- Description of Assignment / Work: The fire solutions project has students come up with 3 viable solutions covering one contributing factor like invasive and fire-loving plants. These solutions require divergent thinking, like underground power lines and introducing insects that eat the fire-loving plants. Students can work alone or with a partner. I worked with Maria, a Junior in my field ecology class.
- What are you most proud of from this assignment, and why? I am most proud of including the background information we've learned from Ms. Cassie's lectures and thinking somewhat outside the box to find the last viable solution.
- What was most difficult about completing this task? The most difficult part about completing this task was considering the other things that wouldn't be addressed in one of my solutions. For instance, the wind can carry the seeds up several miles away, and they would germinate and form more biomass for the fires to burn.
- How could you improve this work? If you could start over, what would you do different? I could improve this work by being more specific about the types of buildings I would build to prevent the wind from blowing the seeds away and cut off the molasses grass' sunlight. I was thinking of using the same things used to build overpasses like the one going to Lahaina. If I could start over I would try to think divergently and ask more questions to Ms. Cassie about the viability of these solutions.
- How does this relate to what you have learned in the past? How can you apply this to future learning? This does not relate to what I have learned in the past, but I could apply some principles of this work sample to a future major, like Environmental or Civic Engineering in college.
- Which 21st Century Skill do you feel this assignment addresses, and why? How did you develop and/or improve upon your 21st Century Skill with this assignment? This 21st century skill addresses Interpersonal Skills because I have worked cooperatively with Maria, and gave her some space after doing my fair share of work. I also kept her up to speed about our presentation that was done on Thursday.