Reflection
As a group, we have completed the final projects by the due date. We handed in a complete newscast, thought of at near beginning of the process; a professional info-graphic thought of at the very end of the project, to tie everything off. We found multiple ways to describe and answer why privacy is important to the individual.
In retrospect, the driving question is a bit wide and can be answered in so many more ways than we did. We should have chosen a question with a simpler answer. However, I can't complain as the driving question was chosen by a vote, and we still managed to successfully answer the question.
As a learner, we discovered plenty of information I didn't know before, such as the Snowden Leaks, TANSTAAFL, and how to properly cite online sources. As a person, I learned how to deal with people who don't always do things as you hoped or planned. Several times, our group had some friction, but friction is okay as long as it is handled with respect, which it was done. It is important to remember that your viewpoint can be interpreted differently, and that you shouldn't always expect people to do something the same way you would.
What I enjoyed about this project was that the groups were chosen for us. If they weren't chosen for us, I would have probably ended up in a group of people who have a similar work ethic and mindset as me. However, this was not the case and instead, I was introduced to different attitudes, that all end up getting work done.
Final Project
citations_pbl |
Inquiry Process/Work Log Blog
Summary of our journey step by step.
Day 7
First day back! Kevin edited the footage to make the final video. Iza, Eric and I worked on our info-graphic on the website piktochart. The website is very user friendly, and the info-graphic was an idea from Luiza. We feel it is a compact way of summarizing the answers to the driving question. The chart will convey all the different reasons privacy is important to the individual. Eric and I just gave suggestions, tips and comment, but Luiza did most of the physical work.
The newscast will be long, but this is to answer our driving question thoroughly and include many facts. A problem that occurred is for one of Eric’s lines, when I was filming I started too late, resulting in one of his words being cut of. We tried to prevent this yesterday, when filming, by having a ‘director’ who would say action. We checked most of the video clips, but apparently this one managed to sneak out of the quality check. However, this is a minor issue and is something we can focus on now that the largest problem has been solved- the time crunch!
Holidays (Decemeber 24th until Sunday 8th)
Over the holidays, I would say we got a lot done. We finished and proofread the script, analyzed the survey data, made a background visual for the information specialist lines and filmed the newscast. We added around 6 pages to the script together. The most significant chunk of text I added, was the part about internet data collected from companies such as google being sold to other companies so they can make advertisements. I researched this topic and came across the phrase TANSTAAFL, and how the author Robert A. Heinlein related this to the free websites. Abdul and Iza analyzed the survey data.
Near the beginning of new year, I made a list of things we still need to finalize on the script. I came up with the idea to make background slides to support my lines. As the informational specialist, my lines are rather bland and the visual representation would make it ultimately more interesting. I continued with my idea, and made a google slide document which I shared with my group mates. I really wanted to have the slides slick and simple as they would be videotaped and viewers wouldn’t have much time to read. I worked mostly on this slide show, attempting to express the message as clearly as possible with as little words, along with a few edits from Eric and Iza.
The script rough copy was finished January 5th, by Iza, and editing/proofreading was done all the way until January 8th. That day, the last moments of the holidays we spent together to film our newscast. All filming was done in my families house. We had many amusing hours together and is something I will definitely remember from grade 9. It was hard to stay on topic, but realistically we got everything done so all was good.
Now, all we have to do is edit the newscast, and find a way to source our documents used. Kevin has the resources to professionally edit the newscast, and in the periods of school work time given to come, we will give him feedback.
Day 5 & 6
Progress video |
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Day 5 of working I wasn’t present, due to a cross country field trip. I asked my partners what I could do to catch up and Luiza responded that I should just work on the script. What they did that day was create several mock interviews. When I was working, I added a bit to the ‘busy business women’ and scripted ‘the teenage girls’. I researched some statistics about a topic that fascinates me: how your digital footprint affects your business life. I found some fascinating facts, and managed to incorporate them by having the specialist add on to something that the girls say.
Day 6, Kevin was gone, but we still managed to film our progress video. The ultimate message it conveys is how the United States' organizations watches it’s people. I guess it is a fun collaborative way to convey a message. The filming was done on my phone, until the storage ran out so the scene with Luiza and me in our secret hideout was done on Abdul's phone. I filmed all of the beginning scenes, which was quite a challenge to hold the camera still without having a stand. For the undercover scene, we got Mr. Grant to bring us to the SJAM media room, and the teacher kindly let us borrow it. The room was really distinct with flood lights and a movable chalk board to use as a prop. As we play the secret service, and used the chalk boards to express why 911 was real, as in the small movie the main character has some doubts as to who did 911. Iza and I prepared the board, Eric got the camera angles ready, and Abdul prepared the flood lights. To me, this was an amazing experience to film in a real filming studio, and hope to use it again in my 4 years at SJAM.
I feel I am contributing enough, as even if I happen to be away I still do work. The driving question is being answered through all types of perspectives, unique to each person, but is still being supported by data or facts. I really enjoy how we have the newscast set up, as in the real world it would probably be set up similarly. The script is almost done, and sound really professional! Good work, team.
As a group, we're running into difficulty with time management. FIlming takes quite a bit of time and after the holidays we only have 3 periods. We will have to get together, and film over the holidays, difficult for me as I don’t have time to get together. We shouldn’t have had this problem if we would have stuck with the schedule and work divisions I provided. Unfortunately, the first few days that we worked on the PBL, were unproductive (these days were 1, 2, and 3.) At least we have pulled ourselves together and are writing away at our script. From day 6 on the script is 8 pages long, but should be around 15 for a 20 minute newscast.
Day 3 & 4
Day 4, and we’ve finally decided to move out of the stairwell and have become more productive. Should have done that earlier. Oh well.
Eric took some initiative, which I greatly appreciate, and decided to start the newscast script. In it, I am portrayed as the specialist on mass surveillance, and so I bring lots of information to the script. Today I did a lot of research on Edward Snowden, whom I didn’t know before. Luiza and I worked on an ‘interview with Edward Snowden’ and we answered all of the interviewer's questions with quotes he actually said. It was really neat, as we put different quotes together and formulated answers, that still go word for word!
The group has finally come together and we’re moving forward in 1 machine. The nexts steps we have to take are finish the script and memorize it. I don’t think we will get any filming done before the christmas holidays but hopefully we can figure out a date to film. We also need to analyze our survey data and put it into a comprehensible way.
An issue, I predict we are going to come across is not having enough time to film, and edit between the due date. If we all pitch in equally it will be doable!
Day 1 & 2