Day Two

On Day 2, we had a big success.We figured out how to make the video chat work. Cesar and I were on our chinquapin account, where we decided to video chat right next to each other. I admit it was lame but the reason we did this was because we wanted to see if our camera was working. Prior to this, we went on our wiziq account to test the online tutoring course since we ran into a setback the previous day. As before, it didn't work. Once we were able to video chat on our chinquapin account, we verified that our video cams we working. We were puzzled and couldn't quite figure out why it didn't work on our wiziq account. So we decided, for some odd reason, to check wiziq without logging off of our video chat in our chinquapin account. We were surprised to find that the video chat worked on wiziq if the video cam was already in use. We finally solved one obstacle. For the remainder of the day, we worked and finished our alumni ad and Susan helped us form a group on Facebook. With the help of Bridget Anderson and Betsy Phillips (two very lovely and helpful women), we named our group Tutoring by Alumni Cultivating Knowledge, Learning and Education. T.A.C.K.L.E.

Day One

Just as planned, we explored wiziq and learned new things about using an online tutoring course. We learned how to give the students control of the lesson. Before giving the students any privileges, they start off only with audio controls, meaning they are only able to hear the teacher. There is a button that the students can push to ask for access to video, microphone and other tools. We also learned how to upload a video from youtube and how to share a screen shot. This sharing of the screen shot tool is very unique and a key tool for this website. We ran into a problem, which we were anticipating. We couldn't figure out how to get my video chat to work. We tried everything to get it to work but couldn't. We tried for hours. We went to a FAQs page where we found out our problem and still couldn't get it to work. Susan tried to help us but couldn't. Due to the fact that Francisco was gone all morning, we couldn't find time in our schedule to ask him to help us with this problem. We were also unable to create a Facebook page because we were blocked from that website. I am satisfied with the progress we made. I'm ready for day two!

Creativity Week

After much debate, we have finally figured out what exactly we plan to do for Creativity Week. Tuesday, we plan to explore wiziq and learn how to use the applications and tools on this website. Cesar and I have already created accounts for wiziq. During this first day, we plan to find out the best/worst circumstances for wiziq. We will jot down notes so that in the end, we will create a how-to manual for the students and alumni who choose to participate in this tutoring. We talk to Francisco Perez about the difficulties we come across so that we can know what to do when others come across those problems. We also plan on creating a group for Chinquapin Students and alumni on FaceBook, inviting them to create a wiziq account. We also plan on blogging more about what we did during that day. Wednesday, we will continue exploring wiziq to see if we have mastered using the website. Next we will starting a draft on our ad that we plan to send out to the Chinquapin alumni, asking them to contribute to our online tutoring. We will contact our panel members, informing them about the changes we've made to our project. We will ask for a time that is best to meet with them in this email. We will finish our final ad on Thurday and talk to Francisco about making the ad. After that we will set up our presentation for Friday. Friday, we will show our ad that we created and briefly show students how wiziq works. We will need to be using a classroom. It will be in the Fan Room.

New Ideas

Originally, we planned to create a summer program here at Chinquapin to tutor those who fail to get accepted into this school due to their prior education. Most of the time it isn't that they are dumb; instead, it is a lack of care that they are given from their teachers. it seems, nowadays most public teachers aren't concerned with whether or not the children absorb the information. I feel like I have a responsibility to lend them a hand because I know how hard it is to ask for help. I want to make the first move to show them that I really care about them. I thought the best way to do this was through the summer program. My part was to recruit the students, while Cesar was going to get student-teachers. We talked to Ray about hosting the program here at Chinquapin. He said it was a great idea and that we just needed to talk to the residence since this is their home during the summer. Initially, we had our intentions set on this program. Then, one day Susan approached me and asked me to tell her exactly what we had done so far and what we need to do. After telling her, she told me that it is more difficult that just putting an assignment together and expecting them to learn it. We had to know what knowledge they had, their weaknesses, and how to create a curriculum. We had to piece all of this together before starting the program. After talking to her, I felt that this project was more difficult than I imagined. I also felt as if this program was less reasonable to reach.

Several days later, Susan came up to me and told me that she had a new idea for our project. We scheduled a meeting and talked about tutoring online. I did research about it, so I knew what she was talking about. While researching, I noticed that there may be less comfort. I figured upfront tutoring would benefit them by being able to absorb and build a bond of trust. She brought to my attention that a upfront tutoring can be gained after a while of online tutoring. They can build comfort gradually and then meet. She talked to us about an online tutoring website called wiziq. Susan, Cesar and I now all have an account and we explored it a bit. It was really interesting. We plan on getting all the alumni to contribute at least two days or so out of the week. They would only need to spend about 2 hours tutoring. We plan on starting off with students here at Chinquapin who need the tutoring. This is a more reasonable goal and will last "perpetually." (as Susan put it)

Houston to Highlands

Cesar and I have discussed transportation issues. We came up with having the students be from Highlands Elementary in order for them to be able to provide their own transportation. This way it would be less expensive for the program. I have been trying to get in contact with Highlands Elementary to see if they are willing to recommend some students for our program. We have put some thought into the insurance policy here in Chinquapin and what risks we are taking by establishing this program. We need to talk to Ray, to get a clear idea. 

It’s been…quite a while!

I haven’t posted anything since last semester and everything has gone fine since then. Since then, I have received an acceptance of the invitation, which I sent out during December, to most of my hopeful-panel members. Dana Lipinsky, Rob Christy, Betsy Phillips, Frank Duffy, and Molly Socha are now part of our team, in which we plan to receive assistance from each one in different ways.

Sometime last week, Cesar and I talk to Morris Nwogwuwu and Kathy Heinzerling about Breakthrough since they worked for that program. After our discussion with them, we received a 7th grader’s application and were told the requirements that they needed. This helps us out because now we are able to base our application and requirements needed on theirs. It won’t be exactly the same but similar because our two programs are very similar.

We have been thinking about our program and thought about if it will work. We thought of several things to ensure that it’ll work and figured the best thing to do is test it out. In order to do this, we would need time to set up a time and place so that applicants can come to “test” our program. We were thinking about making Chinuapin become our place to have our program. That means we would have to coordinate all of that with Ray.  

We originally planned to meet Frank Duffy last Tuesday but that plan got destroyed. We were told that we couldn’t miss any class periods and couldn’t use school days to interview people. We now have to reschedule that meeting with Frank soon. Frank is part of Pennies for Peace that is an organization that was formed with the help of people from Three Cups of Tea.

Cesar and I wrote a proposal, planning to go to an elementary to observe, interview and analyze the students there. Susan wants our proposal to be a lot more specific so that is what has been on our plate.

End of Semester

I feel the progress of my senior project has been pretty successful. I don't feel stressed about what will happen in the near future. I haven't come across an issue that will set me back a couple of paces. The people that we have come in contact with have given us great input of Cesar's and my status/ progress.  The thing that I am really looking forward to is Creativity Week. During that week, Cesar and I plan to visit Whittier Elementary School to observe and interview students and teachers. The purpose of this is to get a face-to-face experience and knowledge on how "teaching" operates so that we can analyze this with Mr. Welcome Wilson who is a University of Houston board member. This summer program that Cesar and I plan to put together will be the "new" way learning/teaching. After listening to several teachers here at school, we have come to a consensus that the current "making children 'memorize' information" just doesn't quite cut it anymore. This is time for revolution in learning/teaching. The Panel Members that we plan to invite are:

Betsy Phillips- Betsy Phillips works for Chinquapin. We tend you use Betsy Phillips' occupation to our advantage. She works with advertising which we plan to ask her to help us advertise our summer program. I am hoping that she'll evaluate how creative our summer program's advertisement was.

Laura Acosta- Laura Acosta she works in HISD. She has recommended several students for us to internview. We want her to help us do research. I am hoping she'll evaluate how creative the summer program is.

Frank Duffy- Frank Duffy works for the Penny for Peace and will help us analyze the actions of students. He'll be our financial adviser. I am hoping he'll evaluate how effective our presentation is.

Dana Lipinsky- Dana Lipinsky is Cesar's mentor how is a board member. She'll help us by getting the word out to the board. She also works with communications and keeping relations with companies. She'll advise us on how to get our points across more effectively. I am hoping she'll evaluate how organized we are.

Rob Christy- Rob Christy is my mentor who is also a board member. Due to the fact that we need a board member to be a part of our panel, I wanted to ask him. I am hoping that he'll evaluate how effective our presentation was.

Molly Socha- Molly Socha is a teacher at Chinquapin who has background with programs that counsel and tutor younger children. I want her to help us with constructing our summer program and be our adviser. I want her to evaluate how well we constructed our program.

Welcome Wilson- Welcome Wilson is a board member of the University of Houston and will help us analyze the teaching/learning method of the teachers and students. He'll help us put together a outline of our observations. I am hoping he'll evaluate our overall project.

Knowing this, I feel like we are on the right track. The main thing we need to do is to stay committed and determine to make our summer program the best we can make it. Wish us luck!