Helping 2013

Who did you interview? Danielle Mariano

What day and time? Thursday 10pm. 

What ideas do you have for your senior project and why?

I have three in mind:

• Digital Art (wants to become a graphic designer for video games)
• Drumming (my instrument, and I enjoy it)
• Drama (Backup)

What I have to say:

• Digital Art:
• Out of the three you have, this may be the hardest but most fulfilling. The reason I say this is, service learning may be difficult to get. I feel you can combat this by: DeVry University is just down the street from Cal Poly Pomona and I am pretty sure they offer classes for visual design for computers, i.e. Digital arts. Secondly, you may want to focus on if you either want to a. Have conceptual like art work for games, such as the pretty stuff you see at E3 or actual in game art. These are two entirely different fields and specificity is key for senior year. Independent Component you chose something related to your topic and its total work most equal to 30 hours. So for digital art, you could show of some art work that you have made, or if you're doing like graphic in game art, you can show an art figure you've made moving. 
• Drumming:
• Music is done basically every year and seems to have a formula. Service learning, you could help at out some sort of studio, or if you're taking a class for Independent component, you can help out whoever you are taking classes from on the side. 
• Drama:
• This is the easy way out, because you are already in drama. If you do this you will have no trouble with Independent components at all. Hogan's semester plays could be used for them. Ie. first semester play could be independent component 1 and Fullerton (if you're doing a skit) could be independent competent 2. If you do improve (like Megan) Improv practice every Thursday and the Fullerton Improv performance would count. So for service learning you would have to try to help out Cal Poly, but this prove trouble some. They will only accept you if there is an up coming play. 

What do you plan to do for the 10 hours of service learning due prior to the start of senior year?

• Digital art:
• Attempt to see if DeVry university will take me, and if not Hannah's mother is an artist and I could do my service learning with her.
• Drumming:
• I used to have a mentor back when I used to take classes at a studio. I have't been there in a couple of years but I will probably return and do it with her.
• Drama:
• Hogan, or Cal Poly. There is a theater near my house so i would go over and see if I can do anything over there.

What did i have to say:

• Digital art:
• I would for sure attempt to get service learning at DeVry as soon as possible if digital art is what you wish to pursue. The sooner you go the better, and you will probably have better chances of actually getting some service learning. You may even get more than 10 done.
• Drumming:
• Don't worry about not being there for a while, because your teacher will probably accept you for service learning anyways.
• Drama:
• Again, you want to talk to whoever is in charge of the Cal Poly Theater department as soon as possible. Colleges are busy and if you want to do something like volunteer you need to let them know way in advance, for convince sake.

What do you expect to see watching our two hour presentations?

I expect a lot of knowledge about a whole lot of different topics. I'd also like to seniors enjoyment of their topic. The class of 2012 has been working on this topic for just about a year so I'd expect to see a semi-expert opinion. This shouldn't be treated like some other presentation, but something important and something near and dear to you. 

My suggestions:

Be prepared for the activities, because you could be doing anything. Expect to have fun! These seniors have been working on this for a long time, and a lot of us are excited.

What questions do you have about the senior project?

Q: Is it as hard as everyone makes it out to be?

A: Yes and no. No because they do break it up into to little baby steps. Yes because those baby steps are all lumped into basically second semester. Best advice I ever give on senior project is STAY ON TOP OF EVERYTHING. As soon as they assign ANYTHING do it. Stay ahead.

  

Third Interview Questions

1. What do you feel is the best way to teach history?
2. How do you feel about teaching history backwards? Starting from a point at the present, looking at it, and saying "What happened to cause this event?" Then looking that cause up, rinse and repeat.
3. How do you feel about teaching history "Alive?" Having students act out as members of a certain time era in order to learn about them.
4. What do you think about teaching history the traditional way?
5. How do you feel about teaching history through repetition? Repeating until the students know the information.
6. How do you feel about teaching history with visual aids? Such as maps, photographs, diagrams, paintings, models, memorabilia, Hollywood movies, more maps, reenactments, computer simulations, museums, internet sources, etc...
7. How do you feel about "Matrix" teaching? Linking things with facts, then building upon those facts with more facts.
8. How do you feel about teaching history as idolizing figures? Such as teaching only the good things people have done but not the wrong. For the purpose of not to distort views of the students.
9. How do you feel about teaching history as a live demonstration format? Such as if you are teaching the middle ages and Knights, you yourself, dressing up as a "Knight" to demonstrate that it is not actually as glorified as Hollywood makes it seem.
10. How do you feel about teaching history as just lecturing? Just having the students sit down and lecture them for a class period.

Second Interview Questions

What made you decide to teach history?
What school did you go and what degree(s) do you hold?
How long did it take you to get started (find a job after college)?
What do you think is an important trait a Historian should have?
At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to be a Historian?
Did you have an other history related job prior to teaching?

Interview Check

I have chosen to interview my 8th grade teacher. I chose her basically because she used to force history upon me. She knew i'd love it and really encouraged my exploration of it. I plan on asking her questions on schools and what type of path to take to pursue my teaching dream.