Week 6

This week we added the final touches to our robots. This meant we could add more buttons or wires to the robot to make it even more unique. I decided to add pieces of wire on each side of the buttons so it would look like a seem line or suspenders. Myself and Hocine also added ears to our robots using small bits of wood, and hair using furry bits of fabric. Lastly Hocine wanted to add feet to his robot using small blocks of wood. We then stuck them to the end of the feet and painted them green. This made the robots look the best they could.

After we finished decorating the robots we had to make the stand to support the robot. This involved us sanding down 2 pieces of small wood and 1 long piece of wood. When they were all sanded down we had to get the hot glue gun and stick the small pieces onto the long piece. Once they were all stuck together we had to go to the drill and drill one hole in the very centre.

One thing I learnt in this class was how to use the drill. I will be able to use this skill in the Construction Design module and maybe in subjects such as Technology if I choose to do it. I found it difficult to know how far to put the drill into the stand as I didn't want it to go too far or not far enough but once I got the hang of it, it was grand.

I was very pleased that we got to finish making our robots and that we are now almost finished making the stand. I can't wait to see what the whole thing is like when it's complete. I was also pleased that Hocine really liked how his robot turned out.

Week 5

Today we had to finish painting the robot and we had to put it altogether. First we finished painting the body and arms of Hocines robot green and then it was time to glue everything. This meant we had to glue the head and the legs to the body so that it would start to actually look like a robot. When we finished that we got to pick different things to add to the robot. This included buttons, wire, fabric etc. For Hocine's robot he picked 2 big red and white buttons for the eyes and a small piece of wire for the smile. I then made a dickie bow using felt and a button and gave it to Hocine for his robot. I also made one for my robot too. He then picked 3 different buttons to place on the robots body so it would look like he was wearing a shirt. For my robot I did the exact same, 2 buttons as eyes, a piece of wire for the mouth and 3 buttons to stick to the body. We used the hot glue gun to stick all this on so they were very secure and sturdy.

I found thinking of things to add to the robot a bit difficult as you wanted your robot to be unique but you had to put in a lot of effort for that to happen and we didn't have the time to do that. I also found it a bit difficult to get Hocine involved in gluing the buttons on as we had to use the hot glue gun which meant you had to have a very steady hand.

I was very pleased with how our robots looked at the end of the class and it was really nice to see everyone's robots becoming their own. Now it's really easy to tell whose is whose.

I learnt that I am a bit more creative than I think as mine and Hocine's robots were the only ones with dickie bows and that was my idea. I also learnt how to use a hot glue gun without burning my fingers.

I will bring my creative skills to subjects like Art and Music in the future and when I get to do these subjects in TY.

Week 4

Today we had to finish making the parts of the robot. We had to get the bodies of our robots at the start of class and then finish sanding them down before we could glue everything together. We got the arms that we sanded down last week and glued them onto the robots body in whatever angle or position we wanted. Once we glued the arms on we had to place them in the vice so that they would be secure.

We were then given two more small pieces of wood to sand down for the legs. When we were finished sanding down the legs we had to get the bodies out of the vices. Now everything was sanded down and ready. It was now time to paint them different colours to make them look unique.

Hocine chose to paint the head and legs of his robot green and the body blue. I chose to paint mine green and purple and Fionnuala chose to paint hers purple. We then had to leave them to dry at the end of class but Hocine didn't get his body finished.

I found helping Hocine paint his robot a bit difficult as we had to bring it really close to him and I was scared it might fall on him. We also had to hold his hand and guide him where to paint as he wouldn't be able to do it on his own.

I was very pleased that we got everything sanded down today and that by the next class we can stick everything together and it will start to look like an actual robot. I was also pleased that Hocine was very chatty today. It made the class a lot more fun and he was easier to help and deal with. I think I may need more help with finding a comfortable way for Hocine to paint his robot or add stuff onto it as I don't want to have to do it all for him because that wouldn't be much fun.

I learnt that I am able to deal with different challenges really well and have become more confident talking to and helping Hocine. I'll be able to bring this to all of the other subjects in TY like public speaking as this is a challenging subject.

Week 3

   12th of January 2015

Today we continued to make the robot. We had to make the body and the arms. To make the body we were given 5 rectangular pieces of wood so that when we stuck them all together they would be a cuboid shape which is similar to the shape of a robots body. We were given glue to stick the wood pieces together. We each got little sticks of wood, dipped them in the glue and then covered a piece of wood thinly with the glue. We then got the next piece of wood and placed it on top and then continued this over and over. We had to make sure they were all in line with each other with a ruler and if they weren't had to knock them into position. We then placed the robots bodies in the vice so all the pieces would stick together firmly.

 After this we were given 2 more small, thick pieces of wood to sand down as the arms. We had to get rid of all the sharp corners and edges. When we finished this we left them on the table then went over to the vice that our robots bodies were in and had to take off all the dried glue and then sand them down getting rid of the sharp edges and sharp bits of wood just like we did with the arms.

  I found it difficult to get all the gluing and sanding done on time as I had to help Hocine a lot with his as he couldn't get very close to the table to put the glue on his wood pieces. I just felt like I didn't finish my sanding and his the best it could've been done.

  I was pleased that we got to glue things together today as in the class before all we did was sand. It felt good to do something else for a change and it meant that Hocine didn't get bored.

 I may need more help in learning how to bring things closer to Hocine as at the moment he's doing all his work on his lap and I'm not sure if this is fine and comfortable for him.

 I learnt that I'm really enjoying helping Hocine and that it's not as difficult as I thought it would be. I look forward to this class every week now and I have learnt that I am able to deal with a lot more than I thought I was.

I am able to bring what I have learnt to every class that involves team work and dealing with people, especially a class like Coaching Studies. This is because in actual coaching you would coach young children and help them be the best they can just like how I help Hocine be the best he can be.

 I don't think I'd change much about the class. I might have changed how quiet I was and instead talked about anything just so that he would feel more relaxed and enjoy my company more.

Week 2

5th of January 2015

 Today we got introduced to our partners but before we got to work with them we were all brought
into the meditation room without them and got told what kind of disabilities they had in more detail by a woman who helps out called Louise. We then went back into the classroom and sat with the people we would be working with over the next few weeks. My partner is called Hocine, he is really quiet and shy but really nice. He is in a wheelchair and has dexterity problems.
  In this class we started on our robots. We did this by sanding down the face of it and then at the end of class we glued it onto the neck. We left these in the clamp for the next hour.
  I found it a bit difficult to get to know Hocine as he was a very quiet. Hopefully he opens up a bit more over the next few weeks. I was very pleased that he was able to do most of the sanding down on his own and we only had to help him a little bit.
  I think I may need a bit more help starting conversations with Hocine as I never know what to talk about. I learnt that I am capable of helping someone with a disability do something that they would never have done before and this made me feel quite good about myself. I would bring what I learnt to the next classes by helping him more and making him feel welcome and comfortable with me and Fionnuala. I think I would change the class by adding more stuff to do instead of sanding the wood for the whole class, other than that I really enjoyed it and can't wait for next week.

Week 1

    Vincents-22nd December 2014

    On the first week of St.Vincents I was absent from class but I heard from all the other students what they did.

  The Vincents students weren't present either so they weren't able to start on their projects. The whole class and Mr.McMahon all conversed about what sort of project they would do and everyone had to think up an idea. The whole class decided on the idea of making a robot using all different shapes and sizes of wood and then sticking them together with glue. They thought it would be enjoyable for the students and easy to make.

   When they finished deciding, Mr.McMahon informed them of the different types of disabilities that the students have and how to deal with them.

   I am pleased about the project that was chosen and can't wait to start on it with my partner.