I have chosen to learn about proteins as my Biology PBL. I will use the journal as my ELA component because I am more accustomed to that style of writing, making everything less stressful and complicated for my teachers and I. Although there will no be dramatic results or any sort of progress in my PBL, I would like to write down my frustrations and experience while doing this PBL. It may also seem many have chosen to do the journal as their English component of their PBL because it sounds easy, but what I see as the main focus is on their biology/math project and how it will help you understand the concept(s) of the topic. The ELA and Social Studies components are rather just additional parts, which we students see as unnecessary, but also see the necessity to tie in or relate to other subjects in school. That is why most of the students and I have picked the first choice.
October 11
Something really easy I accomplished today was making this ELA component page and choosing a topic. I wrote what I chose (above). I lost my draft, which I wasn’t suppose to turn into my English teacher, so I wrote from scratch. It’s okay, though.
November 1
Here is to another night to stay up and finish my PBL Task 8 and 9. PBL Task 8 and 9 is to create a page dedicated to “About my School”. I already feel uncomfortable just thinking about that. I’m doing it right now, and I needed an example so I emailed my math teacher for one. Luckily, I found one without his reply. I used this website called Picmonkey.com to create this really nice picture that says “Like Us on Facebook” and the other one. Overall, I don’t think this page is pretty bad.
November 14
Tonight, I have completed my PBL Task 10 and 11. It’s due tonight anyways. PBL Task 10 and 11 was pretty easy except for the scientific principle of your project. I was worrying this week earlier about taking pictures of my materials because Mr. Gecmenler said he would notify the students and I when materials were ready, but apparently they are not ready. I guess it’s a big relief that I don’t have to do that right now.
November 15
I went on yesterday, forgetting to do the Investigation part. So the investigation part; I thought it was only for the students in Chemistry, but my friend told me you had to. Yikes!!! The questions were kind of hard, but I managed to finish it. I skipped several of the questions because they were optional. I also created this diagram of protein synthesis.
December 12
Finally, my kit for this protein project arrived. I don’t know, but the kit does not seem like it was part of the main project. I reread my protein packet and it states that the kit I received today, was an optional equipment. I’m confused. So what do I just ignore the pineapple and Jell-O?
December 14
Before beginning my project, I remembered to take pictures of my materials. It hit me I should have not tore open my kit, but it’s too late. I also am attracted to the double sided and matte Scotch tape because I don’t own clear tape in my house. After taking the pictures, I read my instructions on the packet included. The packet looked really similar to the labs I did in Biology. I followed the instructions step by step and surprisingly, everything seemed to come together and was easy. I took pictures of each step like my teacher told me to. However, I didn’t use all of my materials. Hopefully I wasn’t supposed to. I am halfway done because supposedly there is another part that came with a stupid CD.