Closing Reflection

Closing Reflection

Look back at your proposal and think about the whole Independent Study experience from then to now.  Reflect on the content (what you learned) and the process (how you learned).  Compose and share your thoughts in whatever form suits you best (blog post, slideshow, video, Google doc, other…)  Please make sure to share it with your academic advisor, your IS advisor, and the IS Coordinator (Ms. Bessias).  

Use the questions below as a menu of options.  They are intended to help you get started, not to control the product.

What is your favorite thing that you learned?

I think my favorite thing I have learned is just generally how a prosthetic leg works. I’ve never considered myself to have an “engineer’s mind” or anything like that, which is why it’s so cool to be able to say that I know how a prosthesis functions and operates. When I first decided to do this project, I was a little nervous because I don’t have that natural inkling for mechanics, but I’m so glad I got to do this project and learn about this field a little more. I think it’s really helped me discover that you don’t have to be immediately amazing at engineering to try a project out; it’s a learning process. 

What new questions do you have about this topic?

I would really like to learn how other body prosthetics work as well; feet, arms, hands, etc. I’d also like to know if our prototype was to be produced, what material would we make it out of? We 3D printed our prototype, so it’s made out of filament of course, but if it were to be hypothetically made for consumers, what would be the easiest and most plausible material? The goal was always to have this easily accessible, so it would need to be affordable, so maybe plastic? It’s interesting to think about. 

What worked out as expected?

While Ela and I didn’t know what our prototype would be when we first approached this project, we really hoped it would end up being functional, and it was! So I guess you could say our prototype worked as expected, even though it was nothing like we first envisioned. 

What was surprising/exciting/challenging?

Throughout this project, I was constantly both excited and challenged. I think a project like this inevitably comes with lots of challenges, because it’s impossible to know exactly where you’re going to go when you start out. Ela and I had originally imagined we’d make a prosthesis, only to find out that wouldn’t really be plausible if we wanted to make something accessible to all. We constantly had to adapt and re-design, and re-envision this whole process. We went from a prosthesis, to a custom joint, to a camshaft, and eventually to a piston and ball joint. Crazy stuff, and it was challenging to have to keep adjusting, but I think that made it exciting as well. We didn’t know exactly what we were going into, which kept us on our toes, and kept the whole process open. It really felt like the sky was the limit at times, which was such a cool feeling. 

What did you learn about your learning process? 

I’m learning time and time again how much the learning process changes. Looking back at our initial plan for this project, it was really different. Our weekly calendar is WAY off, it’s funny to think that we thought we could really map this project out down to the week. The truth couldn’t be more different, because you never know where the learning process will take you- even though we ended up going somewhere different then we thought, it was still a fantastic journey. The learning process is never going to be set in stone, and that’s okay!  

What advice would you give to future Independent Study students or their advisors?

First, I’d say don’t be scared to step out of your comfort zone. I know it can be scary, but it’s so important to try. I’ve always thought of myself as a humanities kid, which was why I was a little worried about this project, and it ended up being amazing. Just because you don’t think you’re initially good at something, doesn’t mean it has to stay that way forever- try it! Do something new, and expand your horizons; it could turn out better that you would have thought. Second, if you’re considering whether to take an IS, I’d say go for it! When we were first trying to do this project, and our teachers were trying to figure out whether it would be too much for us, it was a difficult choice to make. It’s hard to balance something you want to do with knowing that you don’t want to take on too much, but I’m so glad we got to do this project. It challenged me and excited me, and it was really an invaluable experience, to get to learn how to study something independently, without a predetermined course of action.