PVU GCE Portfolio

For this last unit, Prevention in our STEAM class Cure, we studied how different diseases can be prevented. We also looked at how we measure risk for certain types of illnesses based on different categories. Lifestyle, physical exercise genetics, and diet, are some of the factors that we looked at. We created a family medical tree. We were able to look at the family members and see how likely it would be for the disease to be passed on. For this Action Project, we played the role of a doctor. We would go through the patient’s medical profile and help them treat an illness or disease. I chose to do my grandmother because she is one of the most influential and important people to me. I really struggled to gather my information from my grandmother because there is a language barrier. I was able to overcome the barrier by writing down any words I did not understand and looked them up on the Hungarian dictionary. I hope you enjoy! Mark Hoffman. The Cancer Association. (2015...

For this unit, Treatment, in our STEAM class Cure, we studied different ways we can treat illnesses. The specifics of the unit was the difference between a medicine and a drug. We learned about over-the-counter drugs, treatments, prescription drugs, and last but not least natural remedies. I really enjoyed learning these types of different ways you can cure the human body. As an athlete, it is essential to take care of your body. We also learned a lot about what the FDA requires on packaging for medicines. For the this Action Project, we were to choose an illness or symptom and identify three ways to cure or prevent it. To make the project come alive, we made our own medicine box. On the box, we were instructed to label the three cures or preventives we had found. The last three sides were filled with our graph and our (works cited) “ingredients.” I struggled with finding putting the box together. Although I am good at assembling things, I struggled with being exact for my box. I was a...

In my STEAM course called Disease, we finished our third and final unit called “World”. In this unit, we focused on the wide spread of diseases. We mainly studied the different classifications of diseases such as a pandemic, endemic, hyperendemic, epidemic, and sporadic.We studied how we can keep the public safe from something like an epidemic. In addition, we looked how an epidemic can affect the world. For this final Action Project, we were supposed to choose a disease of our interest. We were then instructed to study an outbreak of the disease from the past. I chose Ebola in the Dominican Republic. I chose this because I thought this was an expected place due to its growth of tourist. We then created a newspaper article that informs the readers about the outbreak. The new article explains how the outbreak was controlled and what we can do to avoid the outbreak. Overall this AP was really fun! I had a good time researching, doing the project, and most importantly learning something. ...

For my STEAM course - Disease, we were studying mental disorders. In this unit, we learned all about mental disorders and the DSM-5. We focused heavily on the autism spectrum. We learned what it is like to be on the autism spectrum. We read a book called “The Reason I Jump” by Naoki Higashida. In addition, we also learned about different types of brain waves. We learn about what these brain waves control in our body. Delta, Theta, Gamma, Beta, and Alpha are some of the many brain waves. For this Action Project, we were instructed to find a mental disorder and make a simulation of what it’s like to have the mental disorder. We then made a lesson plan and then ran a simulation on the class. I chose a subcategory of a learning specific disorder called dyslexia. The hardest thing to do in my project was to create the simulation. I created a gif that simulates dyslexia. It was hard for me to tell if it worked because I experience dyslexia on daily basis. After making tweaks to the gif I ove...

In my Winter Term STEAM course Disease, we mainly focused on the human body. We studied the body systems and how our bodies function. We also learned how many different types of diseases that could affect our body systems. In the first unit, we mainly focused on Cancer. We studied the causes and cures for Cancer. Collectively we learned and discussed the different types of diseases and how we can classify each disease. We learned a lot of crucial information. Everything we learned in unit one, I was able to incorporate in our Action Project. For this project, the class was instructed to showcase what we learned about the body systems. We had to pick on a disease. I chose Carpal Tunnel. For this Action Project, we had to create a patient profile that could show how it affected his/hers life and body. We did this portion through writing. The rest we did through drawings. We made life-sized human pictures of two things that your disease affects. My two systems were the Nervous System and ...

For this elective term, I have been taking a STEAM course called Game Changers. In this elective course, we have been learning about games and game design. Some of these games include tabletop games like a board, dice, and card games. We learned about game creation and how to innovate and invent our own games. We were also able to make our own tabletop games. One of our field experiences was to go to CHITAG (Chicago Toy and Game Fair) and present our game. While we were there we were able to get lots of feedback for how to make our games better. I was on of the lucky ones who also got an interview with a couple of different television companies. We learned about what an elevator pitch was and how it’s so useful when selling your idea. For this Action Project, we were supposed to produce our final version of our games. My game is complete but not perfect. I had a really hard time creating the physical components for my project, but I overcame it with just pushing through. I had a sign...

For this elective term, I have been taking a STEAM course called Game Changers. In this elective course, we have been learning about games and game design. Some of these games include tabletop games like a board, dice, and card games. We learned about game creation and how to innovate and invent our own games. Throughout learning how to create games, we played multiple different types of games. One of the reasons we played games was to figure how each game worked. We also had a Skype interview with Jay Little, the creator of many popular role-playing games such as Edge Of The Empire Roleplaying Game. Jay gave us very insightful information about the game including design, elevator pitch, and marketing strategies. For this Action Project, we are recommending games to some kind of social program. I was proud of the games that I chose. It was hard for me to figure out how to write it down, but I overcame it by just coming up with mad-libs like checklists. I simply made a checklist that I...

In my final unit of my STEAM class Population, we discussed how life expectancy can change over time. We learned about calculating and predicting population growth. Our class learned a lot about survivorship curves, and to showcase our knowledge we went the OakWood Cemetery to collect data.  We then used that data to create our own survivorship graph. We were instructed to come up with an Action Project that compared the human population to a self-chosen animal. I chose the Wood Bison. I thought the would Bison was a cool animal, and with my limited time, I had easily accessible data for Wood Bison. I thought the hardest part of this Action Project was to shoot the video. I have genuinely had a hard time filming anything that I am in. I overcame this by just pushing through my weakness to reach the top. I am overall happy with how it turned out. Ansgar Walk. (February 26, 2006) Wood Bison  Ansgar Walk. (February 26, 2006) Wood Bison Year Bison Pop ...

For my first STEAM course of my sophomore year, I am taking a class called population. In this unit, we learned about central tendencies, standard deviation, and permutation, combinations, factorials, and box & whisker plots. We also learned about genetic and heritable traits of an organism, theories, phenotypes, genotypes, natural selection, the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and dominant and recessive traits. I thought that this AP is a really cool project, although I had some trouble researching my animals and getting their weight. I then chose three species that I thought would survive best in Russia's harsh weather conditions. The species I chose were the Husky weighing 61 pounds, the German shepherd weighing 46.5 pounds, and a Labradoodle mix weighing 39.06 pounds. I chose these three dogs because all three of them are fairly big dogs, they have long thick fur, and they can survive in cold condition climates. I think all of these animals will pass down thick fur, and big s...

In my final STEAM course for my freshman year, we are learning about GMOs and if they are bad or good for us. We also learned about the mathematics for data calculations. We were instructed to create a debate with both sides of the argument. For the project we researched our side. I chose the side GMOs is bad for us. I created a convincing argument, and collected data to support my claims. I had added a graph that showed the corn yields of NON-GMOs vs. GMOs years in the U.S. I really liked how I wrote my argument, it was super convincing and it also had lots of facts. The one thing that I could have done better was being able to read my argument better. There was a 16.3% increase between the GMO years and NON-GMOs years. The calculations were, 139.2-161.9/139.2=16.3%. I was really happy with everything and I hope people stop using GMOs. Take a look at my video, graph, and argument.   GMO Debate: PVU Argues Against GMOs from GCE Lab School on Vimeo . (PVU, Graph, May 25,...

In my last STEAM course of my freshman year food, we learned about leavening agents and what is the best for bread. For this AP, the class was told to bake three different types of breads using three different leavening agents. Two of the breads were to be made with biological leavening agents, yeast and sourdough, and the third bread was made with a chemical leavening agent, baking soda. We learned about fractions when it comes to cooking, solving proportions, and how to convert recipes. We learned how to solve logarithms and how to find the pH of anything. The group I was in was the chemical group. The chemical leavening agent was baking soda. I liked this project overall. I think there were some flaws, but bread we baked was really good. I think that everything I learned from this action project I will be able to take into the real world. When I am on my own, I will need to learn how to do all of this by myself. This action project didn’t just help me in academics, but ...