• What is your stance on our proposal?
• I agree with the terms we are proposing to Admin.
• How well have you contributed to our proposal?
• I haven't contributed as much as other's in the class when it comes to getting signatures, but when it comes to researching data to present I've provided a fair amount.
• What do you think Admin will decide?
• I believe that they will take our proposal as it stands into consideration, and will give their input as to reach a sort of middle ground that we can then present to Central Office.
• Why do you think our proposal will be effective?
• I think it'll be effective because we've gotten such a large support for it from both teachers and students, and our suggestion is backed by thoroughly researched data. And we've thought of every possible question Admin could ask us and have thought of appropriate answers for those questions.

What I plan to do over Spring Break

While this is my last spring break as a high school student, it's honestly just another week out of school for me. Sure, I could be making all sorts of plans to go out and be with my friends and such, but that's not the kind of person I am. I prefer to spend my time out of school inside, preferably in bed, alone.

To most this seems boring, or “anti-social”, but that’s just the way I am. During most people’s spring break’s, they go to the beach, or the mall, or visit family out of state, but to me, that’s too much work. I don’t do so well in large crowds or being too far away from home, and so that’s why I prefer to stay home, in my bed, away from the crowds. Say what you might, and say what you will about me, but I prefer to stay in bed, and sleep all break.  

SMART Goals

Today, we were tasked with creating 3 goals (1 personal, 1 professional, and 1 educational) for ourselves. We were then tasked with trying to make them more specific by using SMART. 
SMART is an acronym which stands for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.  
My goals for this year are to: 

1. Have no Finals in any classes
2. Get a job by August 2016
3. Graduate from High School by May 26, 2016

This week in WBL 12/7-12/11 2015

     1.      What did you discuss in your video?

~ In my video, I introduced myself and told the viewers about what my dream placement would be.

     2.      Do you feel your videos are a good representation of yourself?  Would an admissions officer or scholarship panel be impressed by your submission?

~ I feel that, even if it wasn’t the best submission, they would be impressed that I put in the effort and time to create a video detailing my schooling. They would also remember my submission because not many other candidates are as prepared as I am, and wouldn’t have thought to create videos about themselves.

     3.      Explain the purpose of having these as evidence of excellent work in an electronic portfolio.

~ The purpose of having these as evidence is to help us standout from the competition when applying to either a college or occupation position.

     4.      What other activities would you like to do next semester to add to your portfolio?

~ Personally, I would like to have a chance to go back to my personal/professional website and do a lot of work that I couldn’t in the time that I had to work on it initially when we first started to create them. 

What Work Based Learning Means to Me.

When I was first introduced to the class last year, I was told the very basics, I knew so little about it that I was a little hesitant about signing up for it. All I knew about it was that the teacher, either Spinella or Bruce, would help me find a placement, then I would get credits for working at the placement they found for me, if and only if I actually got the job itself. But now, I feel like I know a little bit more about the course as a whole, and not just the bare essentials.

To me, I feel like the WBL class will not just help me find a job, but also help me improve as an employee and a student. I feel it will help me a student by showing me the process of applying and getting a job. It’ll also show me how using the internet in a positive way, like creating a blog and/or YouTube channel, can actually help me get a job, by showing the potential employer that I can keep track of a living document, and that I can be responsible enough to upload content frequently and regularly.

I know it will help me as a potential employee by showing me how to apply for a job, and how what I learn in school can be applied to real world situations. I know this will be very beneficial to me because, having a blog, and having a YouTube channel, will help me to stand out from the rest of the applicants, applying for the same position I am applying for. And this, I feel, is what Work Based Learning is to me; it teaches students how to better themselves, and how to help themselves stand out in a crowd of 20, maybe even 30 other applicants, all applying for the same position within a business. Even if it’s something as small as a cashier at Walmart, to something big like trying to work as a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) at a major accounting firm.