It Takes Two to Tangle
A different kind of friction. It takes two to tangle.Copyright Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Purdue University, 2004, http://clear.msu.edu:16080/dennie/clipart/.
Students explore the theme of conflict in literature. They learn the difference between internal and external conflict and various types of conflicts, including self against self, self against other, and self against nature or machine. Stories are used to discuss methods of managing and resolving conflict and interpersonal friction. Note: The literacy activities for the Mechanics unit are based on physical themes that have broad application to our experience in the world — concepts of rhythm, balance, spin, gravity, levity, inertia, momentum, friction, stress and tension.
Friction — as it relates to people — plays a role in engineering design teams. While conflict among team members can be disruptive to forward progress on a tight schedule, it is occasionally advantageous because it stirs up issues and brings out varying points-of-view that contribute to a better end solution. Good engineering teamwork depends on people having the ability to understand and respect each others' viewpoints. Valuable are the team members who can elicit constructive project contributions from friction and conflict.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Students apply skills in analysis, synthesis, evaluation and explanation to their writing and speaking.
- Write and speak in the content areas using the technical vocabulary of the subject accurately.
- Understand that good engineering teamwork depends on people having the ability to understand and respect each others' viewpoints