• Log In
  • Log In
Science Leadership Academy @ Center City
Science Leadership Academy @ Center City Learn · Create · Lead
  • Students
    • Mission and Vision
  • Parents
  • Community
    • Mission and Vision
  • Calendar

Capstone · Block · Wed Public Feed

Create a Post

Jason Lam's Capstone

Posted by Jason Lam in Capstone · Block · Wed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 9:45 pm

My Capstone project was to create a sort of guide on how to help and support a visually impaired student for teachers. This guide is really for the middle to high school student range and only focuses on academic needs and support. The final product would be a booklet that contained my own experiences as a visually impaired student at SLA, a list of tools and materials visually impaired students could potentially be using and a description of how it works and how it's meant to be used, and then the actual listings of how teachers in each academic course could support the student if they should need it. The third section will be split into the three categories of visual impairment being low/near vision, visually impaired, and braille/legally blind.  As for my process, admittingly, I took more of a simpler route in doing this project by just researching online for all the technical parts, and remembering my own experiences when I could have done a lot more by interviewing teachers to get their opinions or interviewing past year visually impaired students, etc. So really, all I’ve been really doing was research online, recollect, type, and communicating with my mentor.


I do not currently have the final product made yet, but I do have the information that will be on the final product. This is the lnk to the doc. (Note: I can't seem to paste a picture on here).

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C--cXUS2S3_neBM31TLDGxcNnJWonX8C55QdH_M2ljo/edit


"Material Adaptations for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired." Teaching Students with Visual Impairments. By: Carmen Willings teaching visually impaired.com. Accessed January 27, 2019.

https://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com/material-adaptations.html.


This website contains several methods to help visually impaired students participate in class. The have a section for large font papers, sensory learning, braille, accessible education materials, and much more. Some of the pages contain pros and cons about that particular method as well as when it can or should be used.  However, all the pages contain information about it which will give me a lot of solutions to potential problems visually impaired students would have in the classroom.


McLaughlin, Rhonda. "Interview with Ms. Rhonda." Interview by Jason Lam. February 8, 2019.


This is an interview of my own visual impairment counselor, Ms. Rhonda. She is a counselor that works with many visually impaired students across the Philadelphia area. Each student of hers is different has different needs to complete school, and have different resources as well. This interview will help me find out and understand what other blind students need to complete a day of school as well as the resources they have access to to accommodate them.


Sprinkle, Kristi. "Home." Impact Of Visual Impairment On Development. By Sharon Nichols Accessed January 27, 2019. https://www.tsbvi.edu/general-technology-items/1074-overview-of-technology-for-visually-impaired-and-blind-students.


This website contains more methods of participating in class for visually impaired students. It includes zoom in features for computer or laptop use in class, and it also has information on machines that can help the blind student such as a CCTV. For both of these features, it lists multiple types of each thing so if one does not suit the student as comfortably, they aren’t limited to just that one kind. This information will be helpful for possible solutions to potential problems in class for blind students.


"Welcome." Sage Vision Technology - Low Vision Product Supplier. Accessed April 29, 2019. https://sagevisiontech.com/.


This is the website of the largest supplier of visual impairment electronics in Pennsylvania. They have many different types of tools visually impaired people use . This will help me create the list of technology that visually impaired students use at school and how they work.


Wyatt, Allen. "Booklet Printing in Word." Tips.net. Accessed April 30, 2019. https://word.tips.net/T003927_Booklet_Printing_in_Word.html.


This website is a guide to making a booklet which is going to be my final product. I have no prior knowledge of making a booklet, so this website will be able to help learn how to make one.
Tags: capstone, Joshua Block
Be the first to comment.

Catherine Long Capstone

Posted by Catherine Long in Capstone · Block · Wed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 5:31 pm

For my capstone I wanted to put a few of my interests into one thing. History, fashion and Asian traditional culture. Since I had traveled/planned to travel to these countries, I decided to use them as my main focus. My capstone overall is research and pictures of the evolution/variety of traditional clothing worn by women in Vietnam and Japan, being the Ao Dai and the Kimono. Other than being of my interests, I wanted travelers/foreigners who travel to Asian countries and wear the traditional outfits to know the significance of it to the citizens and the country, not just wearing it to wear it or because it looks nice. 
Traditional clothing of a country shows the history and importance. It means something and presents the citizens in a certain way, normally making them look elegant and beautiful, just like the scenery that is around them. I wanted to educate them on this topic so they have this knowledge when they travel to either country. Hopefully in the future I will be able to expand this with more Asian countries and their traditional outfits for women. 

Cynthia Green. “The Surprising History of the Kimono.” JSTOR Daily. December 8, 2017.  

https://daily.jstor.org/the-surprising-history-of-the-kimono/


Ellis, Claire, and Global Directions, Inc. "Ao Dai: The National Costume." Razor Tie Artery Foundation Announce New Joint Venture Recordings | Razor & Tie. Accessed January 25, 2019.

https://web.archive.org/web/20080705105011/http://www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/1083


This article is also about the Ao dai itself, bringing in some historical background. Overall mentioning how the to pronounce the outfit name, as well as the difference in regions. It mentions a lot about the how the ao dai is seen as a national costume and how it is perceived from the citizens of Vietnam. The article has stuff on the comfort of the outfit, how it’s shaped, cut and also how it looks physically, from the fabric choices to the neck cut choices. The ao dai is perceived now to the Vietnamese citizens as “elegant, demure and yet sexy outfit, that suits Vietnamese women of all ages.”



Huyen. "The History of Ao Dai – Vietnam’s National Dress." Discover Halong. December 28, 2016. Accessed January 24, 2019. https://discover-halong.com/featured/the-history-of-ao-dai-vietnams-national-dress.html.

https://discover-halong.com/featured/the-history-of-ao-dai-vietnams-national-dress.html


I chose to use this link/website as it is very difficult to find information on the ao dai when in the states. It breaks up the history of the ao dai by time period of change, how it looked, what it was called and how society viewed it. Starting from the original design, ao tu than. It ends with the now more modernized version of the ao dai, seen with leggings or skinny jeans. It shows the changes with style, who was either first shown with the change or created the change. As well as photo evidence of those designs during those periods.


Thuy Design House. "CO BA SAI GON." Thuy Design House. Accessed January 25, 2019. http://www.thuydesignhouse.com/album/co-ba-sai-gon-45.


This is the collection of the outfits created in partnership with the movie Co Ba Saigon. I’m using this collection and a few other collections from Thuy Design House to take inspiration for my sketches of the Ao dai. This collection shows the different ao dais and dresses inspired by the 60s era in Vietnam. Where it started to modernize a bit more. The owner of Thuy Design House has an emanicd love for the ao dais, this she created this company. As well as an ao dai museum. To show citizens of Vietnam and foreigners the beauty of our nation’s costume.



Week, Vietnam International Fashion. "THUY DESIGN HOUSE | VIETNAM INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEK FALL WINTER 2017." YouTube. November 02, 2017. Accessed January 25, 2019.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLppGeBp4oE


This is a video the walk from the Vietnam International Fashion show in 2017. Clothes created in partnership with the film Co Ba Saigon. The ao dais are the 60s twist on the ao dai, made by the Thuy Design house. Thuy Design House is dedicated to the ao dai and it’s timeless beauty. This presents the fashions used within the movie and not with the movie, just using it as inspiration. The movie wouldn’t have been made without the partnership and love for the ao dai by the director and Thuy Design house. In the end the love for the ao dai create a beautiful show.


Yuki Ling. "10 Different Types of Kimono for Women." Tsunagu Japan. July 6, 2014. 
https://www.tsunagujapan.com/10-different-types-of-kimono-for-women/  
Tags: capstone, 2019
Be the first to comment.

Daniele Fiorenza Capstone

Posted by Daniele Fiorenza in Capstone · Block · Wed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 4:59 pm

​Hi this is Dani and this is my Senior Project. Since I'm an exchange student I could notice a lot of differences in the everyday routine between the U.S. and Italy. I like a lot to talk about myself and showing to people who I am and what I do. When my experience started in August I brought with me my GoPro thinking about doing a documentary about the whole 10 months trip but I abandoned this idea after a while. I wasn't using the camera but, once we had to work on the Capstone, I remembered that I could have used that for it. I started recording the most interesting parts of my daily life such as my free time. I expressed my passions, traveling, doing sports above all playing soccer and some shades of my culture, cooking pasta. I purposely wanted with a POV camera angle because in my opinion the viewer can see the events in the same way I did. 
Hope you enjoy the video and have a great end of the school year.


Bibliography

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-A7vYsUHe4&t=40s
This source represents to the best the part of my project with the GoPro. The idea is to give my point of view, in fact this perspective it’s called POV. Instead a day in the city, my project will be a day at school with a GoPro. This is not the only part of my work but it’s the base idea where all starts. This video’s author was able to use some scenic effect and I want to replicate him but probably in a different way. Of course I’m gonna record some clips in center city to give an idea to who is watching the environment outside the school

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJePDxmRgBE
This source explains which kind of mount is better to use with the GoPro, it puts  in comparison the head mount with the chest mount. Seen that the perspective is one of the things that matters more I had to do this kind of research. At the end the chest mount is the better one for me because it gives a better perspective of what you are doing. There was the chance to buy an “external” mount but it’s not the perspective I want to give. The documentary will be like if I don’t even have a camera that is recording

https://www.desktop-documentaries.com/making-documentaries.html
Since I never tried to put clips together I thought it would have been helpful to follow a real tutorial on how to do a documentary (I actually don’t know if mine I can define it as a documentary). It tells step by step how to be successful in making a video and the steps are listed. Tell a story you care about, research best ways to record, make a plan creating an outline, be careful to copyright issues. I’m a beginner so this research is gonna be helpful at the beginning of my editing part of the project.

https://www.desktop-documentaries.com/mini-documentary.html
My video will not be a documentary so I looked for something smaller to get instruction from. The link says Mini-documentaries’ length is between 2 - 25 minutes and it’s exactly what i’m looking for. There are instructions similar to the last link but in this case the source focuses on the purpose of it. The website offers a video tutorial, “How to make a mini-documentary” which could be very helpful. Even if I already took another similar source I find this better because it approaches more to my idea.

https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2397215,00.asp
The first question I was wondering was “Which is the best program to edit a video?”. I did research on it and I found this source which is basically a review made by a computer scientist and he expresses his best choices that are free. I actually have to check what apps I have available at school. Since there are Macs at school I could probably use iMovie which supports 4K and it’s one of the best editor choices, the other one is Apple Final Cut Pro but I think I have to download it which is not my idea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GbfFV7LCH8
Since I’m recording with the GoPro (special videocam), I researched if there were some tips for using it. One thing that was underlined in the source is the fact to be selective and don’t let the camera record everything because there will be so much work to put the clips together and cut the less important parts. It tells about technical skills to like the frame of the clip and angles but the only angle I’m giving is what I see because the camera will be only on my chest 

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/how-conduct-journalistic-interview/
My first part of the project is GoPro clips but I think it’s not enough to this kind of project so I decided to add the clips to some interviews to high school students and maybe teachers. It’s a step by step tutorial and the steps are 8 and the most idea said in this source is to take notes which I don’t think it will be helpful for me because I’m gonna record it but it still tells some important things like conduct the interview in an organized manner.

http://mgt.buffalo.edu/career-resource-center/students/networking/mentorlink/40-questions-to-ask-in-an-informational-interview.html
I explained in the last source the second part of my project, interview to students. Even if the main question is “What do you think about exchange student program?” “What do you think about this year’s exchange students?” I thought it would have been helpful to find some random question to ask during an interviews even if won’t use them. Some of the categories are “What work is like?” or “Skills and Experience". Even if it doesn’t match with my cause maybe I could find a couple that I can use in my video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM0zLnep3Nw
“How to be successful in editing?”. This video tells 5 skills to be a good editor. The second point was pretty interesting because it says “Being a sculptor and knowing what to take away from your work”, the guy says our idea will be the main block of the sculpture and slowly labor it. He says to have a good imagination and be clear about your final idea. The last point explains that even if you’re going to cancel lot you are not satisfied so he says that it’s important to be a “good solver”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czf3anzzUjo
Of course music plays an important factor in a documentary so I decided to research some cool music to put in the background of my clips. I had to research songs without copyright because it’s not legal. This playlist is very cool and it seems perfect for Vlogs which is the type of video I want to make. I won’t talk I think during the GoPro clips, I didn’t decided yet but when there are some silence moments I’m gonna put this music. Linked to this there are other songs but I thought that one source is enough
Tags: capstone, Mr. Block, 2019
Be the first to comment.

Meeghan Kersten Capstone

Posted by Meeghan Kersten in Capstone · Block · Wed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 2:41 pm

​For my capstone, I worked with the Audubon Society to remove invasive plant species from around the reservoir. That didn't go well as most things were dead already. Instead, I found an app that allowed me to track the different trees around the reservoir. On the days when I was not able to go outside, I worked inside to create my website and do the research needed. As winter ended and it started to get warmer I began with the pullings. I would pull for about an hour or so when the weather was nice. When it wasn't I would be inside continuing my research. 
https://replantingatthediscoverycenter.weebly.com/

"Garlic Mustard – New York Invasive Species Information". 2019. Nyis.Info. Accessed January 25 2019. http://nyis.info/invasive_species/garlic-mustard/.

This source provides information about Garlic Mustard. Garlic Mustard is one of the three invasive plants that I will focus on removing from the area around the reservoir. The site gives the history of the plant like where it came from, identification, it's origin, the impacts, management, specific characteristics as well as other useful information. I will use the information from this source to properly identify the plants when I remove them but also to include information about them on my website.

​"Wineberry – New York Invasive Species Information". 2019. Nyis.Info. Accessed January 25 2019. http://nyis.info/invasive_species/wineberry/.

This source provides information about Wineberry. Wineberry is one of the three invasive plants that I will focus on removing from the area around the reservoir. The site gives the history of the plant like where it came from, identification, it's origin, the impacts, management, specific characteristics as well as other useful information. I will use the information from this source to properly identify the plants when I remove them but also to include information about them on my website.

"Japanese Knotweed – New York Invasive Species Information". 2019. Nyis.Info. Accessed January 25 2019. http://nyis.info/invasive_species/japanese-knotweed/

This source provides information about Japanese Knotweed. Japanese Knotweed is one of the three invasive plants that I will focus on removing from the area around the reservoir. The site gives the history of the plant like where it came from, identification, it's origin, the impacts, management, specific characteristics as well as other useful information. I will use the information from this source to properly identify the plants when I remove them but also to include information about them on my website.


" Rudbeckia Hirta - Plant Finder ". 2019. Missouribotanicalgarden.Org. Accessed April 30 2019. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=277225.

This source provides information about the Black Eyed Susan. The Black Eyed Susan is one of the two native plants that I will focus on planting in the area around the reservoir. The site gives the history of the plant like where it came from, identification, it's origin, the impacts, management, specific characteristics as well as other useful information.

​" Fragaria Virginiana - Plant Finder ". 2019. Missouribotanicalgarden.Org. Accessed April 30 2019. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=291715&isprofile=0&=.

This source provides information about the Wild Strawberry. The Wild Strawberry is one of the two native plants that I will focus on planting in the area around the reservoir. The site gives the history of the plant like where it came from, identification, it's origin, the impacts, management, specific characteristics as well as other useful information.


"PA Native Plant Society". 2019. PA Native Plant Society. Accessed January 25 2019. http://www.panativeplantsociety.org/.

This source provides information about some different native plants. It also gives information about what is currently in bloom. It gives a description of what a native plant is. A native plant is one that occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without direct or indirect human intervention. We consider the flora present at the time Europeans arrived in North America as the species native to the eastern United States. Native plants include all kinds of plants from mosses and ferns to wildflowers, shrubs, and trees. This source will help me better understand what plants are native and which ones aren't and when each of them is in bloom.

"Invasive Species | National Wildlife Federation". 2019. National Wildlife Federation. Accessed January 25 2019. https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Threats-to-Wildlife/Invasive-Species.

This source provides information about what makes a plant or animal invasive. It specifically talks about what classifies it as invasive, how it spreads, and the impact that it has on the environment around it. I will use this source to better understand the impact that the invasive plants and animals have on the environment. This will make it clear and help me to understand why it is so important to remove them and replace them with native species.

"Combating Invasive Species | National Wildlife Federation". 2019. National Wildlife Federation. Accessed January 25 2019. https://www.nwf.org/Our-Work/Environmental-Threats/Invasive-Species.

This site provides information about the impact of invasive species in both plants and animals. It also provides means for how to stop the invasion as well as examples of things that are invasive and the area that they are in. Once invasive species become established and spread, it can be extraordinarily difficult and costly to control or eradicate them. As a result, the best approaches for dealing with the invasive species is to create effective mechanisms to prevent their introduction in the first place, create monitoring systems for detecting new infestations and move rapidly to eradicate newly detected invaders. I will use use source to help m determine the best possible way to get rid of the plants and replace them with new ones.

2019. Extension.Unh.Edu. Accessed January 25 2019. https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/resource000988_rep1135.pdf

This source lists some of the native plants. It talks about some of the different care for them and the different conditions that they live in. It also includes why it is helpful to have native species and the means needed to plant native plants at home. I will use this site to help me determine which plants I should plant in the spring.


Tags: capstone, Block
Be the first to comment.

Sean Johnson ( Block )

Posted by Sean Johnson in Capstone · Block · Wed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 9:05 am

Abstract-

Hello,


My name is Sean Johnson, and for my capstone I’ve gone through many trials and tribulations to get to my final product. I am currently in the process of writing a research paper based on the topic of masculinity. Originally, I planned on producing a film involving the topic of masculinity in our community, but due to some inconveniences that film is no longer possible. Honestly, within the past six months I feel like I learned more about patience and problem solving than anything involving masculinity. I do however think that this upset was not a waste of experience, I think it served as a wake up call, to not overlook extra securities and what not.


I'm kinda screwed


IMG_1893
IMG_1893
Be the first to comment.

Amaris Ortiz Capstone

Posted by Amaris Ortiz in Capstone · Block · Wed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 1:30 am

Growing up, I watched my mom go from an amateur cook to a proprietor of her own catering company. Always being around cooking or baking started my love for the food industry. When going through the college process, I considered majoring in pastry arts. After many talks with both my parents and Ms.Hirschfield, we decided I could always start my own catering business later on in life. I took my capstone as an opportunity to practice catering and event planning. I have helped my mom with events that varied from small dinners to graduations, but I never took the responsibility of an entire order on my own. At the beginning of the year, Darlenny came up with the idea to hold a sports banquet to congratulate all of the seniors for their hard work and dedication throughout their seasons. She knew that I was deciding on catering an event for my capstone and approached me about doing the desserts for her event as well as the dessert table set up. This process will include creating a menu, designing the dessert table, and the execution of the desserts. The sports banquet will be held on May 7th so I will update this post when my presentation is finalized. I hope this event will teach me about not only a possible career, but a newfound sense of responsibility. I look forward to stepping into my mother’s shoes and testing my ability to take on a catering event.


https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1bpV441CvUFXa9FxUedkXpn7sC5mf5s3AIUV5nO-uUBQ/edit?usp=sharing


Bibliography


Default Name. “Cupcake Topper Tutorial.” YouTube, 14 Aug. 2013, youtu.be/jyo-SbEpPtY.


Family Circle. “11 Adorable Mini Desserts.” Family Circle, Family Circle, 12 Dec. 2017, www.familycircle.com/recipes/desserts/mini-desserts/.


“Find an Old Favorite, or Discover Something Deliciously New.” NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Recipes| NESTLÉ® Very Best Baking, www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/find/tollhouse?recipePage=1&recipesPerPage=24&recipeSortBy=LiveDate&recipeSortAscending=False. June.


“How to Plan a Dessert Buffet.” Practically Homemade, 12 Oct. 2018, practicallyhomemade.com/2018/06/05/how-to-plan-a-dessert-buffet/.


“How to Set Up a Dessert Table.” Amalfi Decor, amalfidecor.com/blogs/blog/how-to-set-up-a-dessert-table.


May, Cassie. “20 DIY Dessert Displays and Cake Stands.” Little Red Window, 1 Mar. 2016, littleredwindow.com/diy-dessert-displays-and-cake-stands/.


Meyers, Julie. “Tailgating Desserts.” Taste of Home, www.tasteofhome.com/collection/tailgating-desserts/.


Roenicke, Kelly. “Allergy Friendly Dessert Recipes.” The Pretty Bee, 22 Apr. 2019, theprettybee.com/category/desserts/.


“Top 5: Sweet Dessert Table Ideas For Your Party.” Frontpage, weddingphotography.com.ph/3155/top-5-sweet-dessert-table-ideas-for-your-party/.


Turk, Laurie, et al. “Home.” Tip Junkie, 5 Dec. 2018, tipjunkie.com/best-sports-party/.


Tags: capstone, Block, 2019
Be the first to comment.

Ryan, Nicholas Capstone

Posted by Nicholas Ryan in Capstone · Block · Wed on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at 10:16 am

​Abstract:
For my capstone, I created and edited an allegorical animation. This wasn't something I had planned since freshman year, it was something I decided to do on a whim. I had been inspired by a video essay that I watched about Genndy Tartakovsky and his process on animation. Immediately after finishing the video, I decided to make my own animation. It turned out to be one of the most fun art project that I've done in a very long time. It was incredibly challenging going into making an animation without any real prior knowledge of animation. There was a lot of trial and error involved, and I learned a lot and developed my animation skills. It was a very valuable experience and I am ecstatic that I chose to do this and followed through.

Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmUOu76I-m8 

Bibliography

"12 Video Animation Tips from the Industry Experts." Moovly - Create Videos and Video Presentations. April 03, 2017. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.moovly.com/blog/video-animations-tips-from-experts.

This source provides personal testimonials from experienced animators currently in the industry on what helps them individually when animating something. It also includes a video created by one of the animators interviewed. The essential tips here are: not over-animating a scene, meaning don’t include so much detail in one single animation; every scene does not need to be animated/moving, simplifying scenes; and make sure when you start, to have the end in mind as opposed to winging the ending as you go. This will be used as a guide during the actual animating of the video.


Eliasson, Olafur, and Olafur Eliasson GmbH. "Why Art Has the Power to Change the World." World Economic Forum. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/why-art-has-the-power-to-change-the-world/.  

This paper details how artists have a responsibility to educate not on a psychological/mental/chemical level, but to educate on a emotional and physiological level. It also explains how the effect of art brings people together, creating a unification of people whose sole intention is to learn from whatever piece of art is being presented and to learn about each other through their reactions. This source is very important because it means that the animation needs to create this same sense of unification in its audience in order to have the impact necessary to educating them.


Tucker, Abigail. "How Does the Brain Process Art?" Smithsonian November 01, 2012. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-does-the-brain-process-art-80541420/.

This source provides a lot of information on the connection between art and the human brain and explains the scientific impacts art has on the human brain. It details how a lot of visual information can ignite other parts of the brain responsible for other senses such as smell, touch, and even hearing. It provides the example of Michelangelo’s Expulsion from Paradise and how a lot of people who go see it in person tend to tense their wrist after seeing it, and in the painting, the man has his wrist flexed backwards in defense. This source is essential in understanding how I can create an impact on a chemical level to create a more memorable experience, creating a longer lasting impact for the message that is being provided in the final product.


McReynolds, Heather. "IB Visual Arts." 30 Investigation Ideas for Biology IA. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.thinkib.net/visualarts/page/11778/installation-art.

This source has a list of tips on creating the best possible installation art. This was a source I used before I had changed my project to an animation. Previously, I was going to do an art exhibit, with the same inquiry question in hand and do a series of mixed media pieces of art. This source, however, is still useful because a lot of the ideas that this article brings up also relates with any allegorical piece of art. In installation art, one must account for the entire space, leaving no space left meaningless. This same logic applies to allegorical pieces of work because it’s important that everything in the allegory has a meaning to it and that it doesn’t mislead its audience.


Pallasmaa, Juhani. The Eyes of the Skin. Chichester: Wiley. http://arts.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Pallasmaa_The-Eyes-of-the-Skin.pdf

This book goes into a lot of detail on how to use art and any medium to engage all of the senses and how to use one sense to engage another sense. There’s a lot of material in terms of the scientific, philosophical, and physiological explanation of the relationship between art and how humans perceive and experience this sensation. This will be used as a reference for the major thumbnails that are essential in teaching the audience on the lesson the animation is trying to present. It is a reference used by many artists who aim for more meaningful products.


Schwarz, Ronald. “Before Mickey Mouse: A History of American Animation.” YouTube. September 23, 2015. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-2QwZpivVg.

This episode of an A&E show is forty-five minutes long and it provides a breakdown of the history of animation in America. It details its impact on American culture and global culture and the impact that it has on the minds of millions of people. It also gives a lot of information on what animations have had made the most impact and longest lasting impact over the course of American history. This video will be used as a guide for what styles and stories will reach a much wider audience and to learn from the mistakes of previous animators.


Sharper, Jasper. "100 Years of Japanese Animation: One Great Film per Decade." Film Forever. June 26, 2017. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/lists/100-years-japanese-animation-one-great-film-decade.

Much like the “Before Mickey Mouse: A History of American Animation” video, this article has a detailed history of Japanese animation and its effect that it has had on Japanese culture and the people of Japan. America and Japan are superpowers in terms of animation considering the majority of the most influential animations have come from both countries. Again, this will be used as a reference of studying what makes an animation influential and as a reference for the mistakes made by many previous animators. It’s important to learn to not repeat the mistakes of those animators as is the point of learning history, and it’s extremely useful in making sure that future animations better the ones that were presented previously.


"The Top 5 Tips For Animation Beginners." Flashpoint Chicago. April 05, 2018. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://flashpoint.columbiacollege.edu/blogs/top-5-tips-animation-beginners/.

This article has a very simple, yet detailed outline on starting an animation as a beginner. It talks about starting with basic shapes and then evolving those shapes into much more detailed and complex shapes taking the forms of characters, objects, and people. That way, the animator isn’t taking on too much and is pacing themselves in constructing the animation. Then, the process is much more refined, cleaner, and easier to keep track of.


Tollast, Oscar. "Inspiring Change - Seven Tips for Storytelling." Salzburg Global Seminar. March 27, 2018. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.salzburgglobal.org/news/latest-news/article/inspiring-change-seven-tips-for-storytelling.html.

This article is another really good article that gives a lot of advice and tips on good storytelling, which is essential in animations, especially ones that have allegorical elements associated with it. It talks a lot about how the plot is very important because if there is no prominent issue, then the audience will have no reason to watch nor to be actively engaged in the story that is being presented. This will also be used as a reference in the storyboarding and writing of the animation and making sure that the animation has all of the essential elements of storytelling.


Wimshurst, Howard. YouTube. July 08, 2016. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHk3vyv9d3U.

This video provides a much better visual explanation of animation and the roadblocks that one will come across when animation, and provides a lot of tips and advice on getting over or through those roadblocks, improving the efficiency of the development of the animation and ensuring that no obvious errors are made or seen. This video will, again, be used as a reference in the beginning of the animation process, when the animator practices before delving into the actual final product. It will be used as so to make sure that the development process goes smoothly and without frustration, improving the efficiency of the animation.

Tags: capstone, Block, 2019
Be the first to comment.

Africana Studies Capstone - Afi Koffi

Posted by Afi Koffi in Capstone · Block · Wed on Monday, April 29, 2019 at 9:02 am

Abstract

​When I was first challenged to come up with a capstone, I remember feeling very lost. Capstones were something I knew was there and would be quickly approaching but in September of my senior year, I still didn’t really know what I wanted to do. But one day, it kind of just hit me. This year I had the pleasure of being the SAT of an African American History class. And I felt early on like I did my freshman year, unimpressed and underwhelmed.

My inquiry question is how can students learn about West Africa in a way that surpasses African American History class? I asked this question because as a freshman I felt underwhelmed by the fact that African American History started with slavery. To me, it felt wrong to define a group of people’s history to the moment their oppression began. They were their own people before the mid-Atlantic slave trade with their own societies and cultures and to neglect that is to give in to the trend of letting white people tell the story. My capstone seeks to expose people to the culture of West Africa pre-slavery and show the influence it has on our lives today. Themes of West African cultures are present in everyday food, music, and literature. As such, those are the units present in my two mini-course sessions.

I’ve decided to do this as my capstone because I think that it is important to understand Africa as more than what it is portrayed as in the media. Many things that exist now in the American culture are derived from West African practices so it’d be beneficial to see how all these cultures connect.

This is the link to the website I created to showcase my work: https://mycapstone.wixsite.com/africanastudies 

Bibliography


"African Diaspora Cultures." Oldways. Accessed January 23, 2019.

https://oldwayspt.org/traditional-diets/african-heritage-diet/african-diaspora-cultures.

This site discusses the African Diaspora. The disopara is an important to understand whenever Africana Studies are embarked on because of how culture has spread and changed throughout the years. This site in particular highlights the major groups that have been created by the diaspora and what that means in terms of their identity.

"African Studies." Data USA. Accessed January 23, 2019. https://datausa.io/profile/cip/050101/.

This source features data on Africana Studies in universities today. It supports the fact that the popularity of African Studies is increasing. As of 2016, degrees on African Studies are increasing by 10.6%. Interestingly enough, the average wage is decreasing by 6.64% showing that although the popularity is clear, the respect for that field is absent.


Chambers, Dr. Glenn. "The Transatlantic Slave Trade and Origins of the African Diaspora in Texas." Texas

Institute for the Preservation of History and Culture. 2017. Accessed January 23, 2019.

http://www.pvamu.edu/tiphc/research-projects/the-diaspora-coming-to-texas/the-transatlantic-slave-trade-and-origins-of-the-african-diaspora-in-texas/.

This is a article by Dr. Glenn Chambers the assistant professor of history at Texas A&M University. He discusses the impact of the diaspora in Texas; specifically, the history of slavery in the state. The identity of black people has been affected by the diaspora and the relationship between these people and their environment must be highlighted in Africana Studies and in the mini-course.


GEOZIK. "To the Origins of Music - Africa, Asia (English Version)." YouTube. January 04, 2017. Accessed

January 23, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIeEAjUirY4.

This BBC documentary highlights the history and traditions of African music. This video shown on week one of the African Studies min-course. It gave background information on many instruments and the cultural significance of music in cultures of West Africa. This source allowed the avoidance of a powerpoint presentation that would have been boring. By using a video, the freshman could see how and where the instruments are played.


Hountondji, and Paulin J. "Knowledge of Africa, Knowledge by Africans: Two Perspectives on Afr..."

S.A.P.I.EN.S. Surveys and Perspectives Integrating Environment and Society. December 01, 2009.

Accessed January 23, 2019. https://journals.openedition.org/rccsar/174.

Paulin J. Hountondji discusses some of her reservations with African Studies. One of her main issues being that oftentimes, African Studies was not being conducted by Africans. Rather, it was a way for white people to “analyze” black people, generally in an unflattering and politically motivated way. By doing this, they continue to show exactly why African Studies is needed; so that black people can have a voice in regards to their own histories and cultures.


McPherson, A. Malik. "Afrobeat In Hip-Hop: The Influence On The Influential." OkayAfrica. September 28,

2017. Accessed January 23, 2019. https://www.okayafrica.com/fela-kuti-afrobeat-hip-hop-samples/.

This contemporary African site gives insight into the overlapping that exist between West African Music and current music in America. This was used to drive home the significance of the mini-course to the students. West African culture should be studied not separately in and of itself but as an entity that stands on its own and contributes to other cultures. Many of the songs on the site were popular in the US and many of the students recognized them.

"Music of West Africa: Rhythms, Dance, Instruments & Characteristics." Study.com. Accessed January 23,

2019.https://study.com/academy/lesson/music-of-west-africa-rhythms-dance-instruments-characteristics.html.

This source worked as a lesson plan influence. In this plan, they highlight the themes and rhythmic patterns that are often found in West African music. Though the full source was not available, this short excerpt gave insight and inspiration for the path of the mini-course. After seeing this site, the purpose of the course changed a little from learning to learning and performing.


Sambira, Jocelyne. "Slave Trade: How African Foods Influenced Modern American Cuisine | Africa Renewal

Online." United Nations Africa Renewal. Accessed January 23, 2019.

https://www.un.org/africarenewal/web-features/slave-trade-how-african-foods-influenced-modern-american-cuisine.

This site is a transition of an interview with Chef Pierre Thiam. As a chef, he speaks of the influences of West African food on modern American cuisine. He even states that there is a lot of ignorance when it comes to this fact. Many don’t know that things like coffee and watermelon weren’t necessarily originated in America. Using this source will encourage members of the mini-course to evaluate the food they food and their origins and influences.


Staniland, Martin. "Who Needs African Studies?" African Studies Review 26, no. 3/4 (1983): 77-97.

doi:10.2307/524163.

This source features an excerpt from Who Needs Africana Studies by Martin Staniland. It discusses the need for Africana studies, how African history was ignored for centuries, and how it exist to shed light on the perspective of black people. The creation of the Africana Studies mini-course correlates with these ideas and seeks to introduce students to a previous neglected culture.


University of Notre Dame. "Why Africana Studies? // Department of Africana Studies // University of Notre

Dame." Department of Africana Studies. Accessed January 23, 2019.

https://africana.nd.edu/undergraduate-programs/why-africana-studies/.

The department of African studies at the University of Notre Dame explain what African Studies entails and its purpose. They, like many universities have, followed the upward thread of African Studies. In many universities, it is offered as a major. Students shouldn’t have to wait to be introduced to African Studies in adulthood. This mini-course allows them to be immersed now.





Tags: Block, 2019, capstone
Be the first to comment.

Alexandrea Rivera- Capstone

Posted by Alexandrea Rivera in Capstone · Block · Wed on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at 10:44 am

Abstract:

Homelessness is a huge problem in the world, especially the city of Philadelphia. This is a topic that is talked about but not much is done. Most times when homelessness is talked about it is brought up in a negative light instead of looking deeper into solutions or preventions. The main purpose of my Capstone was to raise awareness not only to the SLA community but friends and family as well. I was able to do this by getting in contact with a homeless service called Chosen 300. At Chosen 300 they give out free homemade meals and service for those who are less fortunate. I loved the idea of helping inside the organization but there was something else that I felt needed to be done.

To take actions into my own hands, I decided to put together a bake sale in SLA, by first scheduling a day, sending out posters advertising and purchasing the baked goods. The turnout was so good that I ended up selling everything that day! With this money, I purchased canned goods and treats to bring into Chosen 300. I was also collecting clothes from SLA students and family members at the same time to later bring in. I think that everything was very successful and I was able to achieve the goals of my Capstone through the help of everyone who participated and who lent a helping hand to better understand the different options there are to helping homelessness.

Bibliography:

“/.” Asociación Puertorriqueños En Marcha, apmphila.org/2019/01/24/whyy-as-philly-tallies-homeless-population-advocates-say-families-are-overlooked/.

This is an article that was done earlier this year in 2019, that speaks more on homeless families and students. They give many facts and statistics that help get a better understanding of how serious this is and that yes there are emergency shelters but these shelters should be something to help families along to getting a permanent home. They also bring up the important role the City Of Philadelphia plays into funding these shelters and how some people are denied access to shelters.

Michaelgainer@projecthome.org. “Facts on Homelessness.” Project HOME, 5 Sept. 2018, projecthome.org/about/facts-homelessness.

When looking through this website I was able to get more information that I needed to better inform the viewers of my Capstone. It talks about how the lack of affordable health care, lack of affordable housing and domestic violence are the causes of homelessness not just drug addiction.

“CHOSEN 300 MINISTRIES, INC.” Chosen 300 Ministries Home Page, www.chosen300.org/ourmission.html.

This website is for the organization I worked with to be able to complete my Capstone. Throughout this website, I was able to gather different events that are held inside and outside of Chosen 300. It also gives the background of how it was created and founded explaining the services that they provide and what their mission is.

“Weather – Code Blue.” Go to ., philadelphiaofficeofhomelessservices.org/services/weather-code-blue/.

This article Weather-Code Blue on the website called The Office of Homeless Services describes the process of what happens in extreme weather especially when it’s cold. They have volunteers pick up the homeless, struggling in this cold weather, and give out an outreach number. They have that they are open 24 hours 7 days a week displayed on the website, letting everyone know that they will always have somewhere to stay. But they also mention that there are not enough beds, and how the buildings are very old. Since these buildings are so old these services have tried to keep up with them with the money that they have but it’s not enough, these buildings are still having outages and floods throughout these horrendous times.

Tags: Block, capstone, 2019
Be the first to comment.

Shilo Kendall Capstone

Posted by Shilo Kendall in Capstone · Block · Wed on Monday, April 8, 2019 at 4:57 pm

Abstract​

For my capstone I decided to create a bakery in order to see what steps people take in order to create their own business in the restaurant industry. I decided to create a vegan and gluten free bakery in order to reach a wider market of people. I made gluten free peanut butter cookies, vegan and gluten free lemon bars, vegan brownies, snickerdoodles, cheddar chive biscuits, and cupcakes. I asked the owner of Will BYOB, Chris Kearse, to show me how he prices out his dishes and how he organizes his list of ingredients. I then took what I learned from him to help me create spreadsheets that organized my costs and pricing for the different baked goods I was making. I then created a website for my bakery and actually played out the bakery in order to see if my bakery was functional. I learned a lot about the difficulties of creating a business and also dealing with the public. I showed me that having a business takes a lot of work and a lot of dedication.

https://tatumkendall.wixsite.com/mysite (bakery website)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FM91oOreM2Fy0duj93lSE3B2RkiCI0iN8h_biQ3TFHM/edit?usp=sharing (spreadsheets)

Screenshot of the homepage of my website
Screenshot of the homepage of my website
Screenshot of my menu page on my website
Screenshot of my menu page on my website
Screenshot of my spreadsheets. This shows the math behind finding the cost of each item per oz.
Screenshot of my spreadsheets. This shows the math behind finding the cost of each item per oz.
Screenshot of my spreadsheet for the snickerdoodle cookies. This shows the processes I took in order to figure out my profit and price for my cookies.
Screenshot of my spreadsheet for the snickerdoodle cookies. This shows the processes I took in order to figure out my profit and price for my cookies.

Bibliography:


“About.” Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, phillypaws.org/about/.


This is the non-profit organization that I am going to be donating most of my profits to. They are a low cost animal clinic. They do mainly spay and neuters daily and give opportunities for vet-students to learn from the vets at PAWS.


“Flour Mixes & Substitutions.” Gluten Free & More, www.glutenfreeandmore.com/substitutions/.


This blog informs people of the different substitutes that can be used in order to make baked goods gluten free such as using xanthan gum or agar as a thickener or other kinds of flour such as oat or rice flour. It also gives you different ratios when using these substitutes compared to using normal ingredients, along with recipes for basic breads and doughs. With knowing this kind of information it makes me more informed about the recipes I am using and why the substitutes work, along with the fact I can take a recipe that is regular and make it gluten free using these substitutes.


Kearse , Chris, and Shilo Kendall. “Business at WILL.” 21 Nov. 2018.


In this interview Chris discussed with me how he prices his food and how he organizes his inventory. He creates spreadsheet with all the ingredients he uses for each recipe. He prices them out by oz. With this information he can figure out how much the dish would be by the amount of ounces per ingredient per dish. He then takes the cost and multiplies it by 5 since it is fine dining but he explained to me it is usually by 3. This is information I created my own spreadsheets for my recipes and was able to price out each individual item.


Kelly, Taylor. “Veganism Is at an All-Time High: Is It A Fleeting Fad or The New Norm?” SinglePlatform, SinglePlatform, 28 June 2018, www.singleplatform.com/blog/the-rise-of-veganism-a-fleeting-fad-or-the-new-norm.


Kelly explains in her article that from 2014 to 2017 people identifying as vegan has risen from 1% to 6%. With this increase Kelly talks about the reasons why people have become vegan, health, animal welfare, etc, along with the affects this rise in veganism has had on the restaurant industry. Since veganism has increased more restaurants have been popping up that are either entirely vegan or have many vegan options. Restaurants rely on public demand so if more people are becoming vegan they have to make an effort to comaidate for these dietary changes. With now knowing this kind of information I decided to make my bakery have vegan options due to the rise in veganism, along with having regular items in order to reach a wider range of people.


M.S., Marissa Donovan, and R.d. “Vegan Substitutes for Baking.” EatingWell, EatingWell, 6 Nov. 2017, www.eatingwell.com/article/289703/vegan-substitutes-for-baking/.  


Marissa Donovan goes into the different kinds of vegan substitutes you can use and the ratios required depending on what you are trying to substitute within a recipe such as dairy and eggs. For example she explains how to make dairy-free buttermilk by using any non-dairy milk such as almond milk and adding one tablespoon of lemon juice in order to curdle the milk. With this kind of information I can then understand my vegan recipes better and understand the choices the person made, along with being able to change regular recipes into vegan recipes by using these substitutes.


Nordqvist, Christian. “Celiac Disease: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Diet, and Treatment.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 15 Dec. 2017, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/38085.php.


Nordqvist writes about what celiac is, symptoms, diagnosis, diet, and kinds of treatments. Celiac is a disorder where a person is allergic to gluten, this can lead to inflammation, malnutrition, and destruction of the lining of organs when gluten is consumed. Around 1 in every 141 Americans have celiac making it a more common disorder than many believe. It affects mainly caucasian females and can be treated with a gluten free diet. Nordqvist mentions what foods people with celiac should avoid, bread, some processed soups, granola, etc. With now knowing this kind of information I decided to make my bakery have gluten free options due to the fact that I want to make my bakery excel to people with celiac and people who are gluten free. I want to make sure that people who have dietary restrictions or allergies can find at least one this on my menu to have.


Page, Karen, et al. The Flavor Bible: the Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of Americas Most Imaginative Chefs. Little, Brown and Company, 2011.


The Flavor Bible by Karen Page is a book consisting of different flavor combinations. It lists commonly used ingredients such as honey, chocolate, etc and gives a list of items underneath that pair well with the given ingredient. I use this book a lot when trying to come up with desserts in order to make sure my flavor combinations make sense and with actually work together.


SANDYWIFEY31S, et al. “Vegan Brownies Recipe.” Allrecipes, 18 Dec. 2008, www.allrecipes.com/recipe/68436/vegan-brownies/.


This is one of the recipes I will be using for my bake sale. With the brownies being vegan the making of the brownies is different from how you would make normal brownies. In this recipe you mix all of the ingredients together in one bowl. While in a normal brownie recipe you have a lot of steps such as mixing the butter and sugar in a saucepan and mixing the eggs with the cocoa powder which is more complex than the vegan brownie recipe.


Scheuer, Chris. “Ridiculously Easy Cheddar Chive Biscuits.” The Café Sucre Farine, 11 Dec. 2017, thecafesucrefarine.com/easy-cheddar-chive-biscuits/.


Scheuer’s recipe is extremely easy to follow and is the best recipe for cheddar chive biscuits I have found so far. I have tried it many times in the past and it has worked anytime. It gives you the recipe for a basic biscuit dough which I can then manipulate in order to create many different kinds of biscuits which is helpful when making a bakery since you need to change up your items to keep people interested in my products.


snap_admin. “How To Market Your Bakery (14 Crucial Tips & Resources).” Deneen Pottery, Deneen Pottery, 10 Jan. 2019, deneenpottery.com/marketing-bakery-2/.


Deneen Pottery created a section within their website showing people how to market their bakeries. They give tips on how to keep people coming in the door and to keep people interested in your product. They mention how you need to tempt your customers by playing into trends such as using charcoal within products to make them black or making gluten free and vegan options. Use social media or create a website in order to show people your product and explain the purpose behind your bakery in order to draw people in. This will help me when I am trying to market my bakery to SLA students and how to draw them in so that I can make a profit.


Tags: 2019, Block, capstone
Be the first to comment.
RSS

CAP-044

Term
2018-19

Other Websites

Launch Canvas

Blog Tags

  • capstone 9
  • 2019 7
  • Block 6
  • Mr. Block 1
  • Joshua Block 1

Teacher

  • Joshua Block
Science Leadership Academy @ Center City · Location: 1482 Green St · Shipping: 550 N. Broad St Suite 202 · Philadelphia, PA 19130 · (215) 400-7830 (phone)
×

Log In