39-245
Carnegie Mellon University
Spring 2000
Matthew McGuire
Paper Struts
Just fitting in. The end of our structure.
Description:
In this particular exercise the class was broken into two groups with each group being issued 10 pages of newspaper per member. The group was to come up with a design for a free standing paper structure that all of the group members would be able to fit under while standing up. The group also had to write a set of instructions for the assembly of the structure so that the other group would be able to fabricate the structure. Points were awarded to either group for categories such as construction, the ability of the structure to stand on its own, as well as the ability of the structure to fit over all of the standing group members.
What I Learned:
Despite how well you try to make the directions clear on something a problem always arises. In our particular case the other group misunderstood an instruction which inevitably brought down the whole entire design. I learned a great respect for people who are responsible for writing instructions. What might seem immediately clear to the person who designs something might be the hardest concept for a person who has never seen the design before. This project was also the first project after we took the personality test. The results of the test were definitely evident in the operation of the group, the extroverts were the ones who spoke out and motivated the group. While the introverts were able take leads from the extroverts and be able to come up with their own contributions. The advantage of a well balanced group was definitely evident. One was able to imagine if the group were unbalance in either the extrovert or introvert side.