YOUNG SCHOLARS PROGRAM 2003

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YOUNG SCHOLARS PROGRAM 2003
ELECTRONIC-PORTFOLIO Amanda July 13, 2003
August 1, 2003 Education 289A Davina
Pruitt-Mentle Dave Wilson
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Table of Contents

• Page 3 Who Am I
• Page 4 What is Education 289A?
• Pages 5-6 The Online Experience
• Page 7 Course Goals
• Page 8 Microworlds
• Pages 9-10 RoboLab
• Pages 11-13 Field Trips
• Page 14 Guest Speakers
• Page 15 Interesting Readings
• Page 16 A Few Fun Websites
• Page 17 And in the End
• Page 18 Back at the Dorm
• Page 19 A Final Thought

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Who Am I?

• My name is Amanda and I am from Potomac,
  Maryland.
• I attend a private school called the Charles E.
  Smith Jewish Day School and am a rising junior.
• I enjoy hanging out with my friends, playing
  basketball, sailing, and seeing my family.
• I have a 25 year old sister and a 23 year old
  brother.
• I plan to become an engineer when I get to
  college and pursue this career when I get older.

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What Is Education289A?

• It allows students to experiment with 21st
  century technology
• Exposes students to the university experience,
  both with the workload and technologically based
  applications
• Show how programming and other technology-based
  operations are used in the modern work
  environment
• Builds team working and group abilities
• Teaches problem-solving skills through active
  processes
• To learn more Course Outline and Syllabus

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The Online Experience

• WebCT
• We were able to receive grades and find out about
  all of our work without ever having a teacher
  tell us
• Discussion Postings and Chatrooms
• Here, we dialogued with our fellow students about
  different issues about technology in the 21st
  century
• Quizzes Online
• There is no longer a need for pencil and paper to
  be tested now!
• Online Calendar
• We never entered class not knowing what the day
• would hold.

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The Online Experience A Few Snapshots
WebCT Homepage and Calendar
Discussion Thread and Quizzes section
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Course Goals

• Strengthen team abilities
• Solve difficulties through active problem-solving
• Gain critical thinking skills
• Accept criticism with grace
• Participate to the fullest in class discussions
  and field trips
• Explore basic programming work
• Learn to use online discussion threads and other
  online activities
• For a more detailed list, click here

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Microworlds
Microworlds is an animation program that allows
its users to learn basic programming while
improving problem-solving skills. Click on any
of the links to see how my projects have
developed.

• Day1
• My Animated Story
• Land of Dars
• My Maze
• Story book Where is my Friend
• Car swerving
• Guys Racing

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RoboLab

• RoboLab is a computer application that uses
  pictures to program Lego robots. By working in
  groups, we were able to build robots and complete
  two challenges
• Pushing cans out of a circle by using light
  sensors
• Maneuvering through a maze using both light
  sensors and touch sensors

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RoboLab Pictures
This is our team, the Lady Dozers, before our
first Robo Challenge.
Dave, our TA, tries to help us complete our first
Robo Challenge.
For more, click here
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Off Campus Field Trips
Through these trips outside of class, we have
seen how the 21st century technology is put into
real life action. Click to find out more.

• National Institute of Standards and Technology
• NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
• The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics
  Laboratory
• NSA National Cryptologic Museum
• Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

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On Campus Field Trips
After attending these trips, we better understood
the connection between education and 21st
technology, seeing how they were both provided by
the university.

• Local IT Companies at UMD Incubator
• AnthroTronix
• DataStream Solutions
• UMD Wind Tunnel
• UMD Geography Department
• UMD Composite Materials Lab
• UMD Neutral Buoyancy and
• Space Systems Laboratory

This is our class at AnthroTronix
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Field Trip Pictures
This is the spacecraft we used to protect our
water balloon from exploding at the Space Systems
Lab. It worked well!
This is the class at the UMD Wind Tunnel.
For more, click here
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Guest Speakers

• College of Education/Student Services
• They provided us with a first taste of technology
  and education within this course, giving us
  insight on how to successfully apply to college.
• Department of Judicial Programs
• Though I knew that Maryland had an honor code, I
  did not realize that there was a whole department
  made up of faculty and students. It really makes
  students question what they do to get an A.
• World Bank and International Development
• By using the modern technology of laptops, we
  understood how education can impact the world.

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Interesting Readings

• We have had to balance many different things at
  once throughout this program, including reading
  many pages per night. Here are some samples.
• Constructivist Learning
• Educational Standards
• Census Bureau Demographic Data
• No Child Left Behind Act
• Open Source Software
• Web-Based Design

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A Few Fun Websites

• Cyber Ethics these sites tell the interesting
  stories of those who have tried to cheat in
  college.
• Schools Try to Raise Good E-Citizens
• U. of Virginia Hit by Scandal Over Cheating
• Gender Gap this site try to solve the
  differences between girls and boys in technology
• Netiquette these describe the core rules for
  using the internet
• Interactive HTML Tutorial with this site, we
  were able to learn some beginner programming
  skills

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And in the End

• We Learned
• Basic HTML/Logo
• Collaboration Skills
• Problem Solving
• How to keep a journal
• of our feelings and
• reflection
• Useful research and
• study skills

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But, Back in the Dorm

• There is more to the college experience then
  going to class life with friends is as
  important. Going out with dorm mates to Route 1
  or to the movies makes going to school much more
  enjoyable. Here are a few pictures.

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A Final Thought

• When I first began the Young Scholars Program, I
  had no idea what to expect, but I was pleasantly
  surprised. The past three weeks have been filled
  with intensive homework readings, challenging
  daily exercises, and fascinating outside of class
  activities. As we approach our final hours, I
  know that I have received more than three
  credits I have gained an experience that I will
  remember forever. This course has truly changed
  my perspective of my school, my education, and
  the way I learn. Thank You.