Salutations
Welcome to my mid-year Presentation Of Learning
I have decided to organize this mPOL presentation in the form of an elevator pitch. What is an elevator pitch you may ask? Good question. The motive of an elevator pitch is to efficaciously discuss a motive to an audience in the amount of time in which you you may be together in an elevator. In this case, you are my audience and I am the presenter discussing my aptitude in PLP. It would be nifty, and yes, I am choosing that word for a reason, if we were to ignore the fact that my elevator pitch will take seven minutes.
Who am I. At first, this question may seem simple. I could tell you that my name is Ally, I am fourteen years old in human years, that I have a fondness for Shakespearean comedies and a natural inclination towards online cat videos. All of the latter statements are true, yet they are only skimming the surface of my true self. Yet, who is this true self? How can I harness a full understanding to adapt, and exercise my fundamental qualities? The answer to these questions lie in my identity. This brings me to my first subject of the night. Humanities. If I were to refer to the core competencies, then I would be able to tell that my strongest competency in this subject is comprehending. I have shown my aptitude for it in Alberta, while we were investigating identity. I am able to comprehend historical significance, as well as motives in a historical context.
https://youtu.be/g11u9Emn-kM
Conversely, I could have improved on identifying continuity and change. We practiced this competency while in Alberta, instilling our accumulated knowledge in the final Alberta video. Although I had a great understanding of continuity and change, and I am able to define it as well as iterate it in the project, I had could have improved at identifying it in historical contexts. I will be the first to admit that history is not my strongest subject, but that does not limit to what extent I am able to learn. The fact that I didn’t immediately excel at this competency drove me to practice, and improve. We can see the final progress in my Alberta video, where I made the point of accentuating it. Throughout the course of the past semester, I have discovered my strengths and my weaknesses. I have used applied methods, expanded out of my comfort zone and always gone the extra mile to ensure that I am proud of the final product.
Almost exactly one year ago, I set a goal for myself in my eighth grade mPOL to develop confidence in my work, and gain a positive outlook on critique. Since January last year, I have practiced, reflected, and faced many difficult barriers which have taught me to adapt and change my work style. This includes seeking help from either my parents or my peers. So far, I have seen a noticeable change in the quality of my work.
We see the same thing if we consider Scimatics. I would consider Scimatics to be one of my stronger subjects this year. I don’t say this because I believe that I have aced every project. The noticeable difference that I see between this subject and others is the confidence that I feel when I walk into the classroom. Considering this, I have set a higher bar for myself when it comes to project outcomes. Unfortunately, this means that I disappoint myself more than is necessary. Take our chemistry unit, where we studied and learned about the topic of chemical bonding. The competency which we were being judged on was communicating and representing. Our final product was a video that showed our understanding by creating a story that showed the bonding process. I understood this competency. I decided to extend my learning and make the task more difficult by assigning characters to the chemicals and creating an entire reality TV show. The mistake that I made was getting too exited about the project, and forgetting the real purpose of the video: showing the bonding process. Nonetheless, I was disappointed with my grade which brings me to the next mistake that I made. Wallowing. My grade is not going to change itself, and as Mr Hughes always says, “at the end, everything will be alright. If it is not alright, then it is not the end”. I need to rethink how I am acting towards my grades, and whether I am here simply because I want straight As or because I actually want to learn. And as we know, failure is a crucial part of the learning process.
As many intelligent people will tell you, we must become accustomed to failing. I wish that I could snap my fingers and make that come true. But unfortunately this is not the Matrix and I am not Neo. I need an action plan. I have set up what I like to call the “failure February”. Despite it’s depressing name, I believe that this project could turn around my mindset when it comes to failing. Every day in February, I am going to try something new, such as starting a new passion project, or signing up for a new club. I believe that if I get exposure outside of what I know and trust that I will be able to more easily seize opportunities, and develop the ability to cope with failure as well as a stronger sense of self.
On the flip side, there are several Scimatics competencies which I see myself excelling in. Take processing and analyzing for instance. The project that we used to show our understanding of this competency was the exponents project. My partner and I used information that we had learned as well as advanced research to extend beyond what was necessary. I know that I am able to analyze a problem, and use the techniques that I have learned to solve it. Last year, in my mPOL I discussed how I was disappointed in myself for not always getting questions correct. This links back to my innate fear of failure. In the future, I will make sure that I always leave time on my schedule to review my work, so that I have more confidence while submitting my work.
Likewise, we also see some big goals when we consider Maker. The aim of our Maker projects in 2019 have been video skills, including cinematography and mood. A competency that I excelled at was being an active digital citizen. I have shown this through several projects, such as my revolution novel study project. I decided to use the resource at hand, which was my iPad, and reach out to the author to receive answers to my questions. I always take care to make sure that I am being an ethical digital citizen, and that I am being safe while online.
On the flip side, not everything has been dandy, yes, I am using that word for a reason. I have struggled when it comes to certain competencies, particularly being an empowered learner. When I first looked at my progress tracker, and saw a sun beside the empowered learner competency, I was surprised to say the least. I would have thought that this competency was a strength of mine, allowing me to draw the logical conclusion that I have not been showing my fluency in it. I know that I am an empowered learner. I am curious, dedicated and motivated to always do my best. I plan on dedicating time in each of my future Maker blog posts to discussing how I used my abilities as an empowered learner to turn that sun into a rainbow.
Last, but certainly not least I would like us to turn to PGP. In my eighth grade mPOL I discussed the interrelatedness between my PGP goals and this quote, yet the genius of Mr Yogi Berra is too scintillating to be referenced only once. 90% of the game is half mental. Adhering to Mr Berra’s wise words, the competency which I show strength in in thinking. My stye of work has always involved planning the entire essay word for word in my head before I ever touch a keyboard. This competency works well for me in the classroom, and has shone through in my work such as our Alberta reflective post. I showed a depth of understanding which demonstrates how actively I think about the work at hand.
On the contrary, certain competencies do not come as naturally such as revising. I am going to regret saying this later, but my work style had never involved revising. Everything received by my teachers and parents had been a paragraphed formulated in my head, and then typed out. As I have learned from experience, especially in such a confusing time for me as a person, I can not always rely on my head to produce a perfect paragraph. This is where revising will come in handy. Once I develop better work habits, which I can receive with the help of my parents and teachers, I will be unstoppable.
In short, I have demonstrated skill and mastery of many competencies within the first half of my grade 9 year. Good examples of this are my Alberta video, my revolution Podcast and my Chemistry stories reality TV show. Yet, there are many areas of weaknesses, which all seem to link back to my work habits. I have set a plan to abolish them completely, yet I may need the support of my friends, family and teachers to say goodbye to them for good. I have confidence that I will be able to do this by the time I report back for tPOLs, as I have developed the necessary skills to be an extending learner. Good work habits will help as a base to let them shine through for the world to see. To conclude this elevator pitch, I would like to leave you with a poem composed by yours truly.
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of the classroom,
And conversed with my peers on habits and goals;
The summit to which I climbed using skills and self worth –
and done a hundred things you could not dreamed of –
Failed and learned and swung high in the classroom jeer.
Hovering there I’ve chased the person who stole my Apple Pencil
and posted my eager craft for all to see.
Up, up the long delirious trail
I’ve accomplished incredible heights with ease and grace,
where I never thought I could fly;
and, while with silent, reflective thought I have written
the high un-trespassed sanctity of potential
put out my hand for the leap of faith into the unknown
Before I conclude this pitch, I would like to ask you one question. In this oncoming time of DI, I know that several subjects are going to clash. How would you suggest that I prioritize my work?
Thank you for attending my TED talk.
