Capstone Summary
As seniors of the San Marin Stem Program we must embark upon our longest and most challenging project of our High School careers, the the Capstone Project. This project will be test of all the skills that we have learned throughout Stem. In the Capstone Project a group of seniors have to develop and create a product that uses the principles of engineering. For my team´s Capstone Project we decided upon developing a theoretical design of microgrid, that could actually work if implemented in real life. A microgrid is an independent self-sustaining large scale circuit that can operate off the main power grid. The point of this project is to develop a more sustainable means to meet our energy needs for the future. The desire to create such a product arose from the contact power outages through California and failing electrical infrastructure causing several fire within the state.
Initial Project Proposal
Survey/Demand and Wishes
Concepts
At the moment we don´t know all the concepts that we will be working with for our project. We still have to create a design for our theoretical microgrid to know what exactly will be factors in our design, As of right now will be talking to our project mentors to learn about the greater inner working of microgrids. We can expect at the moment that it might most comprise of electrical engineering, physics, combustion, AC/DC power, computer science, and chemistry.
Microgrid - an independent self-sustaining large scale circuit that can operate off the main power grid. This will be the main focus of Capstone project and what we will be learning about for the next quarter year.
Microgrid - an independent self-sustaining large scale circuit that can operate off the main power grid. This will be the main focus of Capstone project and what we will be learning about for the next quarter year.
Reflection
Currently, the Capstone Project has been quite a challenge for myself. Since I proposed the initial idea of having a project centered on developing a microgrid. It has felt like in a sense that I have become the team leader, and it is not something that I am very use too. There have been several times where I have to divide up the work for the team, talk to our mentors, and decide the path for our project. It has become somewhat stressful and overwhelming for one person. With being the leader I realized the importance of good communication for a group project. I am currently working on getting better with communicating with my teammates, but it can be hard when people dont respond quickly and you are not very acquainted with some of the students in your team.
Despite these downsides I have been working to improve myself during the project so far. Although I am not the best at being group leader, I feel that have improved on my ability to express my thoughts on a subject than in the past. I believe that I improving my leadership skill, to try to include the members of my team more and make sure that their ideas heard for the project.
Despite these downsides I have been working to improve myself during the project so far. Although I am not the best at being group leader, I feel that have improved on my ability to express my thoughts on a subject than in the past. I believe that I improving my leadership skill, to try to include the members of my team more and make sure that their ideas heard for the project.