Jessie's Weekly Blog
Parallel Computing Using Bccd
04/21/2018
Today we explored parallel computing using Bccd. We used it to see stars in a galaxy. We used code to manipulate the number of stars to slow down the movement.It was difficult for me because my computer had a blue screen so I couldn't participate in the activities after (when one person saw the effects on their galaxy from everyone else's code.
Parallel Computing
04/14/2018
Today, we continued our discussion about Parallel Computing through Domain Decomposition, Parallel and Serial Recipes, Careers in HPC, and analyzing the Top500 list. Through these activities, I got to learn the difference between parallel and serial computing, dependencies, and HPC.
Group Presentations and an Into to Parallel Computing
04/07/2018
Today, my partner and I presented our project about a forest fire and how forest density and aerial firefighting contribute to forest fires. It was compelling to see how everyone added a new part of the story. This way, it was better to compare and contrast my project to my peers. After presentations, we had an intro to Parallel Computing. Using a website model to see how one serial worker compared to multiple parallel workers (in a flipping coin context).
Group Project Number 2, Day 3
03/23/2018
This past Saturday, my group started working on JavaScript for our AgentCubes model. The js was a bit frustrating because my computer had moments where it wasn't working and I had errors in my code that I didn't know how to fix. My patience was running a little thin; however, I pulled through and managed to continue my plan. It was complicated at first because I had to find the proper syntax to convert my agentcubes code to my js code.
Group Project Number 2, Day 2
03/10/2018
Today, I continued my group project by myself because my partner was not here. I am really proud of myself because AgentCubes is a challenge, and I am happy that I was able to conquer it. The model turned out to be exactly the way my group and I intended it to. With the help of Ernie and Aaron, it was possible to accomplish my desired model
Group Project Number 2
03/09/2018
This past Saturday, we started our second group project. This time we are given a scenario, forest fire, and we have to alter the it in some kind of wat. My partner and I chose to include aerial firefighters to spray over the burning trees. I think that the process is going well so far and I am excited to see the outcome of it.
Ending of Programming Concepts
02/22/2018
This past Saturday, our main focus was on refactoring, functions, objects, and libraries. I refactored JavaScript for the first time. It got a bit challenging once I started to change more things and I would confuse the statements and conditions. I learned that functions can be displayed in a different way that I am not used to. There are times where there is one input but zero outputs. Those I learned, are called alerts. After learning these concepts and adding notes to my glossary, I noticed that we have learned a great deal of progamming concepts.
Project Euler Problem
02/10/2018
At the start of this Saturday, we went over operations, operation types, types of operands, and their results. Then we created a truth table to exemplify boolean operations. After that we created an algorithm to go with the Project Euler problem. The purpose was to turn our pseudocode into a JavaScript code. This was a process that included rewriting/changing steps. This related to what I learned from the Fall: what you have is equal to what you had plus changes.
Intro to Programming Concepts
02/03/2018
Today I got to learn new vocabulary in regards to programming concepts. We expanded on the ideas from the fall: expectation, observation, and reflection. We started by making a list of tools for programming that included code, text editor, a computer, documentation, and many more. I was also able to expand on "change/edit, save, and run." Today was filled with using the new glossary to understand Java.
Presenting the Group Project
12/20/2017
This past Saturday Nara and I presented our group project. We got to show our project to our fellow apprentices and Shodor staff. It was a little nerve-wrecking because it was the first project to present. I also got to put my HTML skills to the test by importing an image and centering it. It was hard but, with Ernie's help, it was possible.
Group Project Day
12/12/2017
This past Saturday, I worked on my group project. For my group project, we decided to convey the symbiotic relationship between bees and flowers. It was a bit frustrating making our Vensim models because the graphs would overload and right when I thought I fixed the problem, it wasn't fixed. That was something that was difficult to me. The second stage of my AgentCubes model has been giving me a bit of trouble but, I feel like I can do it.
Introduction to Group Project
12/06/2017
This past Saturday I was introduced to the group project. Before that, there was a lecture about the relation with onions and the world. One should peel back the layers of the onion to get to the core idea or problem. Dr.Panoff also relates the world to pearls. The sand inside of an oyster builds and builds to reveal a pearl. Showcasing that you can start with a simple idea, add on, and see if you can understand it more.
Vensim Models, Change and Behavior, and AgentCubes
11/24/2017
This past Saturday we continued our discussion with Vensim Models, showing healthy, sick, immune, and dead people. We also went over our phrase "have=had+change." I was then able to relate that to the lecture about change and behavior. Based on the change presented, one has the ability to see the behavior on the graph. We started AgentCubes; I was first showed this program a couple of weeks ago by Jennifer during our meeting. When I saw that it was being introduced last week. I was very excited for it. With AgentCubes we saw the outcome of a scenario using the world, sick, and healthy people.
Vensim Modeling
11/13/2017
This past Saturday I was able to learn about a program called Vensim. It was my first time being exposed to it so, I tried to learn and retain as much as I could. I saw that I had to use the formula that we've been talking about for the past couple of weeks. The right answer equals the wrong answer plus corrections. Every time I tried my model I would see my mistake and try to fix it or I would have my fellow apprentices help me. It was a program that I enjoyed because I felt as if I was learning something that scientists and programmers used.
Modeling in Excel
11/10/2017
This week we started our Saturday morning with us, apprentices, being asked what we thought modeling was. Throughout the day we were able to portray models on Microsoft Excel using coins, the child's genes based on their parents, spinners, and the heater scenario. My favorite part of this discussion was the heater scenario because we were able to manipulate the model by "removing" or "adding" heaters. I could determine where to put them and where the heat distibution would be based on the location that I chose. I was able to familiarize myself with Excel the more that I used it.
Computational Thinking
10/27/2017
This past Saturday we discussed computational thinking. I was able to get insight on finding patterns when problem solving and finding "shortcuts". It was interesting to see how Dr.Panoff thinks through problems. I was able to also see the different dimensions of the Shodor website including graphing.
Office Ethics and the "How Do You Know" Discussion
10/19/2017
This week I was able to further my understanding about office ethics. I already had previous training in office ethics so, it was good to refresh myself about the basics. The "How Do You Know" discussion was thought provoking. It made me really think about the way one may perceive something versus another person. It was facinating to learn that there wasn't one way of thinking (or correct answer). The part that I enjoyed was exploring the validity of an online source.
Orientation Week
10/10/2017
This week I was able to learn about applications called Cyberduck and Atom. October 3rd was the first time that I had ever used them, so everything was brand new to me. I loved how thorough the tutorial was; it defintely allowed me to be able to accomplish this past Saturday's work successfully.
I also enjoyed Ernie's jokes.