Tucker Sherrill's Blog: August 2015

Monday, August 31, 2015

Week 1 Curation

Most of the resources I need for my engineering classes come in the form of downloads and PDF files so I generally save those either into a folder on my computer's desktop. More commonly though, I upload the files to Google Drive so I have them saved and organized in one place and since it is done through Google, I can access all of these files from other computers without the need of a flash drive or external storage device. When I need to keep track of specific websites, I have a bookmark folder in the Google Chrome web browser to which these bookmarks can be saved. I am familiar with Twitter and Pinterest but have never used either before. I would be interested in using Known for class this year simply because it is new and I have never heard of it before. Even without using these websites, I would say I'm doing a pretty good job at organizing online information but would be interested in trying out new curation mediums.

Pinterest: Medium for sharing ideas

Growth Mindset

I had never heard of Carol Dweck before watching this video, but her area of research is definitely fascinating. In all aspects of my life, I definitely see myself as a growth-open mindset that craves to learn new things and be able to think about problems in different ways. I have always been excited and drawn in by new, challenging problems and I love trying to wrap my mind around difficult concepts. I related to everything Dweck spoke about in her video and I even feel like I decided to major in chemical engineering because of this mindset. If I did not have the growth-open mindset I would be too timid to try and solve complex engineering problems. I would be interested in learning more about the growth mindset this semester and the challenges seem like a fun way to do it.

Growth Mindset Meme

Growth Mindset Memes Blog

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Storybook Favorites

The first story book that caught my attention was “Onboard the Spaceship Pushpaka” because of its interesting title. I like the idea of combining classic Indian epics with a futuristic sci-fi twist. The introduction did a good job of setting up the back story for the plot and describing the layout of this universe that the story is to take place in. Overall, the physical layout was very well done and clear and easy to follow. I really liked the graphics and illustrations used to layout the space imagery as well; they were bright and colorful and made the story look more exciting and interesting.

The second story book, “Law and Order: Shape Shifter Unit”, also caught my attention because of its interesting title. I thought it was very unique and creative to combine the Indian legends with a popular crime fighting television show. This introduction also did a good job of laying out the background for the story. The author did a good job of writing in the same format and style as the actual CSI:SVU television show, which made it more fun to read. This story also had a very well done layout. It was very clearly laid out and easy to follow in progression.

The third story book that caught my eye, “Rama’s Bestiary:An Unknown Book”, seemed very interesting and mysterious. The introduction was very cleverly laid out, by putting the story from the reader’s point of view as if they are the main character of the story, you feel more involved with the action while reading through it. This left me with the feeling of wanting to read more and hooked me in. The graphics and layout were very well done, with all of the images and background fitting in really well with the story.

Law and Order Illustration used in CSI:SSU story book

The Shape Shifters Unit

Overview

Both stories that we will focus on this semester seem very interesting, but the story that catches my attention most as of right now is the Ramayana. I like the idea of a story about good versus evil and that is more fascinating to me than one rival group battling another rival group in general. I think I will elect to read the novel version published in 1973 because I am used to reading novel style books and will probably be most interested in that version. I'm excited to read both books as I have absolutely no background whatsoever in Indian storytelling and everything in this class is very new to me. I look forward to reading these epics and learning a little more about Indian mythology.

Different reading options for the Ramayana

blogspot

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Introduction

My name is Tucker Sherrill and I am a senior this year. I am majoring in Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering/Premed. As far as school goes, I am an engineering mentor which means that I help the underclassmen engineering students with homework and general tips and advice to help make their semesters go by easier. I am also a member of the university's men's lacrosse team, where I play midfield.

Picture of lacrosse sticks

Wikimedia

Outside of school and lacrosse, I enjoying spending as much time outside as possible. I love to play disk golf, go longboarding or fishing, and hang out by the pool. Up in the mountains is my favorite place to be, and I recently took a two week backpacking trip through the collegiate peaks near Buena Vista, Colorado. During that trip I climbed to the summit of three different mountain peeks, all of which stand over 14,000 feet tall; Mt Elbert, Mt Harvard, and Mt Colombia. Aside from backpacking, I also love to go snowboarding and mountain biking.

I spent this summer in Houston, Texas where I am originally from for an internship with National Oilwell Varco (NOV) in the research and development facility for the pressure control group, where I helped design and test new blow out preventers. Once I graduate this coming May, my dream would be to move to Denver, Colorado so that I can stay close to the mountains. I will most likely end up back in Houston though either working for an oil and gas company or for a chemical company. I would also like to eventually end up working as a biomedical engineer in the medical field, working in tissue synthesis and biomedicines.

I have one sister that I am very close with who just started her freshman year at Texas A&M University, and I have two dogs, both cockerspaniels. I love getting to go home to see my parents and sister whenever possible, though it does not get to happen as much as I would like. They are everything to me and I would do anything for them.

Week 1 Storytelling: The Viking Crew

Here we go up, up, up,
And here we go down, down, downy;
And here we go backwards and forwards,
And here we go round, round, roundy.

(Traditional Nursery Rhyme)

Three days of nonstop thunderstorms in the northern Atlantic meant a test of endurance for the Viking vessel headed towards Iceland.

Walls of water crashed against the ship’s oak bow, delivering a pounding blow to the crew through its frigid embrace. Everyone knew the months ahead of them would be tough when they first began their voyage, but these last few days had proven to be more difficult than anyone anticipated. Howling winds and rough seas rocked the vessel violently as it passed over each wave, sending men and cargo alike into the air at points.

“This is the price we must pay for glory” shouted the commander as another wave slapped against the hull. This voyage had only one objective: recover land and treasure. The thought of bringing home chests filled with gold and silver was enough motivation to brave through the rough seas for every Viking on board.

Picture of a viking ship

Wikipedia

Sometimes when going over the largest waves, the commander would become more vocal with his crew.

Here we go up, up, up

Here we go down, down, down

He would shout to the men on board as their ship went up and over large rolling waves.

Finally, just as the men were beginning to think they might be in over their heads with this journey, the shoreline along Iceland’s coast became visible. Things were beginning to look up for the weary sailors as an escape from the storms was now within eye sight. Everyone cheered with excitement, desperately craving an escape from the thunderstorms and rough seas.

The commander pointed the ship’s direction towards the North East corner of the island as it looked like the water was deep enough to allow the closest possible docking position for the boat. And just as the vessel reached a point forty meters off shore, the ship hit a large rock not visible from the water’s surface.

The ship never completed its voyage and only one man survived. He managed to make it to the shore and began searching for gold and silver on his own. Though he never actually found any, he managed to make it back to his home lands, where he wrote this story to remember the lives of his fellow Vikings.

Author’s Note: This story is based on the Nursery rhyme “Up, up, up” which is quoted in the story. You can find this nursery rhyme in TheNursery Rhyme Book, edited by Andrew Lang (1897). This nursery rhyme is intended to be sung while playing with a baby, but I added a different spin to it for the story. I envisioned those words as describing what might be happening onboard a Viking ship in search of treasure or land. As the ship crosses the ocean I imagined what it might be like to encounter rough seas and stormy weather, as the ship would appear to be bouncing up and down and people would be jerked forwards and backwards as the ship hit each wave. I turned this into a story describing what might happen to some of the unsuccessful Viking crews that did not finish their voyage and were forgotten by history.