Self Reflection

        1.      How do you think you are doing so far in your senior project and why? AE, P, AP, CR, or NC

If I go by Senior Class standards, the best I could want and wish for is a CR, but as of right now, to be completely honest, I would think an NC, only because of my Interview 2, which I haven’t done. Everything else I have done has been worthy of a P or better. It is not that I haven’t tried or have been slacking, it is because finding service learning is incredible difficult, I have tried hospitals and gyms and weight loss clinics, anything that is health related.

        2.      What one thing do you think you have done well on and why?

I think that my 1^st interview was well worthy of an AE, interviewing people is not hard for me, and I was extremely lucky to have an interviewee who talked a lot and in detail. She gave me in-depth answers to my questions, and I also asked more questions than were asked of me. I feel extremely proud of that interview I did, and if I had to choose a project to represent my whole project, I would choose that interview. On the plus side, I learned a lot from my interviewee, she gave me great insight into how she got started in Zumba and how her life changed after starting the Zumba exercise.

        3.      What is one thing you would like to improve on and why?

I would definitely like to have service learning, right now my senior project is looking a little bleak and so are my grades. Not having service learning is affecting my projects, such as not being able to do my 2^nd interview and being behind on my service learning hours, which if I don’t find service learning soon, I will be behind in that part of the project as well. Service learning is basically the deciding factor of my grades at this point. But I do know what I have to do and I talked to others to see what my options could be, at this point I’m just calling places to see if I can get in. But I do know where I stand and I know the potential damage that can be placed on my grades.

Science Fair Proposal

      1.      What is your hypothesis?

      Hypothesis:  If a working adult makes low income, than they are more susceptible to obesity, as opposed to an working adult who makes higher income.

2.       Identify the dependent (produced), independent (manipulated) and control variables in your hypothesis.

      If a working adult makes low income, than they are more susceptible to obesity, as opposed to an working adult who makes higher income.

      Obesity- Dependent Variable
Lower Income- Independent Variable
Working Adult- Control Variable

3.       What is the connection between your science fair project and your senior project EQ?

      My EQ is, “What is the best way to lose body fat,” so to incorporated my essential question with my senior project, I chose to do a science project based on the relations between income and obesity. If there is a relationship between these two, it will help me find what the best way to lose body fat is, because i will understand one of the many factors of obesity.

4.       How will you perform the experiment? Include the equipment you plan on using.

,

      I found an article on the relationship between obesity and income. So, to perform this experiment I won't be doing a physical experiment, I will be looking further into the article I found and go from there. I plan on emailing the organization that analyzed the research and if there is a different organization that performed the experiment then I would email them as well. I will also be looking into other research articles and anything relating to my hypothesis. I would contact National Longitudinal Survey of Youth for the data that they analyzed in 2004 and George Washington University for the data they complied in 2008. I will be starting my research at 2004 to now, to compare the difference.

5.       Which category will your project be listed under?

      I’m guessing, Behavioral/Social Science

What I've Learned So Far

1.              What have you learned how to do since you started working on your senior project?
   
   
   ·         I’ve learned what may be considered a simple, non-mind blowing fact about weight loss there is, and it’s planning and having goals. A major reason why people’s goal to lose fat fails, is because they don’t think any farther than the “fat loss” (fat loss and weight loss are different things), they haven’t plan on how they are getting there, nor do they have an understanding that “fat loss” takes more than a week to see results. Thus, making planning an utmost priority and reminding one’s self about one’s goals. So, I learned before I want to lose weight, I must have a plan, and I did just that, I wrote my goals for my “fat loss” goals and what I would reward myself with, but the rewards are not food related, because that will put a damper on my fat loss goals. (see below)
   
   
   2.       Post evidence this accomplishment.
   
   
   ·         Establishing a Plan of Attack
   
   
   3.       What research how you do this and how?
   
   
   ·         Fitness for Dummies by Suzanne Schlosberg and Liz Neporent, M.A. The document, above in answer number 2, was provided by the book, in its chapter, “Establishing Your Plan of Attack,” it taught me about setting goals, the difference between long-term goals and short-term goals, immediate goals and back up goals. Long-term goals are goals for the next three to six months, for example, running a marathon, short-term goals are usually monthly, such as running 6 miles three times a week for a month. Immediate goals are either weekly or daily, like doing yoga for a day for try it out. Back-up goals are a “Plan B”, in case one day, maybe your ankle twist and you can’t do stressful exercises on your ankle, so they your back-up plan would be, for example weight lifting, working on the upper body. All the categories in the document above.

Independent Component 1 Plan Approval

1.       Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component.

I plan on taking a Zumba Fitness class and taking my body measurements. I figure monthly measurements will do, for sure my midsection, hips, and thighs, my biggest problems. 

2.       Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours’ work requirement.

My Zumba Fitness class is five days a week out of the week, Mondays through Fridays for a Month, then it skips a week, and then goes back to the schedule. The classes are 1 hour each, so I could be finished with 20 hours within a month. To keep track of my days that I go and the hours, I will be using a calendar of some sorts to keep documentation, along with my measurements.

3.       How does your independent study component relate to your EQ?

My EQ is about losing body fat. One important way of losing fat is exercising; Zumba is a type of fitness. I wanted to put a “spin” on the type of exercise I do, instead of doing running, etc.  Zumba is a high intensity exercise that works all of the muscles in the body and works to lose fat, so this will be a way of becoming better and faster and putting more effort into my exercises, giving it everything I have.

Defining the Essential Question

1.          What is your EQ?
   
   
   What is the best way to lose body fat?
   
   
   2.       Define the words in your EQ to make sure we are on the same page regarding what your EQ means.
   
   
   What is the best way to lose body fat?
   ·         Best- the greatest possibility, no other possibility is better, leading in any choice.
   ·         Lose- to get rid of.
   ·         Body Fat- the fat on one’s body, the blubber.
   
   
   3.       What are some possible answers to your EQ so far?
   
   
   ·         Regular fitness activity, intensity depends on person and goals
   ·         Healthy eating habits
   ·         Clean and on top of hygiene habits
   ·         Dedication to goals
   ·         Good sleeping habits
   ·         Happier outlook on life
   ·         Self-Control
   
   
   4.       What has been your most important source and why? Be Specific. If it is a person, name them and what they do, if it is an article, book or video, name the title and author.
   
   
   My most important source has been, Fitness for Dummies, 4^th edition by Suzanne Schlosberg and Liz Neporent, M.A.  It explains everything I need to know about fitness so far, such as, testing my fitness, establishing my plan of attack, nutrition basics, and cardio crash course. I have only begun this book, but so far, it has helped a lot with how to start my plan on losing body fat/weight. There are no different words and if there is something complicated in the book, they break it down, explaining it piece by piece. For example, it explained the different methods of measuring body fat, such as taking measurements, then explaining how and where to take the measurements. 

Second Interview Questions

The five required questions for the 2^nd interview:
 
1.     What is your educational background?   And how has it helped you in your job?
 
2.     What is your work experience?  And how has it helped you in your job?
 
3.     What is the most important thing you have done in this job and why?  
 
4.     What is some background information about the organization or company you will be working with?
 
5.     How many years have you been in the field and why do you like the job you have?  
 
Additional question:

6.     What experience/inspiration led you to the field you work in now?

Presentation Reflection

1.       In what way did the first interview affect your presentation?  Please explain, be specific and use an example.

My interview was extremely influential, to the point of it being the basis for what I presented. Luckily, my interviewee gave extensive answers to my question, and being that anything we used in the 5-minute presentation we wouldn’t be able to use in the future presentations, I wanted to choose something that was related to my topic but wasn’t important to my EQ. One of the questions I asked was, “ Explain the process of going to a certification class,” such she explained to great detail and went beyond, not only answering my question but she also gave me qualities you want to have in an instructor or if you want to become an instructor. I realized that it was such an detailed answer that I could do a simple 5 minute presentation on it.

2.       What you say stood out about your presentation performance and why?

I would say that what stood out was my simplistic presentation. It was a fairly simple set up, I did everything- I feel- that was on the contact, asked questions, did the information, checked for understanding by asking questions, again, I actually orchestrated my presentation and my information around my visual, doing a step-by-step demonstration, and making sure for my conclusion, I went over the important parts of the information. I felt somewhat repetitive, but it becomes remembered after consist repetition.

3.       What was the most challenging to do and why?

The most challenging part of this presentation was thinking about what to present, because the information I was to present couldn’t be important to my EQ, for the fact that the information would be off limits in the future. It took me a good 2 hours to figure out what to present on. Also, the waiting was tremendously scary, because in your head your freaking yourself out about everything that could go wrong, when I got up the, it was like I forgot that I was worried. I hope that showed during my presentation.

Senior Project Presentation 1

This presentation is based on an interview I had with my Zumba instructor, one of my questions asked, what the process of becoming a certified instructor was like, and she gave me an extensive answer for that, so it would be perfect for a short presentation.

Objective: My objective is to teach the students about the process of becoming a certified Zumba instructor and the qualities you need to have to teach a class. 

Procedure:

1.        For the beginning of my presentation I will be asking 2-3 people what they think it takes to become a certified instructor. After people tell me what they think, I would explain to them that being any type of instructor requires training in that particular field and warn them I might ask questions.

2.       Then I’ll take from my interview what my interviewee told me about the certification process. I was thinking about going on the Zumba website* as my visual, and showing them the step-by-step process of finding a certification class using the website. Then explaining what the class entails, such as being there for 8 hours, etc.

3.       After explaining the process, I will go into what an instructor needs as far as qualities, such as a high energy level, bringing challenges to the workout, etc.

4.       At this point I will be checking for understanding, I think I will be asking 3 people questions on what I just taught, to make sure that they were following along, simple questions such as: Where do you go to sign up for a certification class? What is one important quality an instructor should have? 

5.       Before I conclude, I would reiterate some of the important points of my presentation, explain that to be an instructor, you really have to want it, to love it. Then I would conclude.

Resources/Materials:

I will need the following:

·         Internet (For the website I will be using)

·         Laptop

·         Overhead

*I am not 100% sure about using the website as my visual, still weighing my options.

Interview Check

For my first interview, I have asked my Zumba instructor, Teresa to be my first interviewee. I find that she would be a perfect fit to help me understand and clarify where my direction is going with my project. I know I want to do Zumba as my project, so who better than a Zumba instructor who specializes in that specific area and has been involved in this type of fitness for over a year. I have asked her and she is more than willing to help me out and be a part of my project.

The five additional questions I will be asking are the following:

        1.       Where or how did you get introduced to Zumba?

        2.       In your opinion, how is Zumba more of an affective fitness routine, than other types of  efficient exercises like, running or cardio kickboxing, etc.? 
        3.       What made you come to the conclusion that you wanted to be a Zumba instructor? 
        4.       In terms of becoming a Zumba instructor, you must be certified to teach a Zumba class, can you please describe to me what the process is like in detail?  
        5.       How has Zumba changed your body and your lifestyle, how long did it take you to reach you goal? Also,  what types of foods are crucial to your Zumba Fitness lifestyle?

1.     

 Two more just in case she over laps her answers by accident, these are for the “just in case” scenario:

1.       Having been a Zumba instructor for a while now, how have you seen Zumba increase in popularity, as far as your classes and commotion around you about Zumba goes?

2.       Is there anything you can tell me about Zumba that very few people know about? Maybe the secrets to success with the Zumba Fitness workout?