Independent Component 1

Due Date:  Friday 2/6 at 8AM

·       LITERAL

I, Matthew Ibarra, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.

1.       Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component.

Since my Independent Component (IC) consisted solely of drafting projects, my work was primarily experience-based. Drafting, in essence, is like driving is the sense that I will only improve my skills with practice. Therefore, it is a bit difficult to attribute my improvement in drafting to a single source such as an article or book. 

However, I do not mean --- in the slightest --- to say that I didn't receive help along the way. It was a collaboration of effort from me and the drafting team at my mentorship. For example, I did ask for small tips from time to time from Jason and Yagi, my fellow drafters at BERG. Yagi guided me in the right direction for initiating my First Floor Plan Project. He briefly explained to me about the concepts of layers in AutoCAD and assisted me in making sure I was using the appropriate scale and units for my project. Jason gave me small drafting tips about copying, rotating, and filleting objects\lines in Microstation. I also used a list of basic commands for AutoCAD that Yagi showed me to help me with my drafting.

2.       Update your hours in your Senior Project Hours link. Make sure it is clearly labeled with hours for individual sessions as well as total hours.

Done.

3.       Explain what you completed. 

For my IC, I completed a series of computer-aided drafting and design (C.A.D.D.) projects using computer programs such as Microstation and AutoCAD. Some of the drafting projects I did over the past few months were a biohazard symbol, a helmet from a Disney movie, and a floor plan of my mentorship building. For the most part, the projects I completed were chosen and designed by me --- meaning that I had full creative control over the methodology of my projects. The order in which I chose to do these projects was completely random. It just so happened that each project I did was slightly harder in difficulty and more time-consuming than the last. The reason I ended up doing random drafting projects --- as opposed to, say, one of my mentor's old drafting projects --- was because many of his old projects were either private or government-affiliated --- Meaning: It is illegal. But in the end, the source of the drafting work I receive mattered not because what really counted was the practice. 

·       INTERPRETIVE 

1.       Defend your work and explain its significance to your project and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work.   Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc.) of the 30 hours of work.  

As previously explained, I completed a series of C.A.D.D. projects using computer programs such as Microstation and AutoCAD for my Independent Component. Although my IC does not directly pertain to my current EQ, I believe that drafting is an integral building block for a well-rounded foundation in my topic. It helps develop communication skills, patience, and problem solving skills, which are all crucial to drafting in a team-environment, like the one at my mentorship.

That being said, one does not become an expert drafter overnight. As my fellow drafter Jason once told me, you just have to keep on practicing; be able to use both programs proficiently because that's what the industry is using right now. And it's true; the program you use and the scale you design in is often dictated by the client --- whether it be a utility company or a home-user. For example, my mentor, Allen Barreno, told me that Southern California Edison requires that their designs be done using Microstation. 

Allen also told me that when he was in high school, his father would put him to do drafting work on the computer. In the beginning he would get paid "by the drawing" because his inexperience made him slow, but as he practiced more and more, he became so experienced that it became too expensive for his dad to pay him "by the drawing", so he decided to pay him by the hour instead. 

I had a similar experience to my mentor in the beginning; I was slow, very inexperienced, yet very eager to learn. Day one: sit, set up, breathe, click, draft, leave. Repeat. 

Line... Circle... Curve... 

Rectangle... Triangle... Square...

Basics... Basics... and more basics. 

Again and again until it was time for me to initiate my IC. 

By that time, I had already gained enough knowledge about the basics of drafting. I was ready to try something challenging... something daunting... something government-affiliated... 

But my mentor said NO.

Instead, he gave me two options: jail or Camp Caddlake. I chose Caddlake, of course, but I didn't exactly know what I was getting myself into. According to my mentor, the basic schedule would be as follows:

"As soon as you begin your Independent Component, you are to begin drafting a floor plan of the mentorship building. A copy of the floor plan will be provided by one of your fellow draftsmen."

The Mr. Sir-Barreno of my imagination looked up at me. "When you are not working on the floor plan, you are to be working on another drafting project of your choice. It doesn't matter what it is so long as it's appropriate. Any questions?"

I shook my head as motivation to keep myself awake.

"Good. Now get to work", he said.

It didn't take long for me to realise that the floor plan would take longer than I originally expected:

Day 1 - Five hours in

Day 3 - Eight hours in

Day 5 - About Twelve and a half hours in

Bathrooms - Deceivingly Simple

Sinks - Half an hour down the drain

This is why hours fly by like bullets across my computer screen.

This is why I draft biohazard symbols and Disney helmets at my mentorship. 

Bamax Helmet Project - About 9 hours

Biohazard Symbol Project - About 7 hours

This is why Friday afternoon smells like Happy Hour with a hint of techno and Tagalog.  This is why I love being a drafter.

·       APPLIED

1.       How did the component help you understand the foundation of your topic better?  Please include specific examples to illustrate this. 

My IC helped me understand the foundation of my topic better by demonstrating how drafting is a fundamental skill that all engineers must have. More specifically, it showed me how as technology evolves, the methodology of an engineer changes as well. Decades ago, engineers would draw their designs on paper, and make copies of them using the blueprint process. Nowadays, power engineers draw their designs using computer aided design techniques and transfer them as a digital file to a computer printer to be printed. At my mentorship, this is exactly how the designers, drafters, and engineers exchange their work and ideas. For example, during one of my mentor’s recent projects, he had to make design changes to an electrical substation on paper and give the paper to one of his drafters to edit the design via Microstation and had him print out the edited design. After that, he checked the drafter’s work, and then sent the design out to his client for approval.

Grading Criteria 

• Updated log in Senior Project Hours Link 
• Evidence of 30 hours of work 
• LIA submitted to blog

A Man with a Plan

Hello everyone!

Thank you for visiting my blog today. This past month has been quite a busy one with all of the recent school events and projects. However, that hasn't stopped me from going to my mentorship this past January. Although my busy schedule didn't allow me to attend my mentorship as often as I'd hoped, I am still content with what I was able to accomplish during the three times I visited.

During my mentorship this month, I continued working on my First Floor Plan project on the Autodesk AutoCAD program. At first, I found the project quite confusing and cumbersome because I had never tried to recreate a floor plan of this scale before. But with time, persistence, --- and a bit of assistance from the drafters at BERG --- I got the hang of it as well.

The trickiest part for me was finding a way to keep my work organised. It's not enough to just begin drawing all the lines you see. The more lines there are, the more difficult it is to spot your mistakes, especially if you take long breaks from your work after a drafting session --- much like I do after my mentorship.

There are many ways to mitigate this problem. One of the easiest ways to keep your large drafting projects (LDP) organised is to create a layer for a specific type of object. For example, I could create a layer for windows, a layer for furniture, a layer for doors, etc. Furthermore, I could also name those layers, then assign an arbitrary color to a specific layer, thereby "color coating" the objects in said layer. This means that if I assign the color white to the TOILET layer, then whatever objects I draw in that layer will be white. An important thing to note is that you can assign the same color to multiple layers, but it kind of defeats the purpose of keeping your LDP organised.

Lesson 2 Reflection

Label: Presentation

Due Date: The day after your lesson presentation by 8:00 A.M.

Content:

1.What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?

There were two aspects of my presentation that I was quite proud of. The first aspect was the way I explained various concepts in my presentation, such as microgrids and the electrical grid. I think that I explained those concepts concisely and in a professional manner. I asked a few people about my presentation after I finished and they agreed. 

The second aspect of my presentation that I am most proud of was my conclusion. I received a loud applause from my audience after I finished my presentation and some people approached me afterward to give me kudos on my ending. If that is any indication that I had a strong conclusion, then I don't know what is.

2. a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?

       AE       P          AP       CR       NC

     b.     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.

After reading and assessing all the major components of the contract --- Professionalism, Organisation and Creativity, and Justification of answer --- I believe that I deserve at least a P on my presentation. I believe that I proficiently completed all aspects of the task. The only two things that I feel

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?

There were many aspects of my presentation that worked, but there were certain things that worked better than others. One of the things that worked best during my Lesson 2 was my hook activity. I think that it really allowed me to connect with my audience.

4. What didn't work? If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?

One thing that surprisingly didn't work for for some people in my class --- including my teacher --- was the color of the font I used for my presentation. I was told that it messed with eyes of some audience members and that my text was tough to see at times because of the contrast. 

Another thing that didn't work for me was my introduction to the presentation. I felt that my hook activity was strong, but my transition from the hook activity to my actual presentation --- my pre-introduction, in essence --- could have been handled better. There was an awkward pause where I forgot a word in my head. I know i recovered afterward by remembering, but there was no doubt to the audience that I had forgotten.

Another thing that didn't work for me was the way in which I cited my sources in my PowerPoint presentation. I forgot I needed to add my sources, so I placed the MLA of each source used under their corresponding slide near the completion of my presentation. It was messy; in some slides, the picture obscured the words; and they hardly helped me in remembering to cite my sources orally during the presentation.

As trite as this may sound, if i had the opportunity to go back and time to do something differently with my project I would've rehearsed more in my down time --- with friends and family. In the end, you can have a nice looking presentation, a professional appearance, and all of your supplies ready, but if you don't know what to say or how to say it, then you're taking a huge gamble with your grade.

5. What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?

Blog 12: Mentorship 10 hours check

Content:

1.   Where are you doing your mentorship?

BERG Power Engineers

2.   Who is your contact?

Allen Barreno 
Company Phone Number: (626) 917- 6665

3.   How many total hours have you done (total hours should be reflected in your mentorship log located on the right hand side of your blog like your WB)? 

19 Hours 30 Minutes

4.   Summarize the 10 hours of service you did.

For the ten hours of service at my mentorship, I initiated and completed a CADD project, where I recreated a 2-D image of Tony Stark's Arc Reactor from Iron Man 2. During these thirteen hours of service, I learned and practiced various drafting techniques for creating complex designs and images using Microstation. With the help of the fellow drafters at BPE, I discovered new ways to design and draft my drawings to complete them in a more efficient manner. 

5.   Email your house teacher the name of your contact and their phone number confirming who they should call to verify it.

Done.

*You need 50 hours plus the original 10 in the summer by May.   The original 10 from the summer do not count toward the 50.  By the end of the year, you will have 60 hours counting that original 10.

Blog 11: Holiday Project Update

Content:

1.  It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school.  What did you do over the break with your senior project?

Over winter break, I went to my mentorship for a few hours to talk with my mentor about my EQ as well as possible answers for it. He also gave me valuable insight into possible directions for my research and other outlets as well. Additionally, I worked on my independent component for several hours. I started on another drafting project: My First Floor Plan, where I draft out the floor plan of the mentorship building based on schematics that were given to me by my mentor. 

2.  What was the most important thing you learned from what you did, and why?  What was the source of what you learned?

The most important thing I learned from my mentorship is that operating efficiency of the electrical grid and economics have an intimate connection that must be kept at a balance in order for utilities to be more energy efficient in the future.

3.  If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers for your EQ, who would you talk to and why?

First and foremost, I would talk with my mentor because he is a very qualified electrical engineer with years of experience working on and optimizing substations, so he could probably give me some valuable information on operating efficiency for the electrical grid. I would also talk to my mentor's brother because even though he is still an electrical engineering student at Cal Poly, he is currently studying microgrids for his senior project (which could potentially be one of my main answers for my EQ).

New Year's Talk

Hello everyone!

First off, I just want to thank you for visiting my blog today and I hope you had a wonderful new year's celebration. I know that the new year always brings invitations of joy, sadness, and new beginnings as we endeavor to better ourselves through goals and more positive outlooks on the world. This is why I think it should also be a day to look back and reminisce on the good things that have happened to us in 2014 and embrace what makes us happy in the years to come.

That being said, I would like to thank my mentor, Allen Barreno, for taking me under his wing this past July and being such a cool and respectable man. He has guided me through this project since the beginning and has helped me learn so much about not only power engineering, but working with people in the real-world. He made it clear to me how vital it is to do a topic that you're passionate about. Without that piece of advice, I probably wouldn't have the EQ I have today, so I am especially grateful for that.

Allen,

You are one awesomely intelligent fellow. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work at BERG and for all the help you have given me this year with my project. I know you can get quite busy with your work, which is why I am grateful that you have sacrificed some of your valuable time to help me out. I hope you have a very successful and splendid 2015.

Through you, I've gotten to meet and work with some very nice and knowledgeable people who I would like to thank as well.

Hero,

Thank you for being such a generous and hospitable person. When I first arrived at BERG, I usually just arrived, did my normal routine, and then walked home. You were the only person who offered to give me a ride home. I know your house happens to be pretty close to mine, but just reaching out to me was very kind of you and I am grateful for that. I enjoyed our small conversations in the car, as I slowly began learning more about you and your past life. We might have had our twists and turns, but in the end, it was quite a smashing experience.

Jason and Yagi,

Thank you for all the drafting help over these past few months. I have learned so many useful tips and tricks for Microstation and AutoCAD because of you guys, I know that I still have so much to learn, but I'm glad that I have you guys by my side. You two have made me feel really comfortable working at BERG, so for that I am very grateful.

Jason, I think you're a really hard-worker with the way you feel so relieved whenever more work comes your way. You're a really cool cat with a knack for Tekken. I also want to thank you for sharing your lunch with me that one day. I will make sure to return the favor once I find food that delicious again.

Yagi, thanks for sharing some of your architectural drafting expertise with me. It led me in the right direction with my First Floor Plan Project and left me with many questions that I hope to answer as I gain more experience drafting.

AJ,

Thank you so much for answering all of my questions and giving me valuable insight into how college life for an electrical engineering student is. I learned a lot from you about the challenges, work, and experiences I may face as I enter Cal Poly Pomona. I hope to learn more from you as I begin to answer my EQ.

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These are not all the reasons why I am thankful to work at my mentorship, but I hope this small post will suffice.

P.S. Thanks for the calendar, you guys! Happy New Year!

Bamax Helmet Complete!

Finally! After what seemed like forever, I am pleased to show you guys the final product of my Bamax Helmet project.

10 Hours of drafting later...

Of all the drafting projects I've done so far, this one was probably the most challenging. Not only did it incorporate the most curvatures, but it also was based on a digital image. This made it especially challenging as I tried to get the proportions just right to match the original image. This project forced me to try out some tools and commands I have never tried before, but that is what made this project an amazing learning experience.