the year so that the MakerSpace could have an independently hosted blog as an alternative to Blogger. Part of the class's requirements was to make blog posts about our progress, so I thought it would be a good idea to make the platform we use independent of Google. The web server was going to host a blog using the Ghost blogging platform running on the Raspberry Pi. This involved getting the blog running on the Raspberry Pi, and then making the website publicly accessible over the internet. We were successful with the first part of the project. The instructions were relatively simple and we understood them pretty well, as this was the third time setting up the server, but we encountered some problems as a result of human error. Eventually we figured out what was wrong by chance. One the server was set up, we worked on the design of the web site. This involved editing the files of the server. We chose to base our design on the findings of Ethan Schooner of optimal colour contrast for reading. The web designing was successful, so we backed up the server, and this is when the SD card some how got corrupted.

The assignment did not end with a blog for the class. Our goal was to create a blog to use instead of the one you are reading right now. The blog we found the instructions for making the blog on is an example of a Ghost blog that actually works. The instructions even warned that they were out of date, but most of the time they worked to an extent. The last problem we had was caused by some unknown error. Ironically, backing up the server is what somehow caused it. Our work was showing a lot of potential until that moment. Everything was functional and we were planning to connect the website to the internet. Had the data not corrupted, I believe we could have finally succeeded.

If I had more time to repair the server a fifth time, I would not try to back up the server or find a safer way to do it. From where we were the next steps would have been pretty straightforward. I appreciate how easy it is to use blogger and do not remember why I wanted to make an independent blog in the first place. Do not try to host a Ghost blog through nginx on the Raspberry Pi. Preferably avoid the Raspberry Pi in general because it is in a limbo of being neither user-friendly nor technically-accessible.

Final Reflection Martin

Backwards Reflection:
     My project was to create a "Little Free Library" with Nikita. A little free library is a small wooden box where people place their books that they don't want and other people can take them out to read them and later return them. After completing the library, Nikita and I would go to somewhere in Carrasco to hang it along with placing instructions on how to use the little free library.
     To make it, we sawed out some wood to make the frame, using a cardboard box as a basis for the measurements. The wood used was the wood that Matthew had previously brought for a cabinet. After nailing it, we started to paint the library using yellow and green paint. Finally, we began drilling in the hinges, but that's when we ran out of time
Self Reflection:
      The goal was to make the little free library and hang it somewhere in Carrasco along with instructions of what it was, but unfortunately due to lack of time, the project didn't turn out the way we wanted since we were unable to finish. There was also an issue with one of the parts of the hinges missing, so so far we were only able to place 3 hinges so far. We were unfortunately unable to finish the little free library due to lack of time, but I'm glad I got to work on it.
Forward Reflection:
     Overall, I'm glad I was able to work on this project instead of staying on the server; which although it came close to fully functioning, third time just wasn't charm.

     If I had to do this project again, I would try to find more efficient ways of sawing along with using screws instead of nails but other than that, I feel like the only limitation was time.

Enrique's Final Reflection: Q4

Enrique's Final Reflection: Q4

 

 

Backward Reflection 

     This quarter, my main goal was to help Matthew make the server. I wanted to learn how to properly use the Raspberry Pi and how it worked. I also wanted to learn how servers worked and how to use them. I also wanted to learn some more advanced HTML, and design the theme of the website with Matthew. My strategy was to make the server first, and then have Matthew lead the HTML programming while I assisted him. 

Self-Reflection 

   The assignment did not turn out the way I wanted. At all. The server was completed, and the theme was ready for testing and debugging. We decided to back up the whole Pi to keep the server from being breaking after how far we got. Ironically, when we backed it up we ended up corrupting the SD card. After trying to rescue the files, we arrived at the conclusion that the card was done for good. We were never able to finish it.
     Regardless, I achieved most of my goals. I learned a lot about how to use the Raspberry Pi, and some CSS as well. I learned how to use the Ghost blogging platform, and how to set up a server on the Raspberry Pi. In the end, I give myself an "A" for effort, and learning, which was my original goal. 

Forwards Reflection

     If I had to do this project again, I would back up the Pi correctly. PLEASE, if you are reading this and are planning on using a Raspberry Pi for a project of this caliber, learn how to avoid SD card corruption. I would be more careful next time.

Final Reflection, Full of Pure Reflectiveness

Final Reflection

This was a semi-productive quarter in the Makerspace class. After a whole of empathizing, and knowing what people wanted, I cracked the truth to the hidden problem that was affecting 75% of the school, and which a slight majority of the school considered a problem worth fixing. The problem? Running into people going up or down the secondary stairs.

The problem was clear to me, but the solution wasn't. The root of the problem was clear, with 60% of responses signaling the worse part of the stairs to be when you started walking down them and running into people there, followed by 28% of responses signaling that at the middle of the stairs, when people were using the wrong side of the stairs. Several solutions came to mind. Separating the stairs in half, divided by electrical tape to tell people where they should walk. After discussing this with our instructor (Mr. Koss) we agreed that this was a chance to conduct a social experiment. Mr. Koss told me of a research done that showed how people responded better to visual cue's, and we decided on a solution. We would cut pieces of paper of different color, red and green. (102 to be precise, 51 red and 51 green). In addition to the squares we would construct four large arrows to place at the top, and bottom of the stairs to indicate what way the traffic should flow. Then we would cut transparent contact paper to attach this paper to the stairs, and protect it from wear and tear. 

The process of cutting the paper and contact paper took around a week. After the materials were cut I decided to conduct another experiment to see how many people ran into each other in the stairs. So, between periods 2B, and 3B with the assistance of Jeff's clicker I counted every time someone used the stairs in a wrong matter and how many times people ran into each other. The total number was 22 incidents where they either knocked into someone else or used the wrong side of the stairs. 22 our of a small high school is a high percentage, and gave me first hand knowledge of the extent of this problem. 

After this I proceeded to attach the papers. The papers were attached to signal the path the person had to take. The process took around 3 classes and once completed clearly identified the road that someone using the stairs had to use. Attaching said papers was finished on a Thursday, and by Friday I started noticing changes in the people using the stairs, how they would follow our path. On Monday I proceeded to count the amount of incidents once again. The only difference was I did it after last period, when people were going home. I recorded 13 incidents, which is a clear reduction from the past 22. Nonetheless I believe this number was greater because there was a greater use of the stairs than between periods 2B and 3B. With all this data I can say that my project proved the idea of how people responded to visual cue's, and helped fix an issue which people gave an average of 7/10 of priority.

(because I am writing thsi blog from home, and did not take a picture of the finished project I will add a picture of our grate school, which was made better and safer thanks to the contribution of ths project)

I think about how this project turned out for me. After a very unproductive 3rd quarter, and having Makerpace ruin my first, and probably last chance at straight A's (once again no hard feeling Mr. Koss, just hurt) I feel like this project gave me a purpose, and it was an issue which i was constantly complaining for. The project, when finished gave me a sense of closure, this is a problem I always experienced, and I cant count how many times I ran into little Middle School students while using the stairs. The project also came at quite a tough moment emotionally, and having that to focus on, and seeing how some people were reacting to it, gave a feeling that I was fixing a problem many people encountered. "This is sick, its a very smart solution." - Gumucio 2016,"Very simple way to fix a problem." -Mr. Foege 2016. As I previously stated I judge my project by the two differently timed experiments to see how many people ran into each other while using the stairs, with, and without the visual aides. 

I believe this work shows an important aspect of myself. When I have inspiration, or actually put my mind to something I can complete projects, or carry objectives I place myself. Quarter 3 I didn't see the importance, or the interest to my project on waterproof sprays, but this I could see the impact it had on my community. 

This project took longer than I thought it would, and has space to improve upon itself. The project involved two very long processes, cutting the contact paper, and sticking the paper/contact paper onto the stairs Cutting the contact paper was a very long process that had to be done before even working on the stairs. Contact paper is very hard to work with since it is usually distributed in rolls, the way the paper is folded makes it very hard to cut. We could have instead of using contact paper used clear tape, the type that is used to close boxes, and just stuck the paper and covered it in tape. Another long step was sticking the paper/contact paper on the stairs. To do so one could've either placed the paper down, and then covered it in contact paper, or stuck the paper on the contact paper and then onto the floor. The method that worked best was the latter, seeing as the batch stuck by Mr. Koss and Julie quickly detached withing 24 hours. Nonetheless this problem could have been solved by simply utilize clear tape.

I would have approached this project differently by starting it at an earlier date. Starting it earlier could've given me the chance to try different techniques. Different colors, different cue's, different style of cue's, and if given enough time seen if the cue's could have trained the students to use the stairs the right way, without the need for said cue's. If I could do this project again I would do it on an earlier date, and tried different approaches.

Final Q4 Reflection

SketchUp Designing

Spanish House

Backwards Reflection

On this quarter, I continued with my SketchUp designing house. The house that I was working on was a Spanish house which Mr. Koss had demonstrated me as a good example. So I decided to design the inside structure of the house, and also make my own furniture. This Spanish house was a very unique house which was entirely made of wood and glass. It was easy for me to build and design the house as the shape of the house was a rectangular shape, and I didn’t needed to work on complicated designs; also not mixing other materials. But it was also a great challenge for me to make my own furniture as in the past I used to download from google.

This were my procedures:

1. Making a floor plan on paper: It’s uncomplicated for me to make a floor plan on paper as it is easier to amend with pencil and eraser.
2. Re-making the floor plan on SketchUp: I need to make the same floor plan on SketchUp to make the house on three-dimensional. I can check the measurements and revise.
3. Making it on three-dimensional: This was the hardest part as always. I designed the house in three-dimensional to have a easy view.
4. Making the furniture: As it was my first time designing my own furniture, it took me a lot of time. I’ve made all the furniture such as the desks, sinks, chairs, etc by getting help from Ho and Mr. Koss.
5. Adding color: Lastly, I added color to the house to make it more realistic.

Self-Reflection

The assignment didn’t completely turn out the way that I wanted, but I could satisfy; and the goal of finishing this house was achieved! This work shows how much I improved with my designing skills on SketchUp and floor-plans. Even if I had small errors on the measurement and structure, I could see how much I’ve improved than my first floor plans.

Forward Reflection

If I have the opportunity to make this Spanish house again, I would be more careful with the measurements as they weren’t exact. I would have approached this project differently by more concentrating on the furniture. The next time, I would improve on making the furniture and I would like to add more color.

Final Q4 Blog Post

This semester started off really messy. I did not have an idea of what I wanted my main project to be and I also didn't want to waste any time that was given. I also wanted to be a lot more efficient and productive this semester since previous semesters haven't been. One day, we were given an assignment to ask teachers about the space in their classroom. Starting off as an assignment for the whole class, I went to the elementary area and asked the 1st and 2nd grade teachers what they thought about their classroom space and what they would change. After completing this assignment, I decided to continue fixing the problems that the grade 1 and 2 teachers had in their classroom. The teacher for 1st grade has many problems with the seating arrangements on the floor and I tried giving her ideas on how the student could be comfortable but still pay attention in class. I also gave her an idea on how she could use a wall in her classroom that wasn't really being used, she used my advice and used my ideas. 

The second grade teacher had a bigger problem but it could be solved. She said she had a lot of library books just laying around in the reading area. I thought of different ideas in which she could use the amount of space that she had to her benefit. So, I went through a lot of brainstorming and looking up on pintrest different ways this could be made. I finally came up with an idea to make a seat that had an opening in the bottom which she could put her library books in. I made a prototype out of boxes and different materials that were provided by Mr. Koss. Ms. Elizabeth, the 2nd grade teacher asked me if I wanted to show her class my prototypes so that her kids can see how prototyping worked. After showing them my prototype, I could start working on the project. Mr. Koss told me that I could use a crate and that he could provide me this material. After doing measurements, we decided on making 3 seats for the area.

I washed three very dirty crates and painted each one over the weekend. This was a very difficult task because the paint that we were using only came off with a special chemical and it did not come off of clothes. But, it was a good bonding experience with my dad since he helped me a lot during this process. 

After painting all three crates prime colors, the hardest part came and that was waiting for it to dry. 

I still don't think they are till this moment but oh well. I knew that I wouldn't have enough time to finish all of this in class, so I had to start taking things home and finishing at home. The next easy steps are the following: I had to sew cloth to make the pillow and then stuff it with cotton. I had no experience of sewing and if I did it was a very long time ago and I do not remember one bit of it. Lorena, the librarian, gave me a lot of tips and strategies that I used while sewing. Although right now I am not done with the sewing, I know I will be done soon. 

I think this assignment was the best one I have done because it came out how I wanted it to. THere were a lot of obstacles that I had to go over in order for my project to be a success. My only goal was to be efficient with my time and be very productive during class time. I think that I achieved this goal because the past weeks I have been very busy with this project. I judged it by my previous projects and how they were different. I think that my other projects were not very good and I didn't really try the previous semesters. I think that this project really showed how much I worked and tried to help someone who needed advice and help. I think it showed Mr. Koss the different ways I can work and get things done.

I f I did this project again I would have started earlier so that I had more class time to finish it. I think that would be the only thing I would have done differently because it really affected my outcome. I really enjoyed doing this project and I think it made me more independent.