Chapter 16 “Connoisseurs of Chaos” … curious kind of time travel… and
“Curiosity”
Chapter 16 presented information that could be, I believe,
related to teaching and learning about engineering. Toward the second half of
2nd grade, many students are 8 years old, and mature enough to have a simple
understanding of p.207, Some Causes of Structural Failure. It is possible one
could integrate, “the Limit States”, “Random hazards”, and “Human-based errors,
“ into several hands on building design activities. I am pretty sure it could be
a fun filled engineering experience.
I, for one, would enjoy it! Do you
see how the above could be utilized within other age levels?
Toward the end
of Chapter 16, page 214, I found the following statement one I mulled over for a
time;
“It is the engineer’s constant challenge to conceive the new from the
old, and it is his lot to worry
about his curious kind of time travel that
transcends the instruments of calculation and forces him always to think about
the future to avoid the failures of the past.”
“His curious kind of time
travel,” resonated Friday.
We
watched the evening NPR news. A segment on Curiosity, the Mars Land Rover, due
to land Monday morning
came on. The segment presented the processes of engineering,design, and the
potential functioning of Curiosity - part of the descent I learned is like that
of a Transformer.( a very second grade hook) As I listened to the segment,the
vocabulary seemed more familiar, than normal. Oh yes, that’s because I just
finished reading , To Engineer is Human!
How could one transform Chapter
16, “Connoisseurs of Chaos” into an educational, engineering learning
experience?
Hands on, discovery learning can be long lasting, however,
there is something to be said for learning by observing, when coupled with
discussion and prior knowledge.
Looking at the Google News today, there are
multiple sources to access the view of Curiosity’s descent to Mars, live and
streaming. There has to be an amazing amount of anticipation for those involved,
and with an interest.
With the descent of Curiosity and its functioning
on Mars successfully completed, I can see the potential for periodic,
observational learning within 2nd grade regarding the exploration being done by
Curiosity.
I see potential for internet and smartboard use within
classrooms, to observe the tracking progress of Curiosity. For Second Graders
perhaps with several prior lessons ; five to seven minute time frames, that
include combinations of; background knowledge, introduction of basic related
vocabulary, a bit of engineering that went into the design, the potential way
Curiosity functions like our human bodies, followed by short observations of
the trackings, and discussions of Curiosity’s progress . I suspect these types
of experiences regarding engineering could be 100 % engaging for 7 and 8 year
old students.
I just noticed on line that ,” Mattel, Inc., makers of the
die-cast line of Hot Wheels toy cars, is ready to release the car-size Curiosity
and video ... or if humans could explore there some day!" [Gallery: Mattel's Hot
Wheels "Mars Rover Curiosity"]
What is your opinion?
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