Enter Date: Oct/19/2017

Attended: Kyan, Wyatt Davis

 

All Scientists need to communicate effectively!

 

Quick Review of WIDI:

A team of 2, one writer, one doer

The writer is given 20 minutes to write the instructions on how to construct a given model.

The doer is then given 30 minutes to use those instructions to re-create the model.

Points are awarded based on the accuracy of the constructed model to the original. 

No drawings/illustrations/pictures are allowed on the Write It.

Only use letters and symbols found on standard keyboard, no codes.

 

• Practice, Practice, Practice

• Decide on standard abbreviations or “rules” for describing positions, or structural system, or color/pieces.

• Describe horizontal and vertical plane but also NNW, SSE, etc.  use clock face or compass w 360*

• Learn to measure distances – use the length of finger joints vs fingers

• Walk around object for different perspectives

• Watch Out for more objects in the Doer’s kit than are needed

• Begin with a quick description of the object from the bottom up

 

 

Class 1.10/18

        Reviewed the rules of the game

        Teams were divided into Writer and Doer

        Writer was given unlined paper, 10 minutes to write, and a simple 8 piece model.

Then Doer was given the instructions, supplies and 15 minutes to rebuild the model.

 

Constructed Model was compared with original and discrepancies were noted.  We discussed what would have been a better instruction.  We discussed giving common names to items of similar size or shape, directionality, etc.

 

Team members switched jobs and a second model was given with the process repeated.

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See pictures, written instructions, notes.

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Model 1 Top

Model 1 front

 

Results:  It was much harder than expected by both writer and doer.  The writer ran out of time in the first try.  He also overlooked an item from the original model.  The suggested change was to not write “Step 1” but instead use bullet points or simply numbers.  Using shorter versions of words “sfom ball” instead of “Styrofoam Ball” or B-post instead of blue post would help.  Writer was given unlined paper so it was harder to keep instructions legible.   Doer was able to attach pieces and come pretty close to the original model.  The pipe cleaner “tail” instruction part was not clear – the 3 coils worked by not how long to stretch the coils out.  We discussed giving a short overall idea of what the model looks like – a pig tail with chicken feet.

The second model was much harder.  It contained several K’nex pieces connected together and was balanced on a cup.  The transition from one piece to the other was not clear.  We discussed giving a numbered order to the attachment slots.  We also discussed describing the model from the “bottom” up. 

 

Instructions for Model 1

See pictures, written instructions, notes.

 

Model 1 Top

Model 1 front

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Practice Practice Practice

 

Next Class:

 

We will have a team member design a model and advisor will write the instructions.  Currently limiting models to about 10-12 pieces total.  We will research if many shorter steps work better than fewer longer steps, and discuss building in sections versus the whole.

 

Model 2 – Can you Do It??

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