Participating in Pi Day, I engaged in a creative and scientific project—building a shake table and a tetrahedron structure to simulate earthquakes. This hands-on activity allowed me to merge creativity with practical problem-solving while working in a team.

Learning Outcome-1 Identify own strengths and develop areas of growth.

One of my strengths in this project was my ability to think critically and apply theoretical knowledge to a hands-on activity. Designing a shake table required me to analyze how real-world earthquake simulations work and creatively adapt those principles within our available resources. However, I realized that I need to improve my patience when troubleshooting issues, especially when things don’t go as planned. Instead of getting frustrated when materials didn’t work as expected, I learned to approach setbacks with a problem-solving mindset.

Learning Outcome-2 Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.

One of the major challenges I faced was finding the right materials to construct the shake table. I initially struggled with selecting materials that were both sturdy and cost-effective. I had three failed attempts and finally the 4th time, through trial and error, I refined my decision-making skills, learning to balance durability with availability. Additionally, working with moving parts and structural stability enhanced my problem-solving abilities in engineering-based design.

Learning Outcome-4 Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences

Since this was a collaborative project, ensuring timely project completion was necessary. There was a communication gap between me and the other people on the project, which led to time management issues and i thought it would result in potential incompletion of the project. Despite these setbacks, i i had to remain committed to the project and do early-ins in order to complete the project

LO5: Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively

This activity reinforced the importance of teamwork. Effective collaboration was key in assembling the structure and testing the shake table. While I initially found it difficult to align schedules and distribute tasks efficiently, I learned that patience and proactive communication are essential in group projects. By listening to different perspectives, I gained valuable insights and developed better teamwork strategies for future projects.