Nikkhil Niranjan

Oct. 9th 2015
On the first day of Shodor I came a few hours of lunch and was faced with the task of introducing myself in front of the class with fellow contemporary Jim. After introducing myself to the rest of the participants in the program we quickly transitioned to a ''doom and gloom'' session where Ernie talked too us about the expectations that we were supposed to follow. Afterwards, we got our login, composition notebook and set up our cubbies.
Oct. 17th 2015
I had to make up the second session as I was sick that Saturday. I had a meeting with Dr.Panoff and he discused with me the differenced between accuracy and preciseness. Dr. Panoff also walked me through the basics of modeling on Vensim and used props such as an alfredo sauce container to to help with his point as a visual. A few examples of such terminology that he explained Sufficient,Necessary,Consistent and Conclusive. Learning this was really enlightening because in the past I overlooked this nuances and never thought about these integral concepts in this manner. I was also assigned a series of homework problems which I later completed that night.
Oct. 24th 2015
This week I learnt the basics of how to start coding my personal website because prior to today I was unaware of how to commence that project. I am excited to create my website and learn a myriad of new things along the way.
Nov. 7th 2015
This week I learned about what exactly a model is and the various examples of models that we have in the world ranging from fashion models to mathematical geometric models. I learnt that models have great application in the field of computational science. I also learnt how to use Microsoft Excel which I have had prior experience with but not in much detail. This made todays lesson very engaging and interesting.
Nov. 14th 2015
This week I learned how to make models and write new codes using the new modeling program Vensim
Nov. 21st 2015
This week we learned about a new concept known as agent modeling. Agent modeling was an addendum to what we learned about last week which was just simple modeling on a software known as vensim. Learning different types of modeling was pretty interesting.
Dec.5th 2015
This week I had to miss the Saturday December 5th, 2015 session because I had to take the SAT test. As a result of this I had to make up this session on a Friday and get acquainted with my fellow group members Aditi and Albert. I got to meet Albert and Aditi and start to brainstorm some ideas for a model with them and finally settled on the black plague. We then started planning out the respective model and started executing it.
Dec.12th 2015
Today I collaborated with my fellow group members, Albert and Adithi in completing a bubonic plague model on Vensim,Agentcube and Excel. It was great working together with two wonderful minds together on an intellectually stimulating model.
Dec.19th 2015
Today I learnt about the different models that people had constructed and presented through vensim, agent cubes and excel. It was nice to see the various approaches to the project as well as the different ways the modeling tools were used.
Feb.6th 2016
I had to miss this class becuase of a prior commitment but later made it up with some assitance from Aaron. In the makeup session I learn the basics of Java script through an interesting simulation from Aarons website entitled Bouncing Particles which was interesting to fiddle around with. Through Aarons in depth explanation of the basic concepts of the Java, he enabled me to get more of an understanding of what truly are the capabilities of Java and what we can do with it.
Feb.13th 2016
This week I learnt the basics of java programming from one of the interns Anja. Anja was very enthusiastic and detailed in her explanations of the basics of Java and was very helpful when we needed assistance. I hope to learn more about Java in the future and become more proficient at it.
Feb.20th 2016
This week Aaron taught us more in depth about Java Script through various simulations on his website. We continued on what we learned last week and deepened our understanding on some of the concepts.
March 5th 2016
This week I came during lunch time and commenced to work on our new project with Jim. We conferred with each other about how we should proceed and what steps we should take to complete the task at hand.
March 12th 2016
Today most of our class time was devoted to our Java Script group project which I collaborated with Jim Li. Through t=working on the project today I personally learned more Javascript terminologies and uses in various programs.
March 19th 2016
Today was mostly devoted to Jim and I collaborating on our Forest Fire model project which has been a great learning experience. Throughout the course of the session we encountered many troubles with our computers and code that through tenacity and perseverance triumphed and overcame through the assistance of our contemporaries and interns.
April 8th 2016
Today I learnt the basics of parallel computing through a simulation regarding forest fires and talked about various forms of parallel computing and the components of the supercomputer.
April 16th 2016
Today I learnt more in depth about parallel computing in detail and performed some cool operations involving tools such as Activitybox and creating virtual galaxies.