Process Journal 11 - Supervisor Meeting 1

Today I met with Mr. Chamberlain for my first supervisor meeting. We primarily discussed what resources I can use outside of online or text research, such as scientists that have conducted research on kombucha, and the local Pure Soda Works for help with the carbonation process. Additionally, we discussed possible ways my mentor can assist in the process, and how I can obtain other mentors from the local community.

Process Journal 10 - Reassessing My Project

As I progress through the MYP Criterion, I once again am reassessing my project. In order to better compare the two projects, I've created a pros and cons table for each.

Kombucha
Pros

• Low cost
• Low time commitment
• Personally interesting

Cons

• Questionable relevance to MYP guidelines
• Questionable number of available resources
• Lacks clear focus on individual components of project (research vs actual brewing)

Computer

Pros

• Low time commitment
• Fits very well within MYP guidelines
• Ample resources available
• Clearly focused outcome

Cons

• High cost
• Moderate time commitment
• Questionable interest

I intend on discussing these concerns with my supervisor when I meet with him. In particular, I need to weigh my interest and funds against a well-developed, substantial project. If needed, I may work out accommodations to enable the computer project in order to minimize monetary involvement. In any case, I need to have a clear, definite plan in the coming months to keep from falling behind. 

Process Journal 9 - Mentorship

Mentorship

In a complicated process such as this one, it's important to have a mentor that can help you through it. My brother, having brewed kombucha for nearly two years now and being the first to introduce me to kombucha, has agreed to be my 'mentor' in my personal project. I can turn to him for help, advice, or other information should I need it.

Process Journal 8 - Defining Project Criteria

Criteria

In order to complete this project within the MYP guidelines, I must put forth a set of criteria.

My criteria is as follows:

1. Videos will document me completing the brewing process
2. The videos will be uploaded to YouTube
3. This blog will serve as my research documentation
4. The chemical processes will be detailed in a video
5. The claimed health effects will be detailed in a video
6. The final product will be brewed kombucha that will be shared with the class
7. The kombucha will be carbonated
8. The kombucha will be flavoured

Process Journal 7 - Preliminary Resources (The Redux)

Preliminary Resources

1. Source 1 - Kombucha Brooklyn
2. Source 2 - r/Kombucha
3. Source 3 - NPR Article

MLA Citations

[Document Link]


1) Source 1 Analysis

Kombucha Brooklyn is an online resource dedicated to the home-brewing of kombucha. Not only does this website provide extensive information on kombucha and the brewing process, it also sells the necessary supplies for brewing. The specific resource linked in the citation is titled "How to Brew" and provides detailed explanation alongside videos showing the process and how to complete it. This will be an invaluable resource for learning the basics of the brewing process.


2) Source 2 Analysis

r/Kombucha is sub-forum of the online community website Reddit. While community forums are often lambasted as untrustworthy and having questionable credibility, users of r/Kombucha may be able to provide help when something goes awry. Useful links are also shared within the community, serving also as something of a database. That being said, it's advisable to only use this as fall-back should other, more reliable sources fail to give the necessary information. In any case, r/Kombucha also has an FAQ and other online resources linked within the page.


3) Source 3 Analysis

"Kombucha: Magical Elixir or Just Funky Tea?" is an article by National Public Radio. It contests the claims by many that kombucha has a variety of seemingly 'miracle' health affects. NPR being a large, trusted source of news and information, this is a reliable first step to researching the health benefits of drinking kombucha.

Process Journal 6 - Global Context (The Redux)

Global Context

For my Personal Project, I have chosen the following Global Context.

1) Scientific and Technical Innovation

"Students will explore the natural world and its laws; the interaction between people and the natural world; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on communities and environments; the impact of environments on human activity; how humans adapt environments to their needs."

This context applies to the concept of the chemical processes within the kombucha as it brews: in our world, everything undergoes some sort of process to become the product we use, especially food. This also explores how we and our biology interacts with the world around us.

Process Journal 5 - Introduction (The Redux)

Welcome to my 2015 Personal Project!

Goal

For this assignment, I've chosen to brew kombucha. What is kombucha? Kombucha is a fermented tea drink, produced through a complicated brewing process. It is claimed by some to have a variety of health benefits due to the presence of probiotics in the drink. Often times, the tea is also carbonated a flavored.

Throughout the project, I will research several concepts:

• How to complete the brewing process
• Brewing the tea
• Adding the komucha cultures
• Fermenting the tea
• Carbonating and flavoring the tea
• The chemical processes of the brewing itself
• The purported health benefits of the drink

I will document this process through this blog as well as with videos.

These entries, along with others that document my process, will make up my process journals.

The final product will be a summary video along with the actual product of the brewed kombucha.

Process Journal 4 - Changing My Project

After some consideration, I've decided to change my Personal Project. Time and monetary constraints, as well as declining interest in my original project pushed me to begin on a different path.

Instead, I'll be doing my project on kombucha. Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that my brother began brewing himself two years ago - I've always wanted to learn the process for myself, so this will be a great opportunity to complete both at one time.

The amount of homework I've had has inhibited any real progress up until this point. Hopefully, I can get back on track over November.

Process Journal 3 - Preliminary Resources

Preliminary Resources

1. Source 1 - Tom's Hardware
2. Source 2 - Kitchen Table Computers
3. Source 3 - Logical Increments

MLA Citations

[Document Link]

1) Source 1 Analysis

Tom's Hardware is an online resource that primarily reviews a variety of technological components and devices, ranging from smartphone to automotive. It also acts as a community forum for users that have questions regarding these products. The cited article in this instance is an in-depth guide to building a PC, "from component selection to installation". It provides information on selecting an appropriate case, CPU, graphics card, motherboard, memory, storage, power supply, where to buy these products, how assemble the PC, and how to install the necessary software. This resource is vital for the reasoning behind the component choices.


2) Source 2 Analysis

Kitchen Table Computers is an online resource dedicated to providing information to those that want to build their own PC. It offers a variety of information regarding the function of each component, how to choose them, and assembling them.


3) Source 3 Analysis

Logical Increments is an online resource designed to help users select PC components. They accomplish this by ranking the best product choices from "Destitute" to "Monstrous" (weak to powerful) for each component. This resource would be useful to judge components relative to their performance.

Process Journal 2 - Global Context

Global Context

For my Personal Project, I have chosen two Global Contexts.

1) Scientific and Technical Innovation

"Students will explore the natural world and its laws; the interaction between people and the natural world; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on communities and environments; the impact of environments on human activity; how humans adapt environments to their needs."

2) Globalization and Sustainability

"Students will explore the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the relationship between local and global processes; how local experiences mediate the global; the opportunities and tensions provided by world interconnectedness; the impact of decision making on humankind and the environment." 

Both of these contexts apply to a central idea that technology is increasingly prominent and influential in our world and in our lives. We use it for education, for healthcare, for culture, for economy - it permeates virtually every aspect of humanity, connecting us in myriad ways, and will continue to do so in the coming years and decades. Therefore, it's important to gain a basic understanding of how this technology works, primarily so that it does not simply become a passive device in our lives, but so we can continue to use to innovate and find ways to improve the communities in which we live.

Process Journal 1 - Introduction

Welcome to my 2015 Personal Project!

Goal

For this assignment, I've chosen to build a computer. Throughout the project, I will research all the components of a basic computer:

• The processor (CPU)
• The motherboard
• The memory (RAM)
• The storage
• The video card (GPU)
• The power supply unit 
• The optical drive 
• The operating system (OS)

For each component, I will a) research and cite a reputable source from which I can draw my information and b) film a short video explaining the basic information of the component. The videos may be accompanied by text.

These entries, along with others that document my process, will make up my process journals.

The final product will be fully functional computer. To finish, I will also complete a process known as benchmarking, in order to quantify the improvement of the newly built computer over my current office desktop.