Victor's Engineering Blog

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week,  we on the  prototype of scale model  of the  Make and Test a Model  step, because we are not done building.  Summary This week, we did many things. For example, on Monday, we continued to build. We needed 25 grey chairs, so that is what we started on building. Jessica brought black and white clay, so we combined the two and made grey. The chairs was kinda simple to build, because we first made the legs, then built the seating cushions, and the then the back cushions of the chair. On Tuesday, we continued making the chairs. I, with the help of Frank made the tables. Our clients wanted clear tables, so we used water bottles to make it clear. We used cardboard as the legs of the the table. On Wednesday, we also continued doing the same thing, like continued, and finish making the chairs and table. On Thursday, we painted the base to make it green like grass, and make it black like the sidewall...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week,  we on the prototype of scale model of the Make and Test a Model step. Summary This week, we did many things. For example, on Monday we finished up our questions and we also interviewed our clients. Our clients, Abram, Jennah, and Tiffany also interviewed us. We are building their redesign of the old garden. They are building our redesign of the cafeteria. On Tuesday, we started our sketches, and showed our clients to see if thats how they want it. On the bottom you should see. On Wednesday, we decided who will bring the materials to be able to build. We are going to use toothpicks/popsicle sticks for the hamac, cloth for the canopy, clay/playdoh for the chairs and table. On Thursday, we kinda started building. Without Frank, it was kinda hard to start, because he's kind of the one that creative. We also created our mission statements in ela; our mission statement is " Using the power of revolutionizing a space...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week,  we completed  the  brainstorming and thumbnail sketching   step . Now, we are on the prototype and scale model  step, since we just start to sketch. Summary This week, we did many things. This week, we had block schedule due to testing, so we only had this class Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.. On Monday, we finished up our sketches. We decided that our cavern will be 1.88 km per inch. Our cavern will be 16 in x 5 in x 6 in tall. On Wednesday, since it was a short day, we just decided on who will bring the materials. I was supposed to bring the newspapers. My team members, Frank and Kaden were supposed to bring cardboard and clear wrap. On Thursday, we started to create our cavern. Me and Frank starting measuring out the cardboard. After that, Kaden cut the cardboard into its correct shape. As a team, we taped up the cardboard with masking tape and duct tape, to crest a rectangular box. Then, w...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week,  we are completed  the  background research  step . Now, we are on the brainstorming and thumbnail sketching step, since we just start to sketch Summary This week, we have done many things,  like continuing the Asteroid Impact  project .  On Monday, we continued learning and completing activities about asteroids and rocks. We complete, "Lesson 4: Possible Locations." My group, Kaden and Frank, we found some possible locations our cavern could be. We chose some of these locations because they have clear paths, away from physical/natural features, can get water easily, and is away from highways, and railroad. We also researched rocks, for its hardness, color, granularity, and luster. On Tuesday, we finished researching the rocks, and completed, "Lesson 6: Ranking the Rocks." We used our researched to rank the rocks giving it points. We then ranked the points, seeing which rock is the best...

Background Research Throughout many lessons and activities, I have learned many things. I learned whether our cavern should be big. We said our cavern should be as big as 1/10 of the state. We looked at the map, and made sure our cavern is not in the way of any physical or natural geographical features, like mountains and fault lines. We learned how big each person takes up. After measuring the classroom, and dividing it by the amount of people, we found out each person should take up about 66.25 meters squared. For 10,000,000, it should be about 662.5 km sq. We then, compared the size to military base. We learned how big one map square is which is 10km by 10km. We found possible locations of the cavern. (D4,D5, E4,E5,F4,F5) (E24-26, F24-26, and half of G24-26), and (D11, D12, E11, E12) .We chose 3, because some of the locations are clear path of physical/natural features, and has a good rock. Out of 3, 2 of these locations have good rocks, like gneiss and granite. As you can see, ...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week,  we are still on  the background research step, because we are still doing and completing lessons and activity Summary This week, we have done many things,  like starting  a new project .  On Monday, we started new project, the Asteroid Project. My group, is me, Frank and Kaden. This project, we are to create a shelter that can withstand an asteroid. This shelter must be able to hold 10 million people. We were given a worksheet, "Lesson 1: What's the Problem?" With our group, we finding the problem, and coming with ideas of where we can have our cavern. On Tuesday, we were given another worksheet, "Lesson 2: How Big?" Again, with our group, we found out the measurement of the classroom, with the area of 110 meters squared, and a volume of 354 meters cubed. We were figuring out how big the shelter room should be, and how many beds can fit, and how big the room should be for eating, sleeping, playi...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week, we have fin ished the brainstorming of t he Ge nerate Possible Solution s step. Now we are on and ho pe to fin ish the protyp e of scale model of the Make a nd Test a Model step. Summary This week, we have done many things, like continuin g a new project . On Monday, we cont inu ed what w e d id last week . Me and one of my teammates, Eduardo fin ished up our pro s and cons a bout bridges. While the other two in team, Jennah an d Jewel started to p lan what w e are going to have in our bridge. On Tues day, when everyone was done , we all plann ed out our bridge. So we decid ed to combine different parts of different bridges and made it this bri dge. We have a truss from a truss bridges, and some other t hings tha t will give the bri dge some tension and compression. On Wed nesday, Jennah brou ght som e penne, bec ause our main material is penne, instead on spaghetti. Since Mrs . Gar cia gave each group a box of...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week, I am on and almost done with the background research of the Define the Problem step. By next week, we should be and hope to be on the brainstorming - idea trigger method  step.  Summary This week, we have done many things, from starting a new project to having an extra day to work our fifth grade partner. On Monday, we started a new project, the Bridge Project. The goal of this project is create a bridge that is made of limited items: spaghetti, tape, and glue. This bridge is over a river and allows a farmer to cross over with his hen, fox, and corn safely. My group is me, Eduardo, Jennah, and Jewel. On Tuesday, we continued working on this project. On Tuesday, we continued working on this project. We researched the 4 different stresses on a bridge each. Jennah researched tension, Jewel did shear forces, and Eduardo did compression. I learned about torsion on a bridge. You can click on the link below to see mor...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week, I would say I'm not on a design step, because we have been working with the 5th graders on a different project. But I would say I completed the protype or scale model  of the Make and Test a Model step. I would say this, because on Wednesday, we worked with Ms Yip on a Marshmallow Design Challenge. We had create something, so I would say I completed that step. Summary This week, I would say we have done many things. Mainly this whole week, we kinda started a new project in Ms. McMillan's class. We started the Hero's Journey Partner Interview Project. On Monday, we were all given a 5th grade partner. My partner, her name is Gabi. For the two class periods in this class, I've learned many things about her. For example, I learned that she does a Filipino stick fighting thing called Eskrima. Then on Wednesday, we did something different. We worked with Ms. Yip and did a design challenge. It was a marshmallow...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week, with my group, I am on Communicate Final Design. I, with my group are finishing, and wrapping up our project. Summary This week, I would say we have done many things. This whole week, we continued to finish of model of the eco house, and started on finishing the project. For example, on Monday, we were not at school, no work was done. On Tuesday, we had Ben and Jewel finish the house. So they did. Me and Minh Anh worked on our individual real estate flyers. On Wednesday, since now that our whole team is here, we had more help. We didn't have much time, since it is Wednesday. We each did our own part, either on the flyers, starting on our video, or finishing the house. On Thursday, we were in Ms. McMillan's room, for 3 periods to learn about video editing from CreaTV. On Friday, we writing our blog. If we have enough time, we are continuing to work on our project. As you can see, we have done many things this wee...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week, with my group, I am almost done with the ' prototype or scale model' step of the "Make and Test a Model."  Summary This week, I would say we have done many things. This whole week, we continued to build and finish of model of the eco house. For example, on Monday, since half of group wasn't here, me and my other teammate, Minh Anh, had to make some furnishing. We could not glue down to our house, because the model was with our teammate. We should have finished by last Friday. But, since some of us didn't finish, we a bit extra time. On Tuesday, since the half of our team wasn't here, we had one of them, Ben, had his mom bring it in. So they did. Me and Minh Anh continued to make more furnishings, like the kitchen and dining room. On Wednesday, since now that our whole team is here, we had more help. Me and Ben worked on the first floor, while Minh Anh and Jewel worked on the second floor, w...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week, I have complete the background research  part of my project. Now, with the help of my group, we are brainstorming solutions  for our eco house. Summary This week, I would say we have done many things. For example, on Monday, we continued to finish up our green write up. I have finished my part. On Tuesday, we are doing any final touches to our green write up as to it due. I have learned different ways to say the amount of heating and cooling, to use it, with more eco-friendly solutions. On Wednesday, we started to think of ideas of what we should have in our house. I came up with a one story house that had the same outline as a house I once lived in. My team members, Minh Anh and Ben came with their own house plan. At the end, we came up with one house, that had what we all wanted. We still have to remember that this all ties into a eco-house, which means we shouldn't have something that would take up too much e...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week, I am finishing up the background research  step of the Define the Problem  stage. By next week, I should start to brainstorm some solutions.  Summary This week, we have started on a new project, called the Eco-House Project. We were put into new groups. My group is me, Ben, Minh Anh, and Jewel. In this first part of this project, I have learn that many people use a lot of money, on heating and cooling. But with that money, they are using on gases, that pollutes the world, and that is never the planet and for living things. Instead, people should be living in houses that are eco-friendly, so that they spend their money wisely on heating, cooling, gases, etc. that is good for the ecosystem. On Monday, we didn't have school. On Tuesday, we were introduced on this project, we chose our spot for our house, and we started on our green write up. On Wednesday, we continued to work on our green write up. On Thursday...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process I have finished many steps of the design process. I would say I finished the background research  of the Define the Problem  step, because this week, we only did background research. Summary C lass this week was effective. We started and finished many things. For example, we  h ave to finished the new project, the Thermos Challenge. My group is me, Eduardo,  A bram, and  Preston. Before we brainstorming anything, we have to do background r esearch. On Monday, we were given a task to do the learn section. After we take notes,  i n a google doc. First, I watched about the differences between heat and temperature.  T hen, I watch how heat is transferred. I looked at different materials, polystyrene.  Y es, this is a good material, it keeps the water warmer. I did some thinking about it.  F or example, after watching and doing activities about heat and temperature, I was  a ...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process I have finished many steps of the design process. I would say I finish the Communicate Final Design, because we have finished the trifold, for our project.  Summary This week we did some things to get our charity fair project done. In this class, Elective, we are supposed to do the charity fair poster. My group is me, Pierson and Ian. For the first few class periods, we were given a trifold. So we went to Ms. Link's room to get 1.5 meters of paper to cover up the trifold. We saw that there was nothing on the trifold, so finished up the math parts, instructable, title, info about our charity. On Wednesday, we printed out the things that we need on the trifold. On Thursday, we glued everything onto the trifold. It looked nice, we had the math parts on one side, the instructable on the other, and the image and title in the middle. As you can see, we did somethings to get our charity fair project done. Image/Links This is ...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process I have finished many of the steps, from Designing the Problem to Make and Test a Model. In those steps, we made sketches, design solutions, and started to create a prototype, of our amplifier. Now, since we know, we are starting to go on the step, Modify and Improve Design , which we are working to redesign our device. Summary This week we are continuing to work on the project, called  Sound Amplification . On Monday, everybody, including our group that include me, Pierson, Abram, and Ben, have continued to create our prototype. We have realized that we had holes, that would let out some sound when we project it, so we had to patch up as much holes as possible using hot glue. The next day was testing day. Everyone tested their prototype; because we patched up the holes, it turns out that our group had a device that amplified and increased the most decibels. On Wednesday, we were finding a way to redesig...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process I  am on the step ' Background Research ' of the Define the Problem  step, and about to finish. In this step, I did some research about science of sound. I am about to finish background research science of amplification technology. After I'm finished, my next step is brainstorm. Summary This week we have started a new project, called Sound Amplification . At the beginning, we were assigned/moved seats, for new groups. My group is me, Ben, Abram, and Pierson. Mrs. Garcia introduced a new site, called Trello , which helps keep us organized with our work. It tells when things due, what things we have done, and what we need to do still. So, the first part of this project is background research. Our group had to do some research about Science of Sound and Science of Amplification of Technology. This all will help us learn more about, and help us with our presentation at the end. We have all documented our notes onto another ...

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process I have just finished the 'fix problems' of the 'Modify and Improve Design' step. Now I am on the next step, which is the  'improve design' step. Summary This week, I tried to juggle different projects. The projects and assignments I was working on was the Reverse Engineering and the Simply Machines Project. On Monday, with the help of Frank, Pierson, and Abram, we turned in our manual of the flashlight. Then, the next 2 class periods, we did some finishing touches of the Simply Machines project. My project was the Automatic Fish Feeder. At a set time, a wire sets off the feeder to start. A trap is there to stop from too much food going out. Once I was done, I turned it in. Later Wednesday, it was Exhibition Night. My group presented our Flashlight Manual. Many people liked it. The next day, we tried to add some more changes, like turn the flashlight into a UV light, and it worked. This week, was a pretty...

Weekly Blog 4: Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process I have just finished the 'Brainstorm' in the Generating Possible Solutions. Now, we are 'Thumbnail Sketching' step.  Summary This week, we have done some things, probably the same as last week. Well on Monday, we had got started on our new project, Reverse Engineering. We chose our groups, its Abram, Frank, Pierson, and I. Then, we need to choose our item. We didn't really take long, so we simply decided, the Flashlight. The first step of the Reverse Engineering is our proposal, so started to write it. The proposal is down below. On Thursday, Mrs. Garcia wasn't here, so we had to watch a video and answer some questions. And now, it's Friday and it's Blog Day!!! Image Reverse Engineering Proposal

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process I have just finish, 'background research' in the Define the Problem step. Now I am starting to go 'brainstorming' in the Generate Possible Solutions step. Summary This week, I have done a few things. For the first two class period this week, I started working on the, 'Design the Loop - video reference page.' I have learned about the design process. There are many steps that you have to go through in designing your project. Then, for the next two class periods, we started to work on the 'Practices and Design the Loop Arrangement.' I learned and identified different variety of steps in the EDL. There are 8 different steps: Asking Questions and Defining Problems Using Models Conducting Investigations Analyzing Data Using Mathematics Conducting Explanations and Designing Solutions Arguing from Evidence Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating informations. Images / Links  H...