Math round 1

I have promised myself to learn algebra during summer break. However, I did not practice or do further research on it. Last year, I said in my math round 5 post that “Other math teachers always tell their students that algebra always needs in life. ” Actually, my new math facilitator, Jeff said that we don’t need any algebra in our life. The only reason we need to study complicated algebra and complex calculus is we need it for continuing university and college. “Why do we need it in university?” as we keep asking, our facilitator said “To prove the university that we are able to do something complicated”. I think that some of the class may not be useful for us in the future. For an example, if you know that you are going to be an actor, algebra and STEM would don’t be helpful. For this round, we are fully into algebra. It’s hard to be in the class for the first couple of days, because we have new facilitator and the lesson is thorny. I did not know him that well before. As the days went by, I really like the way that he teaches. “Fun” and also productive at the same time. For algebra, the concept itself is easy to understand. However, when it comes to exercise, it always asks to do a mile further than the lesson. To get the answer right is easy, but to figure out  strategies that can help to solve others similar exercises is hard. To understand what your facilitator said is easy, but to ask a good question is not. To explain it to yourself is easy. However it’s not easy to explain it to the others. To learn with a facilitator that you don’t know well is hard for the first couple days, but it’s not for the rest. Math is not complicated if we think that it’s not. The matter is not about the facilitator or the exercises. We need to practice and to be opened. Be ready for a university or college, practice your algebra now. 

Electricity: Economics, Infrastructure & Access Exploration

Passion and work. I have found my passion, acting, and fictional writing. In this round, there are three other explorations, which are storytelling, household garden, and outdoor leadership. Since fictional writing is my passion, I wanted to be in storytelling exploration, which is about writing and publishing children’s books. I had planned during holiday. First my name was there, However, I am in electricity exploration at the end. I was so disappointed.

“Don’t always go with your passion, learn something new”

In this exploration, we learn about different ways to produce electricity, some history of electricity and electricity in Cambodia. Electricity is something brand new to me. I have no idea about it. Not even to define “electricity”. During the exploration, we do a lot of research, went to different places, and interview different people. The goal of this exploration is to explore electricity and also to produce some documents such as writing or video for our senior project, Cambodia Economy website. We did a lot of research about solar power, thermal power, hydropower and wind power. We do some research, went to some of trips then come back and continue our writing. During this exploration, I become a specialist in wind power. I have done a lot of research about wind power and have written an article about it at the end of the exploration. I think I am a big fan of wind power. Cambodia has not had any wind turbines yet. However, there is a company called Blue Circle is planning on building wind turbines on Bokor Mountain, Kampot Province which is my hometown. Other than wind power, I have learned about other resources of electricity. Even though it’s not my passion, I still learn so many things new things from this exploration. I have also explored something I like and support, which is wind power. Learn something new to explore more. 

  • Villager house using solar panels from Okra Company in Kampong Speu province. know more about Okra: https://www.okrasolar.com/
Trip to ISPP to see their solar system.
https://www.ispp.edu.kh/

 

Presentation from Mr. Sophorn from Blue circle company.
Know more about blue circle: http://www.thebluecircle.sg/