The sixth week concludes in much the same frame as its predecessor. This week, we completed a multitude of objectives. First, we all participated in a special challenge, called the Small Part Challenge, proposed by Mr. Smith. He drew up a small, random part and instructed us on certain steps, using AutoCAD, on how to copy the part. The next day, we went at it and tried our skill with the program to achieve completion. If we knew other methods, we were allowed to use them in the challenge. I must state that I found it rather joyous and intriguing, testing my skill. We also furthered work in our projects. The Grill is still behind significantly, something I am not happy about, to say the least. We have our specifications and all members are perfecting the art of arc welding. It is a tedious process.
Essential question time! This week's inquiry: "Who are ISIS, and why are we dropping bombs on them?" In response, I have been able to research that ISIS, an acronym for "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" is a terrorist group that aims to make Iraq and most of northern Syria into a state ruled by Islamic law. We have bombed them because they have brutally tortured and decapitated American people, not to mention general cruelties and inhumane actions. They have threatened the West and have made terrorist threats.
Another week has come and gone. Much has been done through the past 4 days or so. First, we were instructed on how to design simple structures in AutoCAD, including a framed wall. The knowledge of how to measure walls, as well as where to put studs, windows, and the like was acquired. Furthermore, we were taught on what "layers" are and how to make them in AutoCAD. Their value in distinguishing individual parts in a drawing is unparalleled so far.
The project groups met once more for further work on projects. My current group was able to establish dimensions of our grill, along with the material list. The second day of project work (yesterday) our group learned the basics of welding, using the arc-welder. A good amount of fun, though I did, admittedly, get frustrated at my lack of skill in the craft. More practice is mandatory.
Alas, now comes the time for the essential question. This time it is the different levels of education and educational degrees, post secondary school. The primary and most well known degrees are as follows: Associates Degree, Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Doctorate. Also, some certificates in junior colleges could be earned, such as those for engineering, science, math, et cetera.
Another week has passed, as it inevitably would. Recent work entails further use of AutoCAD and, surprisingly, creating our own sketches. These sketches are primarily for our projects, which were assigned to us within the week. I was assigned to making something our instructor deemed "a bad-ass grill". The job requires welding and basic metal construction and design. I do not know much of this yet, but I am sure I will learn in time. The other tasks we undertook during the week included learning how to use the trim tool in AutoCAD, which allows the user to erase lines to clean up blueprints. We also added some simple dimensions to act as a measuring tool for real-life construction. This allows us to see what measurements would attribute to particular areas of an object or structure in AutoCAD.
Other ventures included the Object Snap Challenge, where the class learned all the different snap maneuvers in the program. This allows one to have precise drawings and have all lines match up perfectly. A very useful tool if one wished to not be an ignoramus and have a proper drawing.
Additional Focus:
The Additional Focus of this quarter moon is "taxes". How colorful. Taxes are a financial charge levied by a state on a particular person or institution. Such charges can be paid with money or labour, yet failure to pay can result in punishment with the law. Taxes are used for a variety of purposes, including the military, education, health services, public safety, property protection, social security, economic infrastructure, public works projects, and other state-supported institutions. There are many forms of taxes such as income tax, capital gains tax, property tax, and most commonly, sales tax. Taxes are a fundamental process for a stable economic system and generally benefit the country or state overall.
We have just begun actual work in our classes. This week contained the basics of learning the AutoCAD program. As part of this process, we were required to make small, two-dimensional planter boxes. These creations were sample blueprints for the actual garden planter boxes we hope to complete. According to our instructor, orders have already been placed by a sub-division of our own school and by another school. Interesting and rather surprising to see that the class fills orders from other establishments or the students. Fundamental to building this is the compound miter saw, a device used for precise cuts in simplistic building materials.
Another worthy note is that we have been assigned an essential question as extra food for thought. This question was "what is a labor union?". I happened to research that a labor union is a group of workers who collaborate to gain better conditions and wages in a work place. Most comprise of basic workers and laborers, though variations are numerous. Such unions formed in the mid-to-late 19th century, during the United States' Industrial Revolution.
Unfortunately, I cannot access my own blueprints as of present due to complications within computer programs and Google Drive.
At last the second quarter moon concludes. In this time period so far we have learned more in depth about roles in projects we will begin soon, have taken vital safety tests and communications for not becoming "disposed" in the workshop, and have learned some of the new tools and items to be used in our endeavors. The AutoCAD program was also demonstrated and used during the quarter moon, as grasping the basics was mandatory if we want to do future designs. As an addition, we have obtained two new students. Exciting, to say the least!
I have also received new hardware glasses and show particular zeal in the ear-muffs. Interestingly, they deflect all sound and make everything sound as if it is in a vacuum. Odd indeed, though the astronomer in me is rather giddy about in. Silly, I know.
CAD (Computer Aided Design) class has begun officially as the first quarter moon comes to, paradoxically, a close. Not much progress has occurred in the class minus the rudimentary start-of-term notices and safety guidelines. Such parameters include how the course will work, course aims, safety in the working environments, and the assigning of specialists to particular projects. I am quite looking forward to designing and building the "computer island" as it has been coined. I am in extreme anticipation to begin drawing graphs and and prototypes. I have many ideas for this particular project and cannot emphasize how eager I am to start. Welding will most likely prove mandatory to my list of life skills. I wish to add it.
However, I do not look forward to the garden and hydroponics as much. I spent my whole summer already performing such tasks. I am resentful to it. Time will tell if my mood changes, hm?
~Dr. Novae
