Daniel Fishman

Today was our last Service Learning Day of the year.  We spent the majority of the day working on the PCR reactions in order to replicate DNA strands that we will send to a lab in Asia.  At the lab, the DNA will be sequenced, and the results will be sent back to our group.

            We started out by each taking one or two of the DNA samples that we sorted out and extracted from last time.  Because I have never done PCR during a class at Sage Hill yet, it was hard for me to understand the procedure that we had to follow.  I initially struggled to understand what I needed to do as others were beginning the steps.  My peers and instructors helped me understand the procedure, teaching me the importance of not only learning, but also helping others pursue learning along the way.

            Once I figured out what we were doing, I separated the DNA extractions into smaller samples with water and another compound.  I then added 2 primers to each of the two samples before adding water and placing them into the PCR machine.

            To be honest, what we accomplished during the day did not make me feel directly connected to the community.  Although when we get the results of the PCR back from the lab we are sending the data to I will feel much more connected and accomplished.

            I really enjoyed the work that we did today.  I have never done PCR before today and the process allowed me to try something new and greater understand biology.

            As a result of the PCR reactions, I developed greater patience skills and learned how to learn from other people who can serve as an example to me.  I realized that life is not always about leading by example and being a leader, but it is equally about listening and watching others and learning from them.  Consequently, I developed integrity and compassion by watching and learning from my peers.

            After the PCR reactions were completed, we sorted out our last samples from the traps and extracted DNA from the samples before setting up gel electrophoresis of the PCR products.

            I don’t think there are any ways for me to improve upon what I did today.  I worked really well with my peers, and we helped each other get what we needed to get done.  I am very sad that this was our last Service Learning Day, though I am looking forward to wherever Service Learning takes me next year.

Today, we used PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) to allow us to read and analyze the DNA of the marine life collected in our samples.  While Cole, Adam, and Andrew received our final two traps that were placed into the bay, I attended the Service Learning Fair with the other Juniors in order to get to know different projects because COAST will not be a project anymore next year.  At first, I listened to speakers from five different faculty lead projects in the MMLH.  After the five speakers, we did an activity in small groups involving discussing what we like and what we dislike.  This exercise demonstrated courage and integrity because we talked about problems in society and how we can address them through Service Learning projects.  Then we toured the various student led projects.  I looked at 10 different projects that each addressed community needs in different ways.  After the Service Learning Fair and lunch, we duplicated the DNA of the marine samples.

I really enjoyed duplicating the DNA from our samples, and I learned a lot in the process.  In contrast, a negative aspect was that I had difficulty understanding the PCR at first, though I eventually figured it out.  After adding buffer and ethanol to our sample, we mixed the sample in the vortex and spun it in the spin column for 1 minute.  During this process, I had trouble adding the buffer and ethanol at first, but I persevered through challenges and learned to do it with my sample of DNA.  We then added solutions and spun the solution of DNA in the spin column two more times.  Throughout this process, I felt very connected to the marine community that we our trying to work with.  I was really happy that we were finally able to duplicate the DNA and that we will analyze the DNA on the next Service Learning Day.  Throughout the day, I developed problem solving skills in order to successfully duplicate the DNA through the PCR.  I learned that I like molecular biology and am now thinking of taking AP Biology next year.  The only thing I would change if I were to do today again would be to spend less time at the Service Learning Fair and more time doing the PCR and DNA work.  I am excited to analyze the DNA on our next Service Learning Day and COAST on a high note.

 

Today, we continued to make progress with our project.  We retrieved one of the two traps at each location that we placed a month ago, and we separated the marine life and analyzed what we collected.  At the beginning of the day, our group met together and planned out our day.  Shortly thereafter, Cole, Andrew, Adam, Matteo, and I went to Cole Callin’s house to pick up one of the two traps we placed on the pylons in the Newport Bay last month.  On our way to Cole’s house we stopped at Ace Hardware to pick up a 5-gallon bucket.  We used the bucket to store the trap and water in order to prevent any marine life from escaping before we could get to school and analyze what we collected.  When we arrived at Cole’s house, we had a lot of trouble getting our traps out of the water because there was high tide and the traps were about 5 feet underneath the water.  In order to address this challenge, Andrew and Adam both went in the water with goggles, and Adam used a knife to cut the zip tie as Andrew held the bucket underneath the trap.  I then grabbed the bucket from Andrew, pulled it out of the water, and closed it with the lid.  In this way, we persevered through the challenge of receiving the trap from the water.  We were also courageous in going into the water to retrieve the traps.  Though I did not enjoy getting the trap from under the water, it was a rewarding experience in that we developed problem solving and teamwork skills.  We also used problem solving skills to retrieve it from the water.  As a result of this experience, I learned that, through teamwork, it is possible to persevere through seemingly difficult challenges.  Looking back on my experience, I would have tied the traps to a rope rather than straight to the pylons.  With a weight attached to the trap, we would not have needed to dive into the water to retrieve the trap.  We also laid another trap on a different pylon for us to collect on a future Service Learning day.

When we returned back to the school, we separated the various aquatic animals that we collected into different vials.  We organized each vial with a different animal.  By looking at the marine life that we collected, I felt connected to the aquatic community.  The data we are collecting will help the Crystal Cove State Park and the California government.  After organizing the aquatic life that we collected, we planned out our next Service Learning day.  The next time we meet, we will retrieve the other trap that we placed at Cole’s house a month ago and will compare the marine life acquired by the trap that will sit for 2 months with the one we collected today that sat for 1 month.  Additionally, we will further analyze the marine life from both traps and will work on sorting the marine creatures into their respective species.  We will also analyze the DNA of the species we collected and may also send samples to the Smithsonian to be analyzed.  Then, we will put our results into an online catalog that tracks marine life around the world.  I am excited to continue our work with the COAST group.

Today, my Service Learning group continued to progress on our mission to observe and analyze marine life.  At the beginning of the day, we planned out our day.  Then, we also planned out the next couple service learning days in advanced.  We decided to take two of the traps that we had made on a previous service learning day and place them near each other in the Newport Bay.  Then, the next service learning day in about a month, we will retrieve one of the traps placed and analyze it for marine life including the California Spiny Lobster.  On the following service learning day about a month later, we will retrieve the second trap placed and analyze it, too.  The last thing I coordinated before beginning our day regarded becoming Scuba Certified.  We planned out days to go to meet the requirements in order to become certified.

The first thing we did after coordinating our schedule was go to Ace Hardware to pick up materials to secure the traps in the water.  We bought ten 3-foot-long zip ties in order to fasten the traps to the pylons.  After going to Ace Hardware, we went to Cole’s house along the Newport Bay to place our traps in the water.

We made sure to place the traps in early in the day so that the water would be at low tide.  However, because it had rained heavily the day before and a storm had just passed, the water was extremely cloudy, muddy, and dirty.  The condition of the water was a challenge for our group when placing the traps.  Even with goggles, Andrew and Adam were unable to see underwater.  In order to overcome this difficulty, we had to work together and move slowly.  By actively placing the traps in the water, we felt connected to our community because we will be able to observe and analyze the marine environment that we are trying to preserve and protect.  The water was also extremely cold, which made it less enjoyable for Adam and Andrew while being submerged under water to fasten the traps onto different pylons.  We placed each trap about 3-4 feet from the ocean floor and fastened them with the zip ties from Ace Hardware.  Another challenge we faced was that the zip ties would not fit around a pylon.  In order to solve this problem, we thought about using rope or other ways to make it work.  We developed problem solving skills and teamwork and decided to tie two zip ties together to solve this problem.  We also demonstrated courage by persevering through challenges in order to place our traps into the bay to later observe marine life.

Through my experience today, I learned that our actions do have the potential to be impactful in the larger community.  Hopefully, the data that we will collect will help the California government and Crystal Cove State Park in preserving the California Spiny Lobster and other aquatic life.  I think we did a really good job carrying out our project today and would not change anything if we were to do it again.  There were not ways in which we could have improved communication or collaboration.  Moving forward, I am excited to see the data that our traps collect and move forward in our service learning project.

As my Service Learning group made steady progression in our mission to observe and analyze marine life, I worked with a few other students toward becoming SCUBA certified.  Once certified, I will be able to further contribute to our project by being able to scuba dive to collect data, place traps, and observe the aquatic environment.  Today, I spent the entirety of the day working on becoming SCUBA certified by watching a CD that corresponds with the courses required to become certified.  We watched an extensive video for each of the five levels that must be completed.  As we watched each video, we followed along by reading the corresponding chapter and completing quiz checks.  At the end of each video and chapter, we took the unit test in the book.

By watching the videos and filling out the coursework, I learned about the dangers of diving, the capabilities of diving, rules and regulations, how to use proper equipment with the right technique, and how to safely dive.  I came to realize the severe dangers in going scuba diving but also how incredible it is.  I did not like watching the videos very much.  They were extremely long and heavy with content.  I did enjoy learning about scuba diving, but the videos became boring after a few hours.  In watching each video, I did not feel very connected to the community in which we are working for; however, in becoming SCUBA certified, I will be more connected to the community.  Through the process, I did learn important skills, instructions, rules, and other details regarding scuba diving.  During the day, I faced very few challenges.  The only obstacles I faced were with the tests at the end of each chapter.  But working together, I was able to solve each problem and learn more about scuba diving.  I demonstrated courage by taking on the challenge of becoming SCUBA certified and integrity by working at my own pace through each chapter, making sure that I understood each concept before moving on.

During my experience, I learned that I really am interested in scuba diving.  But to become certified, it takes a lot of time and effort.  I am very excited to continue in the process toward becoming certified.  My group was very coordinated in the manner for which we worked on the coursework.  We watched each video together while going through the corresponding chapter in our books.  I would not have changed anything to be more organized.

In spending the day watching extensive videos, I hope to become SCUBA certified soon so that we can participate to a higher level in our Service Learning group.  The next step is to spend an entire day completing five dives in a pool with an instructor and then spend two days completing four open-water dives in the ocean.  After completing all the required dives, I will be SCUBA certified.

Today, we got started on our project.  We opened the day by completing research about our project from 8 until 10.  We split into three groups, and I researched the California Spiny Lobster (Panulirus interruptus) which we will be trapping and recording their population.  I learned about the lobster’s life cycle, where they typically feed and are located throughout the year, and how to best catch them.  I enjoyed learning about the lobster and its life cycle because it will help us later as we attempt to catch and monitor the lobsters in the Crystal Cove State Park.  We will be observing the lobsters in their puerulus stage, living in the water column.  During this process, I learned new research techniques that helped me to accumulate research, collaborate with the rest of our group, and organize what we found.  Additionally, I helped assign our group roles and keep us on-task.

            After researching the lobster to help us get started on our project, we spent the next two hours in Physics Lab 2 attempting to make lobster traps.  We used rope and a plastic plate with holes in it to create the traps.  I enjoyed making the traps but faced a lot more difficulty doing so.  At first, the rope was too thick to weave through the plastic board so I had to untwine the rope into three smaller ropes.  This process was tiring, slow, and boring.  Eventually, after untwining the ropes, I began to weave the rope through the plastic board.  I faced more difficulty in this step because the rope was getting caught trying to go through the holes.  Finally, I learned to tape the end of the rope so that it would more easily slide through the holes.  At this point, weaving became much easier than before, but it still was a very time consuming and slow process.  During this process, I learned that there are many ways to solve a presented problem.  Furthermore, different solutions work for different people and for different circumstances.  Despite facing many difficulties, I really enjoyed making the traps because they will directly translate into helping us capture young lobsters in the Crystal Cove State Park and begin observing the species.  Moving forward, I am really excited to start collecting data out in the ocean for our COAST group and learn more about the California Spiny Lobster that is important for the ecosystem of our greater community.

Hi! This blog will document my experience with the COAST group this year.  The mission of our project is to collect valuable information for the state government.  Using Crystal Cove State Park, we will investigate various potential issues in the ocean.  For example, we will be looking at lobsters in the state park.  There are 17 members in our group who will be investigating ocean life and analyzing data in and around the park.  Dr. Haney and Dr. Irwin are helping lead our Service Learning group this year.  

I am a junior interested in preserving and analyzing the ocean.  I am really excited to begin working with COAST and learn more about the ocean.  Another reason that I am choosing to participate in this group is to protect our Oceans.  Additionally, I would really like to become Scuba Certified, as to better assist our Service Learning group in achieving our mission.