Additional Post 4: Independent Component Update 1

Hello everyone. Just an update on the independent component. After looking at the work amount to make 2 applications for 2 different platforms would be difficult, I decided to leave it at 1 platform: Android. However, I will be using Java as the main language. For the designing of the applications, I created a rough draft of how it would look like and what each button would function as. For example, when a user would tap the "homework" button, it would lead to another screen showing what homework is assigned had the user added it. I also plan to add extra functions such as shortcuts to jump to different screens.

This rough draft is also important since it serves as a blueprint for me to follow. Link to view rough draft is here.

Additional Post 3: The process of D-BAN and imaging

For mentorship on Monday, Director Bates assigned me to the back of the SAIT's under Joel and Edward's wings. They work on the computers themselves, which includes imaging, D-BAN, and cleaning out the computers.

An image is basically a ghost of an installed OS that has custom settings that a person can use. Once it is saved, it can be installed on different computers without going through all the hassle of working with installs all over. It was interesting to see that. I was able to look through and start an installed image process as well.

D-BAN or Darik's Boot and Nuke

 D-BAN or Darik's Boot and Nuke is a process used to make sure hard drives securely cleared so that any data that was previously on it is not able to be recovered. It works by overloading sectors of the hard drive with binary code so that it basically "shreds" through the data and makes it unrecoverable. I was able to try out the D-BAN which was fairly simple. Just booting it up from a flash drive and making sure it went through the process was really straightforward.

Computer in process of D-BANning

 Cleaning out computers and labeling were also a part of the day but those were straightforward.

All of these computers are being updated and re-imaged for streamline updates

I found it very enjoyable and interesting to learn. I find it important to learn this since creating an image to fit certain departments' needs fit what the client would need for an application.

Blog 9: EQ

Content

1.   Review this.  Confirm by stating "I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ."
Essential Question 
Once a topic is chosen, the student will develop a working essential question.  The purpose of the working essential question is to help the student build a strong foundation of research which will allow him or her to create an essential question that encourages depth and rigor in the chosen topic.  An essential question must:

• Provide a framework for studies (It calls for breadth and depth of research, Is not a yes/no question)
• Takes a stance (Allows you to argue some point, Cannot be a recitation of facts or a list)
•  Format (It is specific, The wording makes sense)

I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

2.  Review the following EQs and

• Tell us if it meets the rule of 3 criteria.
• Tell why it does or why it doesn't

 a.  What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?
 b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?
 c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?
 d.  How can an Anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?

A)It meets the rule of 3 criteria since it not a simple yes/no question. Stances can be taken in accord to the question and is simple to understand terms.
B) Does not meet rule of 3 criteria because it does not provide enough information to research specific topics (what types of criminal investigations). Wording is a bit confusing, not stating a specific element (most important...).
C)Meets the rule of 3. Stances can be taken albeit not too detailed or specific. It provides a framework for study and makes sense.
D) Does not meet rule of 3. Stance cannot be taken and rather leaves one to read from a list to answer the EQ. Wording make sense.

3.  Based on your review of the rule of 3 and your experience with assessing four EQs, please write another draft EQ for your senior project.

What is the best programming language when developing mobile applications?

Additional Post 2: I finally have a mentor! =D

After trying to contact many possible mentors, I have finally found one who would accept me. Director Cathy Bates of Cal Poly's Student Affairs Information and Technology Services. I start working with them next week on Monday. Thank you Bradley for giving me information that helped me find a mentor. =D

Blog 8: Research and Working EQ

Content:

1.  What is your working EQ?

What is the best platform when developing mobile applications? (Updated)

2.  What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format.

Developing applications using a cloud system is a good platform for mobile applications.

3.  What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ? 

The most important source that I have used that has helped me come up with an answer to my working EQ is Building Applications in the Cloud:Concepts, Patterns, and Projects by Christopher M. Moyer. It's explanation of why to build in the cloud and using patterns such as the n-tier web pattern and Map/Reduce process to analyze large amounts of data sent back and forth.

4.  Who is your mentor, or where are you volunteering, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

Currently I do not have a mentor and am not volunteering anywhere at the moment. Hopefully I can get into either the IT department in Cal Poly and job shadow what they do with applications. I also hope to find a place to shadow while they work on mobile applications in order to find out if a specific platform is good.

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

Content:

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

For the Independent component, I plan on creating a program/ software component by using a certain method to plan and develop, such as the Waterfall method or the Spiral Method. A simple program such as an app for calculating math problems as well as other miscellaneous tasks as it can be exported to a device to go through testing.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

In order to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence, I plan on taking photos of my program as well as releasing versions of the software every few days to show improvement in its functions. Some videos explaining the software or photos of myself working on the program would be included to show my physical being working on it and not having someone else pose for me.

3.  And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

Working on and developing software for myself can help me understand how the development cycle will really affect my work and how much progress can be made. Building it can help me understand how much effort goes into finding bugs and working them through to make the software usable and presentable.

4.  Post a log on the right hand side of your blog near your mentorship log and call it the independent component 1 log.

Your answers to the questions should be supported with details and examples for the senior team to understand what you plan to do.   Once we review your Blog Post 7, your house teacher will discuss with you the approval of your plan.  If it is approved, please start working on it.  If it is not approved, your house teacher will explain why.  It is your job to address the concerns so you can get your component approved. 

Additional Post 2: Computer History Museum

While on my trip to the Bay Area with my family, I was able to visit the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. Their exhibit showed the ideas and concepts of early computers and how it eventually led to a huge technological Revolution.

Me in front of the Museum

It was a very enlightening experience to understand the influence basic computing had, ranging from the early calculators and stamp cards to the very first mainframes and super computers. With devices such as decoders used by the military, it greatly advanced the revolution of technology.

A code-breaking machine used by the British during WWII

Variations of storage over the years

Data storage options like optical storage and floppy disks

Chart explaining relationship to memory and storage

Programming was very difficult to understand, especially since the knowledge of using systems of binary code is very limited in its use. Over the years, many languages began to appear and improve upon themselves as hardware quality rose.

A chart connecting all the programming languages

Pins representing different Programming Languages

Pins of various languages

The original Jeopardy! set while Watson was competing

Software became a huge part of the market in light of the rise in personal computer usage. It eventually went from a smaller industry to one of the most important proponents that is required by every computer today. Such companies like Oracle, Microsoft, and Apple would not have been as successful if their software had not been part of the PC revolution.

Description of the Software Section

Various amounts of software in light of the PC revolution

The early netbook

The Internet and the Web are also very different in how they function. One requires the connections of computers to create a network while the web is made up of social connections.

Difference between the Internet and the Web

Overall the Computer History was a great resource for research and a fun way to learn about the history of computers. I recommend visiting it the next time you are in the Bay area.

Blog 6: Second Interview Questions

Content: 
The purpose of the second interview is justify your mentor as an expert in the field.  Thus, you will be asking at least 5 questions about their background and/or the background of the organization or company where they work.

1.  Who is your mentor and where do they work?

I have not been able to find a mentor yet. However, a possible mentor I hope to interview includes Patricio Beltran, who is the Information Systems Manager at Cal Poly Pomona.

2.  What five questions will ask them about their background?

• What influenced your decision to work in this field/ occupation?
• Where did you earn your degree?
• What classes did you take in order to earn your degree?
• How long have you been working with computers/ software?
• What was your first experience in developing software?
• How many years experience do you have with creating software?

Blog 5: Project Reflection and Working EQ

Content:   
The Pentagon: 
(1) Positive Statement: What positive thing happened as a result of what you have completed so far?

After completing some research, a summer mentorship, and an interview about my topic, one of the positive happenings that occurred was the fact that I was able to get an idea of what my Essential Question will be.

(2) EQ Content:  Pick a piece of research or your interview.  How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?

My first interview with Robert Cruz has helped me improve my understanding of my topic by providing me some insight about skills needed in the development field. The interview also assisted me in terms of understanding how software problems lend to problem-solving skills and knowledge on the situation.

(3) What has worked for you so far in the senior project?

 At this time, the research amount and interview has worked very well for me regarding the senior project. It has been very helpful in providing information as well as the extra interview questions.

(4) What hasn't worked so far?
  
 Finding a mentor has not been very simple in terms of software development. This can also be contributed to the fact that I have not been very assertive and progressive in my search. Another minor problem would be the relevance of research as software development branches off into more specific jobs.

(5) Finding Value:  

•  What is a potential question you would like to study this year?  (working EQ)
•  What do you plan to do for mentorship?  If you haven't found a mentor yet, then discuss where you are currently looking and who you are talking to to find it. 

 Potential question: What is the most important step in the development process when developing application software?

For my mentorship, I plan on either going to a local software company and follow them in the work place while learning and assisting them, or by asking a computer science professor in a university to be my mentor. From the local software company, I have not found an ideal company to contact for a mentorship. I do have potential people to contact from the Cal Poly Pomona Computer Science and IT branch, such as Cathy Bates or Patricio Beltran.

Returning to the roots of computers...

While my family and I are away for the weekend, I was lucky enough to visit the Intel Museum down in the Silicon Valley. I thought it would be important to dive into the roots of one of the biggest computer hardware companies in order to understand how hardware and software go hand-in-hand.

The Intel Building and Museum

Intel was one of the first companies to create computer hardware and is a leader in the hardware market today. Known for their processors, micro-chips, and  they use the element Silicon for their products, which is a great material for transistors. Transistors are semiconductors devices that allows for electrical switches to be turned on or off. A simple example to the idea of transistors is the language of binary code.

Original 106 members of Intel

 Transistors are important to computers as they require them to provide enough stable power to hardware running the systems. Without transistors, processors and microchips would be larger than their current sizes. What also adds to their current size is the amount of transistors silicon can use within a small piece.

Flash Memory, developed by Intel in 2010. Highest capacity, smallest NAND memory chip.

 As according to Gordon Moore's statement in 1965, the amount of transistors on a single piece of silicon has double every couple of years. This statement has been true ever since.

Description of Moore's Law

Chart of Moore's Law, 1965

Robert Noyce, co-founder of Intel

The amount of hardware produced is crucial in accordance to software being developed. If hardware is not stabilized or being improved upon, then the development of software will not be able to be improved greatly, as software relies heavily on the amount of power and memory being provided by hardware.

Blog 4: Interview Preparation

Content:

1. Who do you plan to interview? Why?

I plan on interviewing Robert Cruz. Since he is a part of the development team at his company, Mr. Cruz is knowledgeable in what goes into planning and how to execute his tasks, either in programming or designing the software. He would also be aware of some resources that can assist me in understanding how the process works and what techniques to use while working.

2. You have to ask 5 questions. What additional questions do you plan to ask?

• What videos, documentaries, or films are informative about this field?
• Why did you decide to enter this occupation/ field?
• What are the differences between software engineering and software development?
• What skills/ classes are required in your field?

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Semester 1 ESLR Goals

Content:

1. List your topic here: Software Development

2. What do you plan to do this year to show growth in each of the ESLRs? Be specific and use an example. Examples can come from senior project, model assembly, core, and/or participation in senior class ASB or other organizations on campus (clubs etc).

• iPoly Citizen
• Effective Learner
• Effective User of Technology
• Effective Communicator

In order for me to grow in being an iPoly Citizen, I plan to use my commitment to the blogging committee, my house (West), and the whole senior class to provide and accommodate for whatever is required of me. For example, I would help anyone who is asking for assistance from me in any of the core classes, senior project, or other tasks. Keeping a positive attitude would help me grow since my mood affects everyone surrounding me.

To grow in being an Effective Learner, I plan to use my mentor ship as a great learning experience. Learning from my mentor helps me realize what information is truly important and what to expect in the current career field. I also hope to show growth in my study habits, keeping up and excelling past what is required in core, model assembly, and senior project.

For me to grow in being an Effective Communicator, I plan to express my thoughts and ideas to my fellow peers during model assembly. I also plan to work around my hesitation to speak and talk to whoever I need to, whether it be my fellow students, my mentor, or a person who I need to interview for senior project.

I plan to be an Effective User of Technology in all my blog posts and senior project, especially with my topic of software development. I plan to be able to understand and use the online resources throughout the year with my research with special databases and online help. With my topic, I hope to be able to apply my knowledge that I hope to learn in class and online.

Blog 2: Summer Mentorship Component

Literal:
1. (Know) Using google doc (drive) link a log of specific hours and a description of your duties.

MENTORSHIP LOG: 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AsvR4DkQ-VsAdDh6bnV6d3MxQTlNd0s5aE1iblV5UWc&usp=sharing

2. What is the contact name & number of where you volunteered?

Jesus Quizon

(562)569-3236

3.  (Need to know) What questions were raised because of the 10 hours of experience?  List them.

• What other programs do you need to be proficient in to qualify for a job as a software developer?
• Do software developers learn and master a specific task (such as coding) or do they have to be proficient in all areas?
• What other skills do you need to be a software developer?

Interpretive:

4. What is the most important thing that you have gained from this experience? Why?

One of the most important things that I have gained from this experience is understanding what a day-to-day basis is like in the workplace. Although I was working with my mentor at his place, the basic understanding of what to expect in the actual workplace is emulated since most of the day is made up of working and concentrating on tasks on your computer. 

5. How did what you did help you choose a topic? Please explain.

My mentorship has helped me choose a topic for my senior project as I enjoy working on the computer. Also, software development is a career that I hope to pursue since creating programs for other people to use is a fun prospect. Working with a developer assisted in my vision of what to truly expect and set my mind for when working on a project such as this.

Blog 1: 2013 2-Hour Presentation Reflections

Literal:  

1.  (Know) What presentations did you see?  Name the topic and the person's first name.

• Electronic Dance Music - Jorge
• Mixing an Album - Jessica
• OBGYN - Marilyn
• All Star Cheerlead (Safety) - Dominic
• Automotive Repair - Nicholas
• Yoga - Alyssa
• Machine Programming - Arianna
• Video Game Journalism - Christopher
• Drifting - Ricardo
• Cancer Survivors - Darlene
• Car Audio - Daniel
• Veterinarian Oncology - Cheryl
• Wedding Dress Design - Jeanette

2.  (Need to know) What questions do you have that haven't been answered about the senior project? This can be about the senior project in general, any components or about a presentation topic you saw or what they said.   

• Are the independent components projects we come up with that relate to our senior topic?
• What topics are definitive for the teachers?
• On average, how much research is needed in order to explain 30 minutes of speaking?

Interpretive:

3. What has the most important part of the senior project based on what you are seeing in the 2-hour presentations?

Based on the 2-hour presentations, the most important part of the senior project is the mentor ship and the research. Since each senior has a mentor to learn from, it gives them a first-hand experience of what their topic is like as well as advice from their mentor. Their mentor also assists them in what to study and why. The research is also very important as many of the seniors had at least 2 other sources that they obtained information from.

Applied:

4. What topic are you considering doing and why?

The topic(s) that I am considering are Professional Gaming or Software Development. Professional Gaming is a possible topic for me as I love watching the competitive scene. Also, I am interested in learning how team-based games affect player's decisions in-game as well as out. Software development is another topic that I am considering since I eventually want to work in the the business. If I get a head start on what to expect, then I can decide on whether or not I really enjoy the job.