Cr.A - Investigate - X-ray

In 1895 the X-ray was invented. Wilhelm Konrad Von Roentgen was the one to invent it. Born in 1845, he was a German physicist. To him, it was a form of radiation that could photograph through things. X-rays were very important in the medical field. They were used to diagnose people. Today, X-rays are used very often. It has given doctors whole new possibilities. It has been able to assist doctors and help patients. With and X-ray you can detect problems with bones and also some diseases which occur in the soft tissue. You may not think you have any broken bones, but with a X-ray you can actually see if you do or not. Doctors use X-rays to diagnose and heal you. Better safe than sorry.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/indexx.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray

Cr.A - Investigate - Inventions and Inventors

In IT class today, we were introduced to our new unit "Inventions and Inventors". We watched two Brianpop videos. One about Benjamin Franklin and one about Leonardo Da Vinci. These were to give us a background idea about inventors. After each movie, we added to a list. The list was of the qualities which inventors had. We said that inventors were; multi-talented, intelligent/smart,creative/curious, and risk-takers. We decided that everyone had some sort of intelligence. To see what it was, we all took the Multiple Intelligences quiz in our planners. It was interesting to find out what type of intelligence you had. The majority of the class was a Visual/Spatial learner. After that Namuun and Jill drew our unit poster.

Criteria E - Evaluate

Criteria E – Evaluate
The assignment in IT was to create some technology that could improve the lives of people living in the ger districts. I chose to re-design a new outhouse. My final creation was a model of an outhouse.
We started with Cr.A – Investigate. This was the research stage. We actually went to the Bayanzurkh ger district. We took photos for a Virtual Tour. We also used these as our research. We began digging a hole for an outhouse, and holes for fence posts. We also had a few people who talked to us, and taught us about life in the ger districts. I wrote up all the information an decided what I wanted to do. I also had to create design specifications. Investigation is always the hardest part for me. I always forget an important part and this lowers my grade. But this time, I think I did well. I think a few more pictures would have been useful, but I made do with what I had.
For Cr.B – Design, I was a bit behind because of ACAMIS. I caught up fast enough. The problem for me was that I felt that I already knew what I wanted the outhouse to look like. My original idea had come from an outhouse which I had actually seen in Mongolia. I made three drawings, but each was only slightly different. When it came to choosing what I was going to create my model of, it was difficult. Each design had something to offer which I liked. Sometimes it didn’t always fit my design specifications or it wasn’t necessary. I always had to keep the price in mind. This was the most important specification. I think I could have probably created more designs, and more varied ones. I was a bit limited with my final creation, but I knew what I wanted to do so that worked out all right.
Cr.C – Plan is quite simple for me. I created a plan and then handed it in. Then the materials didn’t arrive, and I was already behind in my plan. All my changes were within a week. I started building a week later than I was supposed to. Other than that it went well. It actually helps making a plan. You know what you have to do and when you are going to do it.
I think Cr.D – Create takes the most effort. If you want to create a good final product then you have to work hard. I had chosen to do a model. I had wanted to get materials from the school, but there weren’t any. So, I had to create my outhouse using toothpicks. It was a lot of work! I used so many toothpicks and so much glue and tape. I was making the building steps as I went a long. I did not have a plan. It took quite a long time and effort to make the model. More than I thought it would. Now, I am forever sick of toothpicks. And I don’t think I would make a model again. I well designed and detailed poster is good too.
I also had to test my final creation. In my case it was a model. I tested my model by creating a survey that I had a few people fill out. It was only six questions which revolved around my design specifications. I think I could have either made the survey a bit better with more details. Because it was lacking details and information people gave me the wrong answers. In my eyes I think my model for an outhouse would create a good outhouse, but this is because I know exactly what it is all about. I know how it all works. For people taking the survey, they do not. Some asked questions which I could easily answer, but the fact that they asked questions isn’t so good. All in all, the result could have been better. My outhouse did not really pass my survey, but that may have a different reason other than the fact that my outhouse is bad.
In the end, I think I have a good idea, but that I would need to develop it more so that it can realistically be successful in the ger districts.

Cr. D - Create

Cr.D - Create

It took me four days to complete my model outhouse. To create my final product, I used tape, glue and a whole lot of tooth picks. The first step to creating my model outhouse was making the walls.
I did this first because I wasn't really sure if the whole toothpick idea would work and if I messed up, that would be okay. I built the walls in about an hour. I lined up the toothpicks horizontally, put glue on, waited till the glue dried and then put duct tape on top of the glue. For extra support I put two toothpicks vertically on top of the tape. The first step was done, and I hadn't had to re-do anything.
Step 2 I created the roof and the 'support beams' for the outhouse. This took longer than I thought it would. The roof was quite simple. It was made like the walls, but without the two vertical toothpicks. I also put aluminum foul on it, because it was supposed to be a tin roof. Building the 'beams' was difficult. I had to glue together about twelve toothpicks in a bunch. I needed twelve bunches. Three bunches created one beam when they were stacked together on top of each other. This took way too much time for my liking.
The third step was building the floor. This wasn't too difficult, but it took time. It was built like the walls, but with a hole in the middle. I had been hesitant with building the floor, because I wasn't sure how I was going to do it. But it turned out all right. I was also supposed to build stairs, a bucket and a door, but I didn't. That's why for my last step, I did a lot.
My last step was to finish the model. I built stairs, a door, the bucket and I put the whole thing together. First I put it together. This was a bit difficult. The floor was a little too wide, so I had to cut it a bit. Because of the beams and the way the walls were put together, there was a space at the back and at the front. I couldn't really change that. Then I realized I didn't have a door, and that my wall didn't have a space for a door. I ended up cutting the door out of the wall and then taping it back in. The stairs and bucket I made out of paper. This worked well, and I didn't know what else I was going to make it out of. My model outhouse was done!
In general I think the whole building went quite well. once in a while I forgot to take some important pictures, but that's okay. The most annoying part was the huge mess. Toothpicks and superglue were everywhere. The only problem was the door, but that was solved easily. It went well, but sometimes I felt like it was pointless.
If I were ever to do this again... I wouldn't make a model! If I think about it, I would make sure I have it planned out a bit better. Knowing where the door is supposed to go and how it's going to go there is important. I learned that making a model is a lot of work!

Cr. C - Plan

Criteria B - Final Design

All images (c)Reeza

Criteria B - Final Design

For my project, I have chosen to build a toilet. My final toilet design is and outhouse on stilts. The fours walls of the outhouse are closed, with a tin/scrap metal roof. The structure is built mostly from wood. If you are looking at the door of the outhouse,three steps lead up to the door. On the two sides of the outhouse, wood planks go all the way to the ground, creating a wall. This is for stability and hiding the waste barrel. My final design:
Looks good. It is neat and not falling apart.
Is stable.
Is not too expensive if you use scrap metal and wood or a mix of new and old materials.
It is efficient. You can easily remove the waste barrel and the door will not sag of it's hinges.
It is also realistic. It is possible to create.

I chose the toilet too create, because it is not too expensive and it still looks decent. It is efficient, you can remove the waste barrel easily and opening the door is no problem. The inside is simple, but it works. A whole in the floor, but not two planks just ripped out. The whole structure is stable too.

Criteria A - Investigation

Investigation Cr.A

In IT, we are beginning a project based on the ger districts. Our goal is to choose one thing to improve that will lives of people in the ger districts. We, the 9th grade class, are faced with the problem that the majority of people living in UB have a difficult life. The ger districts take up most of UB. 800,000 people live in ger districts. The people living there are not necessarily poor, but they still have a hard life. The do not have running water and they are far from any public services. There lives do not need to be this difficult. It is possible to improve the lives of people living in ger districts using the simplest technology. Creating a better fence and gate, making an outhouse which is more efficient, finding a better way for transporting water. We are capable of changing this.

We started our research by going on a field trip through the Bayanzurkh Ger District. About 7,200 people live in this ger district. There are about 10-15 well stations which provide water for these people. We learnt that 1L of water costs 1MNT. This may seem cheap, but 1L of water is not enough to last a day. The water stations open at 10 am everyday. 1000 L of water are in each water station, and its refilled every day.

We walked through the ger district and saw how people built their fences and outhouses. The fences were usually built from scrap metal and wood, and sometimes the hinges were made from old tires. To build a whole fence costs about 10 months salary. Then you also have to consider the manual labor needed. The outhouses were primarily wood shacks on top of holes. The holes needed to be about 1 m2 and 3 meters deep. We got to experience building a toilet. It takes a lot of time and hard work. We also began rebuilding a gate. You had to dig holes about a meter deep so that when you put the posts in they wouldn’t fall over. Digging toilets and holes for fences is challenging enough, but without the right tools and enough tools it a lot more work. I noticed this while building the toilet. There was only 1 good spade.

We also got to go into a woman’s ger and eat donuts and the milk tea. From her we learn about the cost of wood and coal. 1 bad of wood and coal lasts one day, though if it gets very cold in the winter it could be more. Wood is 1,200MNT and coal is 1,500MNT. Buying a ger is also expensive. A second hand ger costs about 1,000,000MNT and a new one is 1,500,000MNT.

Most of the land the ger districts are built on is land no one else wants. This is because of landfills, flash floods and it’s far from public services.

While walking through the ger district it was hard for me to imagine living there. Life had to be difficult. We saw kids at the well stations collecting water with their carts. You have to carry bags of wood and coal, which are not light. And you have to use an out house. =S Now I have the chance to create something which could improve the lives of people living in the ger districts. I think it’s important because it plays such a big role in UB. The ger districts are the majority of UB. It’s the real thing. I think we should help improve the lives of people. It’s only if everyone works together that things can get better. The ger districts are also a big contributor to pollution in UB. There is so much trash! The stoves are needed but they cause horrible air pollution, and even the use of outhouses has an affect. All the waste enters the ground and then the water. I think if I can figure out a better way to reuse or dispose of the trash it would be a lot better. One of the only things Mongolia has is tourism. Tourists come to see the nature. Unfortunately there is a LOT of trash. If you start in UB with teaching people how to recycle or get rid of the trash correctly it will slowly spread out everywhere.

We went to the current community center of Flourishing Futures. There are classes available for students. There are sports activities and a head-start preschool for free. There are also women support meetings. Carpentry classes are held to teach adults and kids. A bakery has been created run by an all Mongolian staff. They sell baked goods to the Bayanzurkh area.

When we went to the ger district we had Sukhee as our guide. Mr.Chilton and Mrs.Wilson also added what they knew about the ger district and living in an area like the ger district. On our second trip, Mr.Trvdik told us about building outhouses and fences. He showed us where the new Community Center for Flourishing Future was going to be created. Then he told us about the gate and introduced us to this project.

Suhkee, . Personal Interview by Grade 9. 7 October 2009.

Chilton, Dave. Personal Interview by Grade 9. 30th September.

Wilson, Melanie. Personal Interview by Grade 9. 30th September.

Trvdik, Troy. Personal Interview by Grade 9. 7 October 2009.

"Flourishing Futures PowerPoint." IT Class. Flourishing Futures N.G.O., 5 October 2009. Address.

Investigation Cr.A 2

In technology class, we have been given the assignment to create something that will improve the lives of people living in the ger districts. I have decided to create a more efficient outhouse. I chose this because the outhouses pollute the ground and water. I think it is possible to make them more efficient. The waste could be used as fertilizer and then the ground water would stay clean.

Over the summer I went to Huvskul. We stayed at this one ger camp where the outhouses had been created to be efficient and practical. The outhouse was actually built on top of a barrel or container. Made out of wood, you would go into the outhouse and after going to the toilet you would put sawdust or dirt down the hole. This soaks up the moisture. When the barrel is full you go empty it onto some land. The waste then becomes fertilizer. I though this was such a good idea. In theory, outhouses would be good because of the waste/fertilizer entering the ground. There is too much waste in on place. Mongolia’s land is not very fertile, but if you have fertilizer it could improve. Imagine, on one person’s land they could create a little garden that could supply the basic vegetables during the summer. If that is successful then a greenhouse could be built. Using the waste from the outhouse you can grow the plants. I see it as a 2 in 1 thing. Building an efficient outhouse where the waste can be recycled and then used to build a garden is a great idea.

To build a regular toilet, people usually use scraps. To build a brand new toilet is costs about 300,000 Tugrek. Because you need to be able to take the container in and out, the toilet needs to be built on the ground. It needs to be;

· 3.5 m tall – the area under the outhouse is going to 1 m and then the actual toilet space will be 2.5 meters high

· 1x1m floor area

· 1 container about 70 cm high

· Wood or metal sheets for the wall and floor

· A bucket and shovel with dirt. This is for keeping away the smell and making it fertilizer. The dirt can be from the own plot.

The final toilet which I am going to create a model of will have to be

· Affordable

· Efficient

· Stable

· Looks good

· Generally realistic

These are my specifications of my final design. The toilet will have to be stable so that it is sustainable. Because of the bucket of dirt, you will be able to turn the waste into fertilizer. After you go to the bathroom you put a shovel of dirt down the hole too. This soaks up the liquids and turns the waste into fertilizer. If you use sawdust it also keeps down the smell.

My final creation with be a realistic model. It will include all the details I spoke about. I will use modeling clay, toothpicks and glue. To test my final toilet, I will create a survey or a poll. Then I will ask a variety of people to fill it out. It will include questions which will need an opinion to be answered. Based on the survey results I will see if my toilet would be effective and realistic. Maybe this could become the “new toilet” of the ger districts. =)

Being a Contemporary Artist...

Now a days contemporary artists may put their art on the Internet. This can have positive or negative consequences. if I were an artist I would put my work on the Internet. This would let more people know about me and my artworks. BUT it always has its negative consequences. On the internet pictures, songs and any forms of art can be copied and modified. People could claim my art as their own. Anyone could comment or criticize. Those are the risks you are facing when you put your art on the internet. If I had created an art work, I wouldn't want people copying it. I had put time and effort into my creation and then someone takes it and says its their own. I find this disrespectful to the artist. By doing this you are stealing and lying, just because you think you can get away with it. An artist could copyright his/her work, but that doesn't stop most people. So how else could a person protect their art on the internet? Well it is possible to put an image on the internet and keep it un"copy"able. Yet there is still the problem with music. People can always listen to it somewhere and then mess with it. Unfortunately people often forget to say who the music or image actually belongs. They portray it as their own, which is wrong. There is no real way of stopping people from copying others work. You can copyright it, but that doesn't always work. In my opinion, if you don't want your things copied, don't put them on the internet in the first place.