Alicia Snchez Year.

10

Quimestre 1 Project Review

During our first Quimestre we worked on a computer modeling project. The objectives for this project were: Organize a project using a Gantt chart. Learn the difference between main tasks and subtasks. Understand what is meant by computer modeling. Build a computer model using Microsoft Excel. To understand the importance of audience and purpose in design. Arrange design elements to create an effective publication. I think I effectively met all the objectives of our computer modeling project. I completed my Gantt Chart and used to it to organize the main tasks and subtasks. The main tasks are the main things you must accomplish and the subtasks are specific and smaller things you have to do in order to accomplish the main task, for example adding cheese to a sandwich helps to complete the main task which is preparing a sandwich. I understand that computer modeling is when you imitate or represent a real life situation in a computer in order to see how different factors affect its outcome. I built a computer model using Microsoft Excel and used many new formulas and tools I learnt to achieve a simple and user-friendly NY trip model. Finally, in my brochure, I made sure to include the information that would be relevant to my audience, which were the parents of year 10 students. I made sure to achieve my purpose by adding everything the parents had to know about the trip; I used photos and colors to make it as persuasive as possible too. During this project I have learnt many things, like for instance, how to create a Gantt Chart by dividing it in main tasks and subtasks and how to use it in order to plan and to manage my time effectively. I also learnt how to create a complex model to manage the budget for a class trip. In this task I learnt a lot about formulas and other complex tools I used in order to make my model look more attractive and be more user-friendly like, data validation, conditional formatting and other complex commands. At the end I learnt to use Publisher in order to create an informative, attractive and persuasive brochure for parents. I learnt how to add backgrounds how to edit the brightness of the images and I also explored lots of different text fonts to make it interesting. During this project I used planning tools to help me manage my time, like the Gantt Chart. The Gantt chart most definitely helped me lot at managing my tasks and times because it was easy for me to know what I had to do next and that way I avoided wasting time, it also helped to measure my progress and see if I had to speed up things a little bit. During the project I had to change the Gantt Chart only two times to make it match with my progress. Another planning tool I used was Publisher, I used it to make an outline of my final brochure and that way I made sure I included everything that was necessary.

Alicia Snchez Year.10

I have learnt and acquired many new skills during this computer modeling project, for example I have learnt how to manage my time effectively, how to use complex formulas in Excel and also how to use different design elements to make a publication meet its purpose. Additionally, I have acquired the skill to search for the best costs for quality accommodation and flight tickets. Something I found very enjoyable of planning this trip was looking at so many accommodation options and at the variety of activities that were available, like riding a horse across central park or getting to the top of the Empire State. On the other hand, I found it very difficult to make all the dates match, meaning that the hotel check- in had to be the same day the plane arrived and all the activities had to be on different days; I even looked at the predicted climate in order to make sure everything would happen the way it should. I also think some of the formulas we used in Excel were quite difficult because sometimes they worked properly and other times, random numbers appeared. In conclusion, with all the tools and skills I have learnt during this project, I do think I would be able to plan a big trip by myself. I know I would be able to achieve this because I have finished every task and subtask on the Gantt chart at the expected times without major difficulty in a professional and effective way. I am sure I will use the skills I have learnt to plan future personal trips!