Category: ADL 10 Assignments

Community Connection

by Pouya

Community Connection

A subject that I am passionate about studying further is business, that is why I decided to contact someone who works in business. The person I connected with and interviewed was Sahra Tzilios, a certified financial planner at IG Wealth Management. This interview really connected with me because I really enjoy the subject of business. I believe that it is a good subject to study since it is very useful in life and because it opens up many job opportunities in the future, for a healthy and lengthy career. This interview really helped me get a grasp on the world of business. It taught me what to expect in business, who I might work with, and what to do in order to achieve a career in business.

Here the questions I asked during the interview.

  1. Why are you passionate about your job?

I am passionate about my job because I get to help people reach their financial goals. It’s very rewarding to help someone protect their family and their retirement plan.

  1. What obstacles have you faced to get where you are today?

I work with a team of individuals who are crucial to my practice’s operations. It took me a while to build a solid team and I had to replace my executive assistant last year.

 

  1. What advice would you pass on to someone interested in what you are doing?

I would say that it’s very important to continue your education after high school. A degree in business finance or business accounting is essential to understanding the fundamentals of management and finance. After that, the CFP program is highest professional program which really teaches you how to build and manage strong financial plans for your clients. Besides education, one of the most important things to build your own financial planning practice is building a strong network. I would tell the interested person to make sure that they connect well with people who are in their network and to really take care of their relationships. The key to building a reliable and growing clientele is relationship management and social networking.

  1. Would you be open to further contact from Riverside students and if so, how can someone contact you? (You definitely don’t have to say yes).

Yes sure. By email is best. (sahra.kho@gmail.com)

  1. What’s the best part of your job in your opinion?

The best part of my job is that I manage a team of 8 junior planners who I coach and mentor. I help them build strong connections and plans for their clients.

 

  1. If you could change anything about your job what would it be?

My industry is very male dominated, and if I could balance it out I would. I hope that in the future, more women are attracted to being a CFP because I believe that high emotional intelligence is a large part of my success today.

 

In conclusion, this interview helped me gather information on the subject that I am passionate about, business. Thanks to Sahra Tzilios and her great information regarding her job as a financial planner I was able to get a greater understanding of how the business world works. With all this great information will be able to study this subject further and possibly volunteer or get a job that involves these aspects.

Grammar Video Project – Prepositional Phrases and Prepositions

by Pouya

Here is our power point for the project.

Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases Powerpoint

Here is our paragraph for our project.

 

Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases

 

The grammar rule for prepositions is quite simple, prepositions always have to be in front of a noun or a pronoun, these nouns and pronouns are called the object of the preposition. If you have both the preposition and its object in the same phrase, then it becomes a prepositional phrase.

 

Definition of a Prepositional Phrase:

A prepositional phrase is a phrase in which a preposition and its object are written in it.

 

Definition of a Preposition:

 

A preposition sits in front of its object and it shows the relationship between the word to other words in the sentence.

Here are some examples of prepositional phrases and prepositions.

 

The chess pieces were on top of the board. On top is the preposition and the board is the object of the preposition. By having these two the phrase becomes a prepositional phrase.

 

We drove to the store. To is the preposition and the object of the preposition is the store. Again, these two make the phrase a prepositional phrase.

 

The bishop was across from the rook. Across is the preposition in this phrase and the rook is its object. The preposition and its object make this phrase a prepositional phrase again.

 

After several minutes we found the key. After is the preposition and the object of the preposition is the key.

 

As you can see this grammar rule is quite simple and easy to understand. The fundamentals come down to having an object and a preposition before it with the preposition usually being a directional word. By making sure you follow these rules you are guaranteed to make a good prepositional phrase.

Finally here are our test questions for our project.

  1. Brendan was on top of the house. What is the object in this prepositional phrase?

A. House.

B. On top.

C. Brendan.

D. None of the above.

  1.  Jordan was in front of the house. What is the prepositional word in this prepositional phrase?

A.  Jordan.

B. In front

C. House.

D. None of the above.

  1. Which word is not a preposition?

A. Across

B. Behind

C. Above

D. None of the above

4. Which one is the definition of a preposition?

A. A preposition sits in front of its object and it shows the relationship between the word to other words in a sentence.

B. A preposition sits in front of its object and is a verb that shows the relationship between the word to other words in a sentence.

C. A preposition sits in front of its object and it is a conjunction that shows the relationship between the word to other words in a sentence.

D. None of the above.

 

Answer Key:

 

  1. The answer is A.

 

  1. The answer is B.

 

  1. The answer is D.

 

  1. The answer is A.

Water Filter Challenge

by Pouya

Water Filtration Challenge Lab

 

Define:

The challenge that we had to solve was “make a water filter that will filter dirty water and make it clean enough to put back into the Coquitlam river with the materials given”. To complete this challenge, we used the design sheet to emphasize the problem and think of ways to solve it. Our group used the sheet to thoroughly brainstorm ideas and design models to try.

Discover:

We asked some questions in order to complete the challenge. One question was hat are the restrictions of the challenge? What will each material do for the filter? Finally, which materials should be used and why? We learned early on that the main restriction was the materials. There were a select few of materials that would be good for the filter and putting them together would be no easy task as each one would need to be used to its fullest potential. We researched our topic using many sites and they all gave us good information on what our materials can do and what they will be good at in the filter. For example, we learned that sand can get all the particles out of the water along with any unwanted bacteria if there was any. Along, with that we learned that rocks can catch debris and carbon is a great filter and de-smeller for filters as well. This all helped when creating designs for our water filter. We learned that certain combinations of materials were good like carbon with sand and filter paper or cotton balls with crystals and carbon. Also, we answered our final question and learned that certain materials should always be used. Carbon, for example should always be used as it de-smelled the water and filtered it as well. we also learned that sand was always good since it blocked lots of debris and that filter paper is always great as it can get anything left behind. This all helped as certain designs used combos of these to make good filters. For example, lots of carbon and sand with multiple layers of filter paper. Even with the restrictive materials we made good designs in order to get great results in the end.

Dream:

All our group members had good ideas to improve our designs even if they seemed unorthodox, these ideas especially came up when we were faced with big problem. For example, some of our material combos didn’t work to well even when they we essential materials so we came up with an idea it put them in a different order and put them in in different ways too. At the time it seemed like this wouldn’t make a difference put when we tried it, I went well and made good results. In the end we ended up coming up with a lot of ideas like this to address road blocks we had.

Deliver:

After making our designs, doing our research, and defining the problem and the restrictions that came with it we started to create our water filters. Our first filter had a sponge at the bottom then 2 sheets of filter paper followed my crystals, sand, carbon, crystals again, and finally a cheese cloth. When looking at the prototype before testing it was good, none of the materials got in the way of each other. Our logic was that the cheese cloth would catch any big debris while the crystals would separate the water. The sand would catch anything smaller while the carbon de-smelled it and cleaned it same with the filter paper. Finally, the sponge would get anything that was missed. After filtering the water through it the results weren’t too bad. The water was clear with no particles and it wasn’t as yellow although it was still yellowish, and it still smelled bad. By using the ph paper we saw that the dirty waters ph was 5 and the filtered waters was 5.5 to 6 which is a little better than before. the main problem was the smell and color of the water, so we focused on this with the next prototype. Our second prototype had a lot of cotton balls along with carbon and sand, with filter paper separating each layer and again with a sponge too. Our logic was that the cotton would catch pretty much everything while the filter paper and carbon  would filter the water better than before since there was more filter paper and finally the sponge to catch anything extra. This time when we filtered the water it was a lot better. The water wasn’t as yellow in fact it was more of a foggy white. The smell had improved too and wasn’t as bad as before. the ph however, had stayed the same as before it was still 5.5 to 6 ph. We built one last prototype in order to see if we could make the water even clearer. This time we took out the cotton and the sponge. We put a cheese cloth where the sponge would be, and it was held there with an elastic band. We had one layer of filter paper this time only. However, unlike before we added tons more carbon and sand. The reason we did this is because we thought it would make the water very clear and it would stop it from smelling altogether. When filtered the water was a lot like prototype number one. The water was yellowish and not as clear as prototype two. However, it didn’t smell as much as prototype one it was more like number two. But the ph just like the others was the same 5.5 to 6 ph. Altogether I believe that the second filter worked best out of all three we made.

 

Debrief:

At the end of the challenge when we finished and went through all our designs and saw what happened I will happily saw that we did well. Altogether, some of our prototypes failed put from that we learned and improved and that ended up making some good water filters and good results. We finally were able to produce a good working filter that also made clean water. At the end our filter turned the yellowish water into a clear/a little foggy water that didn’t smell as bad and was much cleaner than before, so all together our groups filter was very effective. Materials like the carbon, sand, filter paper, cheese cloth, and sponge remained while other like the crystals and cotton balls were removed for the best design. Most of the filtering materials performed just as I expected like the carbon, sand and a few others. However, some like the cotton balls, crystals, and sand didn’t exactly perform as I expected. I expected the cotton balls to catch more particles and filter the water better, but they just got mushy and collected only a few particles/debris. I expected the crystals to do a lot more however, it did almost nothing for our filter it barely even caught any particles. Finally, the sand it performed well however, I thought that it would be harder for the water to pass through it, but it went through the sand fast or at a medium pace usually. In the future, when I make a water filter, I plan to have a lot more sand and a lot more carbon while adding a little more of the other particles or keeping the same amount of them like before. But, in the end I enjoyed this challenge as I thought is was fun to do and I think that it is a good learning experience as well, I look forward to doing labs like this in the future.

Sites Used:

This video had a lot of good demonstrations and was very informative.

This site gave us a lot of good ideas for our filter.

Top 5 Easiest DIY Water Filters You Can Make At Home

 

 

Climate Info Fluency

by Pouya

Climate Info Fluency

Part 1:

Question: What can you do in your backyard to prevent climate change?

 

Solution 1. The first solution that I found for my question was to plant trees. As trees grow, they absorb lots of carbon and other harmful emissions. By having trees in your backyard not only would you make clean air for yourself and others, but you would be helping to prevent global warming. Research has shown that if we cover most areas worldwide where trees have all been cut down, we could theoretically, take two thirds of carbon and other emissions out of the atmosphere. They would obviously take their time to grow and pull their weight. However, in the long run they are definitely a good choice and a cheap choice as well. some of the native trees here are the Sitka spruce, Bigleaf maple, Oregon white oak and the Grand fir. Just by planting one or two of those trees in your backyard would be a great way to prevent climate change.

Solution 2. The second solution that I found was to plant other types of plants. There have been lots of studies done on different plants to see if they were good at absorbing emissions. A study done by Nasa has shown six prominent plants that can absorb up to 90% of emissions that are around them. they are the English ivy, Boston fern, Peace lily, Snake plant, Chinese evergreen, and the Gerbera daisy. All these plants absorb lots of emissions while not taking up too much room. However, three out of six of these plants are the best to plant because of how much they absorb for the area they take up. Those plants are the Snake plant, English ivy, and Gerbera daisy. Just by planting a few of these six plants would be a massive help, and since they don’t take up too, much room they are another great solution.

Solution 3. The final solution that I found was to reduce water waste in your backyard. Water is used in many industries to make products or to grow food or raise animals. By wasting water there will be a higher demand for it which results in more pollution and emissions going in the air so more of it can be distributed. That is why reducing water waste in our backyard is important, and for that I have a good solution. One simple way to reduce water waste is to just replace old sprinklers or get your sprinklers inspected. By having just one leak in a sprinkler, it can waste up to 27,000 liters of water a year which is a lot. By getting old sprinklers replaced or inspected you can save your water bill and the environment, which is a huge help for yourself and climate change. Of course, though there is an even simpler way to reduce water was and that is to not over water anything. It might sound silly but overwatering your backyard can be just as bad as leaks in sprinklers. The easiest way to stop this from happening is to get a landscape professional to look at your area and plan out an effective system for your specific place.

 

Conclusion:

Altogether those are the solutions that I managed to find for my inquiry question. By completing this assignment, it opened my eyes to all the ways that can make a difference in the fight against climate change. Because of that and all the new knowledge I got I am satisfied with the way my assignment went.

 

Part 2:

Question 1. Here are the sub questions I used and here are the answers that I got for them too.

  1. By planting trees in your backyard will they absorb carbon at a fast-enough pace?
  2. Are there any other plants that absorb large amounts of carbon?
  3. How can I reduce water waste in my backyard?

 

  1. Planting trees is a good and cheap way to prevent global warming. As trees grow, they absorb lots of carbon and other emissions in the air. Some estimates claim that by planting extra trees worldwide we could take up to, two thirds of the carbon and other emissions in the hair which Is amazing. Through research it is shown that by planting native species of trees in different areas throughout the globe, we could cover anywhere from 0-1.2tn off land. Some native tree species around here are the Sitka spruce, Grand fir, Bigleaf maple, and the Oregon white oak. Just by planting one or two of those trees in a backyard or around a house would be a great way, to prevent climate change.

 

  1. There are many plants that have been studied to see if they can absorb large amounts of carbon and other harmful emissions. A study done by NASA has shown a group of plants that are specifically good for this job while not needing to take up too much space. There are six good ones to plant they are, the Boston fern, Peace lily, Snake plant, Chinese evergreen, English ivy, and the Gerbera Daisy. Some of these plants can soak up to 90% of emissions that are around them at any given time. There are three specific ones that are especially good, and they don’t take up too much room either. There is the Snake plant, English ivy, and Gerbera Daisy. While these plants aren’t that big for their size, they can absorb large amounts of emissions. Just by planting a few of these plants would help I the fight against climate change and they would make lots of fresh air for you to enjoy too.

 

  1. Wasting water can have affects alongside climate change. Water is used in may steps in factories. By wasting water more and more is used to make consumer products resulting in lots of emissions going in the air. To produce food like meat and drinks like soda, lots of water is used to create those. An example is the farming industry is about 75% of water composition each day. Wasting water just leads to a higher demand for it, and that creates more emissions. If we wasted less water industries like farming wouldn’t have to use as much and there are a few ways to do exactly that. One very simple way is to make sure that your backyards sprinklers are effective and don’t have any leaks. By having just one leak in a sprinkler you can waste upwards of 27,000 liters of water a year, which is a lot. By just replacing old sprinklers or getting them inspected by a professional could help reduce water waste very well. The simplest way to reduce water waste of course though is to not overwater everything in your backyard or lawn. Overwatering can result I a lot of water waste, and he easiest way to sort it out is to get a landscape professional to look at your area and to find a good water system for your specific area.

 

Question 2. The digital tools that I used to research were Google, YouTube, and Duck Duck Go. A new digital tool that I used to research my top was Microsoft Edge.

 

Question 3. The Process I used to research my topic was to get a good question first. After I had a good question, I would research it using all the tools I knew how to use like Google or YouTube while using new ones like Edge. After I found information, I would check it to see if it was legitimate and then take notes. After doing all that I would start to make my rough draft and eventually my good copy to publish.

 

Question 4. The way I verified my information was through multiple steps. First, I would see what their motive was for passing out that knowledge. For example, were they using the article to sell merchandise or something like that? Next, I would see if there are any errors or things that are inconsistent throughout the article or whatever I was looking at. After that, I would use other sites to check the information, basically to see if it was agreed upon by other people too and not just that one site. If other sites or most sites didn’t say the same, it was probably opinion and not fact. Finally, I would check whoever made the information or passed it out to see if they were credible, I also did the same with the website it was on. That is how I verified the information that I found through my research.

 

Question 5. The process of completing this challenge went fairly well. Throughout the entire adventure I managed to follow the instructions strongly. The steps I had to follow were always an extra challenge. However, I always managed to come through in the end while still doing it to the best of my ability. There is one main thing I feel like I could have done better and that is when I was collecting my information. The notes that I took when researching were very sloppy. The notes were all over the place and they never really were organized well. That is what I would like to do better on next time.

 

Sites:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/04/planting-billions-trees-best-tackle-climate-crisis-scientists-canopy-emissions Damien Carrington – Thursday 4 July 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPNYdSZRSdg Video by YouTube channel Quartz – December 1, 2017

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19930073077.pdf  NASA – John C. Stennis – September 15, 1989

https://www.loveyourlandscape.org/expert-advice/water-smart-landscaping/water-saving-tips/10-easy-ways-to-save-water-in-your-yard-and-garden/ National Association of Landscape Professionals

https://healthfully.com/effects-wasting-water-8441014.html Jack Powell – July 27, 2017

Digital Footprint

by Pouya

Questions:

How might your digital footprint affect your future opportunities? give at least two examples.

One way my future might get affected is when i’m applying for a job. When i am applying for a job the people interviewing me will search me up and see what i have posted. if it is harmful in any way or disrespectful of someone i won’t get the job. Another example is if i apply to grad school or university. Again while they are looking through my information they will search me up meaning if they see anything harmful that i have posted online in any way will influence their decision in a bad way for me.

Man in Brown Long-sleeved Button-up Shirt Standing While Using Gray Laptop Computer on Brown Wooden Table Beside Woman in Gray Long-sleeved Shirt Sitting

 

Describe at least three strategies you can use to keep your digital footprint appropriate and safe.

The first strategy i can think of is before you post to T.H.I.N.K. Is it true?,  is it helpful?, is it inspiring?, is it necessary?, is it kind? the second strategy is to have someone else to look at what your about to post and have them verify if it is okay to post or if it is harmful. The last strategy is to check the post and read it multiple times to check it basically just taking a step back to look at it and see if it is harmful.

              Group Hand Fist Bump

 

What information did you learn that you would pass on to other students? How would you go about telling them?

The information i learned throughout this activity is how to keep my digital footprint safe and appropriate. along with that i learned how to check what i post and i learned the effect a digital footprint can have on people whether they be affected by what i post or whether i get affected by something bad i post. The way i would tell people about this information is verbally by talking to them and also by making posts and blogs just like this one.

 

Silver Macbook Pro

Overall that is how i would respond to subjects like this and by doing this activity i have learned much about my digital footprint how it affects me and how i can take care of it for the better.

Close-up Photography of Smartphone Icons

Pictures used:

Pictures of the laptop, group fist bump, and people talking by rawpixel.com:

https://www.rawpixel.com/?ref=pexels

Picture of phone with apps on it:

https://pixabay.com/?ref=pexels