Project Blog - Sound Amplification

  

Summary: During this week, I presented my Sound Amplification project (above) and wrote reflections and feedback for the other groups presenting their projects. I also practiced my lines and memorized them so I would be ready for yesterday (which was when we were supposed to present our projects).

In response to Jennah's query, I wish you told us why you replaced four cups with three...
We decided to replace four cups with three because the base wouldn't be big enough for four cups and the "small cups" were not actually all that small - they weren't like the itty-bitty paper cups you'd get at the orthodontist's office. We also decided to draw on the large cup to place them and decided there would be no way to get the four cups into the large cup without breaking the large cup. Three cups seemed to fit, so we decided to go along with that idea for our second design of the cup. 

Backward-Looking: What process did you go through to produce this piece? 
The process that I went through to produce my sound amplification device and presentation was first: begin brainstorming ideas. So first, I had to brainstorm ideas with my team on what our device would look like. After that, we had to sketch out our ideas on paper. When that was finished, we had to create our Bill of Materials so we could get our stuff and begin building. Then we had to test out our device. If that didn't work, then it was back to the drawing board, over and over, until we found a design that fit and that was within the time limit given.

Inward-Looking: What did/do you find frustrating about your project? What I found frustrating was our second design - though using three cups was a genius idea, when we tested it, we had forgotten one crucial fact: cutting out some of the plastic so sound could travel through. It was not just that, but whenever we tried to put in Tiffany's (one of my group member) iPhone, the cups would fall out or the large cup (the base) would fall over. 

Outward-Looking: What grade would you give your project? Why?
I would give this project a B because we didn't include our BoM and we needed that in there. Another reason why I would give this project a B was because of the fact that we didn't elaborate on how we came to the conclusion of using three cups instead of four cups. One other reason why I would give this project a B is because we didn't explain the science behind how sound travels.

Forward-Looking: What's one goal you would like to set for yourself next time?
One goal I would like to set for myself next time is to turn in things on time and practice my script (for future presentations) so I can be better prepared. I wasn't very prepared while presenting so practicing my lines would help me be more successful when presenting. And turning in things on time would help me a lot - sometimes I forgot to do my Formative so I had to do it later.