June 28, 2015 (Week 4)

This week I worked with a little bit of everything. I read a fascinating paper that has inspired our approach on how to collect the data that we need for our research project. Basically, we are going to have girls redirected to a new page on KidGab that will prompt them to create a series of drawings to compliment a storyline, while allowing them to take a look at what their friends have drawn for their version of the story. Stephanie and I will be working on this plugin next week. I am super excited for it to go live and to start analyzing our data!

Other than this, I added a timer and points system to the KidGab memory game that I was developing last week. It is almost done, but needs to be added to the website and has to be properly tested. I am quite proud of myself for having learned how to do it in less than a week. :-) Additionally, I learned to draw using vector art and am loving it! I have been using a software called Inkscape to draw wavy and braid hairtstyles for KidGab, as requested by the girls in the workshops that we hosted.

During the weekend, the REU students went to a picnic hosted by the CSE's Graduate Student organization. We had a good time, but the heat was unbelievable! I thought Puerto Rico was hot, but the Texas heat is no joke. On Sunday, one of my housemates and I hosted dinner (more like she cooked and I baked some cookies) and had other REU students over. It was delicious! I also finished booking my next trip to Dallas and preparations to visit my best friend for 4th of July. I'm super happy!