Senior Project Reflection

Part 1:

(1) Two hour presentation student assessment

I believe I deserve an AE for my two hour presentation as I met all the requirements on the rubric, while being engaging and managing to have fun with my topic, and spread that fun towards my audience. I feel I was very informative and that I asked a lot of questions to get the students to sort of piece together my presentation by themselves.

(2) What are you most proud of in your 2 hour and why?

I am proud that I was able to teach my topics through engaging activities and that I managed to have fun with it. Rather than lecture and present information the traditional way, I feel that i was more dynamic, so the students paid more attention and retained more.

Part 2:

(1) What did you think you did well on in the project? What could you have done better? Please explain.

I feel that I had great research on my topic. My topic is one that is very specific, and it requires a lot more hands-on training rather than lecturing. I feel my written sources and interviews were able to pull away as much as possible from the topic, while my service learning was able to clarify what I had margin noted. One aspect I could have done better was science fair. I feel that I rushed the science project, as my hypothesis was simple, and did not require a lot of calculations to do. If I had chosen a more in depth hypothesis, I feel it would have been better and more fun to complete. I also put off my journal, so I had trouble keeping up with it.

(2) What is your EQ and what is the best answer to your EQ?

What is the most important aspect of a successful pyrotechnic display? Safety.

(3) How has the last month of culminating events (e.g I-Search, Two-Hour, Exit etc) affected your answer to your EQ? Has it changed? Why or why not?

The last month of events has not changed my answer, but it has reinforced it. My interviews and articles all pointed towards safety. The Exit Interview, I-Search paper, and the Two Hour have really supported it and clarified it to me.

(4) What suggestions do you have in order to improve the senior project?

• Stick to an agenda or keep a calendar somewhere that shows important due dates way in advance.
• Start I-Search earlier in the year. 
• Make sure there is a grading rubric for research, and that all teachers grade research the same.
• I liked the digital portfolio, as it was more organized. 

(5) Overall Senior Project Assessment

P because although I did all my work to the best of my ability while following rubrics, there were some issues in turning things in on time, but the primary reason for that was because my service learning contact was impossible to reach. I also know that I have a broad knowledge of my topic and that I am a lot farther than I would have been.

Service Learning

Literal:
a.) I, Jack Lift, affirm that I completed my service learning which represents 50 hours of work.
b.) In 50 hours of work, I worked at over 10 different pyrotechnic shows setting up, hand firing, spotting for misfires and helping clean up. My contact is Robert Bronner (robertbronner@ymail.com) and Purther also has his phone number.

Interpretive:
Out of the many important things I learned (safety rules and regulations, how to read cue sheets, a more solid understanding of electrical firing, etc...) my service learning was able to guide me into a career in the pyrotechnic industry. I found it is something I enjoy doing, as my service learning was almost like working for them, and it was able to give me a large head start. I also learned a lot about the technical aspects of a show, and how you need a general knowledge of a lot of subjects ranging from carpentry to electrical systems; so I can prepare myself better.

Applied:
My service learning helped answer my EQ because I was hands-on for all of it, learning different methods and actually being able to compare the significance of my answers to each other. There were many specific times where it functioned almost like a science experiment, where my EQ was solved through experimenting with the relationships between my answers. In working with qualified professionals, I was also able to get other perspectives, which were similar to mine, eliminating any bias there might have been towards any one answer.

Lesson Plan Questions

Sponge Activity: I will show a video of a compilation of larger fireworks displays and explain to the audience what fireworks and pyrotechnics is about. I will also ask what they know about my topic and what they think is important in a fireworks show, to see if any of their answers are similar to mine.

Introduction: I will define the EQ "What is the most important aspect of a successful pyrotechnic display?" word by word. Important aspects are those like that make a show enjoyable for both the audience and the crew, and a successful pyrotechnic display is a show that uses fireworks to produce a desirable outcome that goes exactly according to plan. My agenda will be to talk about my topic, then talk about my first answer and how it branches out, my second, and how it branches out, and the same for my third. For example, when I am talking about choreography, I will be sure to include explanations of how shells work and the different types along with cue sheets. I will also talk about my previous choices and how i came to choose pyrotechnics, as it has a science to it but is also fun and entertaining.

Foundation: I might talk about the history of fireworks but more the career options. I can say that most operators only work during holidays, as that's when the demand is the highest. I will also say that I want to pursue this as a part time job primarily working with strip systems and other electrical firing aspects because I am interested in electrical engineering.

Answer 1: Safety and following Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations

        Activity 1: I'm not really sure what to do here but I might give a test on a video showing the importance of safety and how many laws there are.

Answer 2: Choreography and Product Knowledge

        Activity 2: I plan on showing 2 videos, one where a show had no problems, and another where some shells failed to fire, and having the audience read the separate cue sheets to get a feel for how important choreography is and how noticeable it is when it goes wrong.

Answer 3: Following the Directions given by the Primary Operator

        Activity 3: I might explain different concepts to people and give them 3 or 4 different methods of execution, and having me tell them which one is the best one, the one they would do and why they think so.

Conclusion: My best answer is safety because any show where someone is put at risk cannot be considered successful, while the opposite is true for shows conducted as safely as possible.

My three most important sources are:
            1) Fireworks, A History and Celebration by George Plimpton because it included detailed explanations for 2 of my three answers and had good visuals that helped me understand a lot more in detail. This book was pretty much my go to for research and answers.
            2) Personal interview with Aaron Beargeon (4th int.) because he told me a lot about specific safety laws and was able to show me the program he uses to script shows. He also led me to the component that gave me my third answer and how important it really is.
            3) I will talk about my service learning with Robert Bronner and Aaron Beargeon for my third source and how it managed to tie together and clarify all my other articles and sources, as my topic is not one meant for a classroom type environment, and is primarily taught and explained in a hands on environment.

My product is that now I am currently the youngest apprentice in the entire company I work under, and I am apprenticing under an operator to become one myself. This means that I will be able to get my high explosives operator license and work as an operator earlier than everyone else in the company had. This gives me time to keep learning and know a lot more than anybody for my age.

Independent Study 2

1. Log

Pyro 101 & 201 classes:
I retook Pyro 101 and took Pyro 201: An Introduction to Electrical Firing. This took all of a day and we were able to hand fire shells and help setting up a display.

10 Hours



City of Cerritos 55th Birthday Showcase:
I was able to help set up a show for the city of Cerritos and learned how to check continuity and fire displays using a PD system. i also learned how to stress relieve mortars better and read guidelines. This took an entire day.

12 Hours

San Gabriel High School display:
I helped with a display at San Gabriel High School setting up firing racks and grounding finale strips. I spotted here using a cue sheet.


Approx. 8 Hours

2. Evidence

3. Literal

a) I, Jack Lift affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.
b) I helped set up shows and was able to extend my understanding of cue sheets, guidelines, and electrical firing. I also learned a lot of helpful safety tips.

4. Interpretive

This relates to my EQ because I learned a lot about how shows are choreographed and how important it is. One of the shows I was at was not successful because of some of the wiring, and it was fairly obvious. I also learned about electrically fired systems and came up with my third answer to my EQ: Following the primary Operator's instructions.

5. Applied

This experience helped me create my third answer. Through experience, I was able to get a hands on understanding of the importance and scale of my answers. I also learned a lot about the systems that pyrotechnicians have to go through just to set up a show. There is a lot more involved in a display than just the set up and execution of it.

Rationale

For my creative expression I will script my own short (2 min.) show and illustrate somehow how it will look. I will do it this way to get a better understanding of what it means to be a choreographer and what they have to think of when they do their job. You have to understand what a script is and how to follow one before a lot in this industry.

Creative Expression

My idea for creative expression is to use a special computer program meant for choreographers that will allow me to script a short, 2-3 minute show. I will then either paint/sketch in about 25 frames how the show would look if it were to be fired.

This relates to my EQ by showing just how important the importance of having a well choreographed show with substance is. I will then be able to share what I learned, and what is important.

Interview 4 Questions

1. Based on your experience, what defines a successful display, or what makes a show successful?
2. What do you think are the most essential elements in a display?
3. What are the specific safety laws you have to follow?
4. How do you figure out which shells to fire at what time? Is there a script?
5. What can you tell me about choreography? Do all shows need to be choreographed?
6. How important is safety in terms of a show?
7. Which, do you think is more essential between safety and choreography? Why?
8. What are all the different mediums of shows? Which is the most common?
9. Where is the future of pyrotechnics going? Is it getting more popular with technology advances or is it becoming less popular?
10. Does the occasion of a display affect the power of it?
11. When you're thinking of an idea for a show, what do you have in mind?
12. Can you please explain the process of executing a show?
13. What is the role of clients in a display?
14. What about fire marshals?
15. How closely do the choreographers work with the actual crew team? Clients?
16. Do clients interfere a lot, or do they let you do your work?
17. Describe the best client to have, in your opinion.
18. When executing displays, what is your main priority: pleasing the client, pleasing the audience, or winning awards?
19. What are some problems that have occurred in any of your previous displays? Why did they happen and what did you and your crew do to fix them?
20. What is the most important aspect of a successful pyrotechnic display?

Independent Study 2 Approval

1) I plan on doing the same things I did for my first independent study, attend seminars for valuable information  I can use to help answer my EQ and help out with shows. The only difference will be that I turn 18 soon, and will be able to handle product, be an actual part of the crew, and start the program required to earn my operators license.

2) Many of the seminars teach about safety and what is needed in order to successfully put on a show, which is pretty much my essential question and 2 of my answers.

Independent Study 1

1.

10/05/10 - I attended a seminar for 5 hours in Rialto on Pyro 101, the certificate is posted elsewhere.

11/23/10 - I went to a fireworks show in San Gabriel High School from 6 P.M. to 11 P.M. and helped set up and learn about the product. 

02/05-06/11 - I attended three shows that lasted all day for Lunar New Years from 8 A.M - 2 P.M. 

02/08/11 - I attended a seminar in Cerritos for 7 hours that incorporated Pyro 101, 201, and 301.

2.

3. Complete the LIA:

Literal

(a) I, Jack Lift, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work. 

(b) Mostly i went to seminars that allowed me to learn more about fireworks show, but I also helped unload boxes, build A-frames, string firecrackers, and setup mortar racks at shows.

Interpretive

Since I'm not 18 yet, the most I can do is help at consumer fireworks shows and help setup anything that isn't product. I believe the seminars are a great alternative as I learn a lot of valuable information in them that help me answer my EQ such as safety issues as well as knowing your product.

Applied

From what I have learned in attending shows, Fire Marshals play a large part in monitoring the show and making sure everything is safe. This leads me to believe that safety is a very important aspect in successful fireworks shows. I also learned that choreography is not as large a deal as it seems, as many shows are consumer fireworks displays and must be done according to the client.

ESLR Check

1. This semester, I have been an effective learner by taking good notes in all my classes and paying attention instead of doing other work in class. I've learned to also stop procrastinating as much, because more homework and Senior Project along with Young Scholars has been a lot to do. To me, being an effective learner just means trying your hardest to understand and work on the content being taught, which is what I have been doing. Not to mention I've had perfect attendance this semester, and haven't missed anything important.

2. Senior Project has made me more of an effective learner because all the work and research has taught me to not only do the work for a grade, but to do it because of the want for knowledge. Sometimes I will get extra research for a research check because I feel that I could be learning more, and I also take an interest in my project because of the fact that it is self guided.

3. Next semester, I will continue to be an effective learner by doing all my work when it is assigned, and continuing to take notes in my classes. I will also ask for help more often whenever I don't understand a topic, and help my fellow classmates if they need it. This semester, I didn't do a great job of keeping important dates written down in my agenda, because I would forget about something until the day before it was due, so I can do a better job of keeping track of important due dates.

Interview 3 Questions

1. How important is choreography in a display?
2. Can you tell me about how larger and smaller displays differ?
3. What are some of the larger shows you have done?
4. How do you figure out which shells to fire at what time? Is there a script?
5. How closely do operators work with choreographers? Their clients? Fire Marshals?
6. What problems did you face in gaining your license?
7. How important is a license to transport hazmat? How did you get yours?
8. What are some problems that have occurred in any of your previous displays? Why did they happen and what did you and your crew do to fix them?
9. Do you see the pyrotechnic industry as growing or becoming less important in the future?
10. Based on your personal experience, what defines a successful display?

10 Hour Service Learning Check

1. My service learning mentor is Robert Bronner, a licensed pyrotechnic operator for Pyro Spectacular.

2. Mostly, I just shadow, because you have to be 18 to handle product. During some 1.4G (consumer fireworks) shows, however, I can get hands on experience with the fireworks. Also, I work as a spotter, standing outside of the fallout zone watching for duds and recording their location. This helps me to get an idea of what this field is like.

3. I've learned a lot about the technical specifications that need to be followed along with the social aspects of dealing with clients.