Blog 19: Independent Component 2

Content:

LITERAL
(a) I, Steven Robles, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.
(b) My mentor, firefighter Cunningham, was the main source that allowed me to complete my independent component.
(c) Done.
(d) For my second independent component I continued to attend my explorers program. While continuing my attendance I was able to learn about new things about the fire service while still reviewing older knowledge in order to stay up to date. Specifically, some newer things I learned about were the different types of fire hydrants, knots, tools, the quint (vehicle that can pump water and has a ladder), and the importance of RIC crews (Rapid Intervention Crews).

INTERPRETIVE
For the majority of my second independent component I was at fire station 166 learning about different aspects of the fire service. Aside from being taught new knowledge, I also spent a little bit of time preparing for an explorer graduations and got the opportunity to attend a yearly banquet for all other county explorers. Overall, this second independent component allowed me to continue to learn about the fire service and understand the importance of being an active participant of events.

Throughout my independent component the other explorers and I were stress on the importance of looking presentable and always keeping our boots shined, we even spent part of one of our meeting learning how to shine boots.

From completing my independent component I also got the opportunity to learn a little about the different types of fire hydrant and how some are better than others depending on the surrounding environment. 

At the annual banquet the attendants received a little booklet with all of the explorer post and pictures of them.

The image above shows a part of the graduation were the audience got to see demonstrations put on by the certified explorer graduates.


More about my project could be learned from looking at my Independent Component 2 log by clicking here.

APPLIED
Everything that I did throughout my second independent component helped me understand different aspects of the fire service. For example, I got to learn about the different tools on the fire truck and the firefighters also did a good job explaining to my and the other explorers why it is vital to be aware of all the equipment and continuously checking and cleaning them for optimum results while on the fire ground. All that information provided me with a solid foundation for my second answer. Another more important part of this independent component was learning about rapid intervention crews. I learned that these crews are present at every structure fire and are there just in case any firefighter goes down. Their job is to rapidly extract the trapped firefighter. This information presented me with another possible answer to my essential question, due to the importance that ric crews have on structure fire operations. All in all, this component was
a vital source in helping me continue to learn about my topic.

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval

Content:

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

Much like my first independent component, for my second independent component I plan on continuing to attend my fire explorer meetings, which are held at least once a week. The meetings usually last approximately 4-5 hours. I will accomplish any tasks that I will be given by the firefighters to the best of my ability and learn all the material they present to us. At Post 10, were I do my mentorship, my adviser tends to focus most of his attention on a new topic each month. During each meeting he usually goes over a different part of the month's topic. All in all, for my independent component I really want to master all of the new fire related techniques or skills which I will be taught in the future.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

To show evidence of work, I pan on continuously filling out my second independent component log. Aside from that I will take pictures, when I can. I don't plan on photographing every moment of my explorer meetings, because that would interfere with my actual learning, but I will capture images of what I feel are the most important parts of my experience. Lastly, I will show evidence of completing my work by keeping track of any paperwork which I receive and eventually share it on my blog.

3.  And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

By continuing to attend my explorer meetings at station 166, located in the City of El Monty, I will be able to learn more about my topic by simply being exposed to the fire service. When ever I attend any meeting, I always come home with some different form of knowledge that I wasn't aware of before. From being exposed to the work life of firefighters, I have already learned about the benefits and hardships about the career, alongside the importance of knowing all of your information and going out of your way to help another person. Attending my explorer meetings will help me learn more about different aspects of the fire service, which I am eager to explore.

4.  Post a log on the right hand side of your blog near your other logs and call it the independent component 2 log.

Done.

Blog 14: Independent Component 1

Content:  

• LITERAL
  (a) “I, Steven Robles, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
  (b) Firefighter Cunningham played a huge role in helping me complete my First Independent Component because he is the person who actually taught me new things when ever I attended my  fire explorers meetings.
  (c) I have completed my digital spread sheet. It can be located in the right hand side of my blog or by clicking here.
• (d) For my independent component I continued to attend my normal explorer meetings. The interesting part about my logged hours was that I got to write about a yearly  explorer event, know as the mustar, which the other explorers and I had to prepare for. I also got the opportunity to volunteer at a number of different locations and learn more about the career of firefighting like things such as yearly inspections that they have. 
• INTERPRETIVE: My independent component consisted of learning about different aspects of the fire service by conducting hands on activities. I sent a majority of my mandatory 30 hours preparing for a mustar with the help of my other explorers and post leader. By preparing for the mustar I was also able to learn about the different types of equipment that firemen use. I also spent a large part volunteering, which helped me understand the huge importance that being open and willing to help others has on the job.

The image above is the cover of the mustar packet which goes over each event in the mustar. Some of the explorers in my post received a copy in order to help them prepare for and get a general ideal of what to expect. 

The image above is a picture Post 10 at the mustar event. I am located in the far left.

The image above shows myself and another fellow explorer, Tagle, posing by the bed section of the fire truck after learning about the different sections of hose that can be found of the truck. 

In the picture above I was separating toys when volunteering at the Spark of Love Toy Drive. 

• APPLIED: As I mentioned before, everything that I did through out my independent component helped me understand a different aspect of the fire service. For example, the mustar showed me that firefighting doesn't always have to be pure work and no fun. I got to learn about the different equipment while conducting hands on activities when preparing for the mustar. I also learned the importance of volunteering and how rewarding it feels to actually be directly involved in helping make a difference in someones life. Lastly, simply by spending so much time at station 166 with the other explorers I got the chance to appreciate the power of creating new friendships with others who have similar interest, which is important in the fire service because I've found that firefighters tend to spend large amounts of time with a set group of people. 

Grading Criteria 

• Log on a digital spreadsheet ✓
• Evidence of 30 hours of work ✓
• LIA submitted to blog ✓

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

For my 30 hours, I plan on continuing to mentor at my local fire station and doing any tasks they require me to do. I would be able to meet every weekend for approximately 4-5 hours. I'd be expanding my knowledge on the topic of firefighting mostly by becoming familiar with basic fire techniques which we usually learn there. These techniques range from topics such as hose lay evolution, ladder techniques, the proper us of fire fighting tools and equipment, and many other fire fighting skills. I'm eager to learn about anything fire related that my mentor, or post leader, has in store for the other explorers and I. The topics we are taught often overlap week after week, since many are skills that we have to master through hands on activities.  All these skills are basic techniques that, although may be simple to learn, are hard to perfect and master. I plan on doing any tasks that are required of me during my explorers program and also hopefully becoming an expert on as many of these subjects as I possibly can by completing these 30 hours. 

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

I plan on recording everything that I do for this independent component by accurately filling out my hours log. I will also ask my mentor to write me a letter that confirms my attendance. Aside from that I will also be keeping any handouts that we receive and making copies of them in order to store them aside for this specific component. Lastly, I plan on taking as many pictures as possible in order to completely justify my 30 hours of work. I feel that taking photographs is probably the best way of showing evidence because someone can't just create a fake picture and have it pass as evidence. 

3.  And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

Continuing to attend my fire explorer meeting will allow me to explore my topic more in depth by helping establish me for future success. Every piece of information that we receive is used in one way or another and is eventually applied to the real world. I would also get to learn more about firefighting by simply being exposed to other firefighters and observing the way they work. Learning the basics of firefighting will eventually aid me in truly understanding the much more complex aspects of this job, which I plan on doing in the near future. 

4.  Post a log on the right hand side of your blog near your mentorship log and call it the independent component 1 log.

Done.