Entry #1 August 28, 2016
During Problem and Solutions class, our advisors explained how we would soon be working on our PBL projects. The first thing he said was to think about the project we would like to create. So I started thinking about doing an amazing project. I wasn’t sure on which project to choose, so I asked my CTE to recommend any project he had in mind for me. The next day, he came to me and told me that he had the perfect project for me. He told me that my project was called, “Arduino Password Unlock Door Security System”. I was very interested in that project, and also it is very challenging to do. But I like to do challenging projects.
Entry #2 September 9, 2016
Today, our CTE advisor told us that we have to be getting started in creating our Google sites. And as I already have chosen my PBL project, of course with the help of my CTE advisor, I just needed to create my Google site and begin working on it. The first thing I needed to start on was creating the pages that I will be working on. For example: What is STEM SOS?, Background Research page, ELA Component page, ArduinoSS page (My PBL Project), and finally the SS Connection page. Every single page and overall my website has to be neat and organized; therefore, people will be attracted or interested in seeing how my project works, background research, information, or the history behind it.
Entry #3 September 12, 2016
I started working on the first three tasks of my PBL project. I was honestly doing pretty well, and in my mind, I could already imagine how amazing the project would be when I finish. The first three tasks were about thinking in a driving question, which actually will be the center of the project, the question that will conduct the whole project until I finish with it. Also the tasks were about putting in the home page about what my PBL Project was about, a short description of what was it, and how I was going to be able to create it, build it, and share it with other people. The second task was fully about the Background Research page. There I was going to write about my project, information about it, etc.
Entry #4 September 23, 2016
Today, the first three tasks are due. I have to send my Google site to my CTE advisor to see what he thinks about it. Then, I will need to start thinking about My PBL Project page, what information should I put in, should it be in a specific order, what information is reliable, and what is not, etc. I need to start investigating about my PBL project and obtain the most important information of it. It would take me a while to finish My PBL Project page because I’d have to search in depth of every single material and parts that my project contained. I’ll struggle a bit trying to find reliable definitions and explanations of every part of my project, but at the end, I’m very confident that I will find the correct information.
Entry #5 September 30, 2016
Today, I shared my PBL website with my CTE and English advisors to see if I have to change something or remove it. Last month was a really tough one because of work, projects, and also my PBL Project combined, so I had to do everything organized to make sure everything was ready to submit. I’m very grateful for all the help my advisors have given me to help me improve my PBL website. It hasn’t been easy at all, and throughout my whole project, build up and the creating of my website would neither. Also my peers have supported me here and there, telling me tips of what should I add next to my PBL website.
Entry #6 October 6, 2016
Today I'm editing my PBL Project page (ArduinoSS) with my driving question at the top, then with a well explained introduction about what my project is about, the things I will need to use, the purpose of why I chose this specific project, and what things my project can realize. Then, I listed up the materials I will be using throughout the whole project, and next to that, I put the procedure of how I did my project. I also needed to add the Scientific Principle/Essential Understanding behind my project and finally make 3 questions of how my project can be applied in real life. How does it benefit our society? Does it help socially, economically, or educationally? I have to make general questions; therefore, there would be a more extensive and complete response.
Entry #7 October 9, 2016
Right now, I'm editing my website, changing the background, the color of the letters, adding more information, etc. Also I’m making some revisions to my website to see if I still have any kind of errors, can be grammatically as well. I need to check if I completed the whole tasks until now, check if I missed something important to add, etc. I will spend more time on my PBL website because the presentation is approaching. I need to finish my website and my project as well (which is the Arduino Password Lock Security System With Servo).
Entry #8 October 25, 2016
I’m really expecting positive outcomes out of my project because I’m really putting a lot of dedication and effort into it. Honestly, this year has been very difficult for me, but I’m doing the best I can, and now, this project has been hard as well. But it would never be impossible to achieve. That’s why I’m adding a lot of details into my project because today the principal came where I was working on my project and told me that my website has to be a great example and should be neat and perfect. To be sincere, I really took what the principal said in a way of motivation in doing my PBL project even better than it was already.
Entry #9 November 14, 2016
Today, I’m concentrating on the SS Connection page. I’m searching a lot of resources that can help me investigate about the history behind my project (Arduino Password Lock Security System With Servo). This shouldn’t take long, but I’m trying to do the best I can to see if the information is reliable at all. I’ll be fully concentrated on my physical project, the Arduino Password Lock Security System With Servo, because actually it would take me a while. I’ll need to install a software that will help me run the program to the Arduino. Therefore, the connections have to be correctly hooked. With the help of the Arduino software I can run the program there, and transfer it to my physical project making it work correctly.
Entry #10 November 25, 2016
Today I made everything work correctly, the Arduino was working and the program was well installed and transferred. I'm happy because all the knowledge I have on electronics, which I learned in school the past 2 years, made this project possible. It was a challenging project because I needed to figure out if the programming had any errors, and also if every single connection was correctly connected. I had a few stumbles throughout the completion of my project, because the program wasn't correctly receiving the keypad. But I figured it out and made the programming work correctly. Therefore, my project was a success and now I'm ready to present it to the judges.