The Factory Game 2

This time in the factory game, instead making things by hand we created an assembly line to make the item. An assembly line is a chain of people who repeatedly assemble different parts of an item. The assembly line is overseen by a manager, and is usually capable of producing a lot of the item relatively quickly. However, in this case our efficiency was poor and our ability to handle large amounts of manual labor was tiny. It took twenty minutes before our first item, a pig, was created. However, it only took a few minutes thereafter to create about thirty pigs like the prototype original version. Compared to Part 1, Part 2 was very hectic but productive. In comparison to the efficiency level of part 1, part 2's efficiency level was off the charts. But even though we made a lot of pigs, the line was hard to control and manage. Sometimes parts didn't come fast enough and sometimes to many came at once. Often there were backups and misunderstandings leading to extra time wasted. Besides these faults, I'd have to say that part 2 is a better and smarter way to create a commodity.

The Factory Game 1

The factory game was very cool. The background was that we were serfs or peasants before the industrial revolution. Back then all objects were made by hand. It took me a while to put together a simple paper cut out, so how long would it have taken a craftsman to create a wooden tool. We only had to cut out a two dimensional figure, but a craftsmen would have to carve out a perfect tool out of a wooden block with no measurement tools of any type. If goods were being manufactured by hand they must have been good quality. Therefore, I'd have to say that Part 1 of the factory game was a form of a cottage industry. If before the industrial revolution, all the economies of the world were controlled by cottage industries, then prices would be high, and the demand would always exceed supply.

Roller-coaster Ride

I stood with my eyes flicking back and forth across the giant metal ribbed structure towering towards the sun. I was almost four feet away from the rickety wooden carts, and I could hear them squeak with age. The attendant was slouched over the control board shouting into the mike, “Would the next people please step up.” I slid onto a stiff seat adjacent to a walking ball of flab (a fat human being) and slowly felt the smooth padded covering. With a lurch and a groan, we accelerated slowly up the incline. We could all smell fear, anxiety and B.O as we slowly drifted up to the edge. “Yea!!!” Screamed the riders as we rocketed down the track. The ball of flab smothered me when we soared over the turns. The next thing I knew, the car was dangling over what seemed like a ninety-foot drop. “Oh no…” I whispered to myself, and then the flab smothered me and everything went black. The wind whipped at my hair, but I kept my eyes closed. Round and round, back and forth, this way and that, and after what seemed like hours of this horror, we skidded to a stop. Adrenaline poured through my veins as I detached myself from the flab. My hands still shook and I spat out lunch, but in my mind I knew I was going to ride “The D-Coaster” again no matter what.

What does the phrase, "Necessity is the mother of invention," mean? Three examples along with it.
I believe the phrase means that when someone needs a better or easier way to do something, an invention will be created to deal with that problem make that life easier. Literally, if you find the meaning of the words, it becomes, “Need gives birth to invention.” However, as the cartoon adequately displays, “Greed is the father of necessity.”

In the 1920s, there was a need to travel distances without traveling on horseback. My first example is the automobile. Henry Ford gave America the invention that solved that problem. Soon every household had a automobile, and Mr. Ford became a very rich man. 

The next example is the telephone. After the invention of the telegraph, the information rush slowed down. However, in the 1880’s the need to distribute info spiked, causing Mr. Graham Bell to create of the telephone. The telephone transferred words and sound acro

ss miles and miles of distance. Just like Henry Ford, Mr Graham became a very rich man. 

My third and final example is the lever. This invention dates back to cultures as old Indus River Valley Civilization. There was need to move and lift heavy objects, and the man/woman who created this device is not known. After the creation, building became easier because heavy loads could be moved faster. I’m sure that this per

son gained a lot more chickens and whatever materials used for trading in that time than he could ever use.

Feedback, August 11-15

How do you learn best? What can Mr. Coyle do to help me learn most effectively in the class?
I think that I learn best through auditory means like discussions or lectures. This may seem kind of boring to others, but I feel that it gives the varied opinion of my classmates as well as the teacher’s. For me it creates an open environment where people can share their thoughts on the subject being discussed. Usually after a lecture or a discussion is over, I spend time thinking over the idea or talking with my friends about it. Overall, auditory learning prompts me to look deeper into ideas and discuss them openly. I also like visual learning aspects like videos and reading. I mean, seriously, who doesn’t like watching a cool video or T.V show that explains a hard concept? Also, literature or textbooks give lots of examples and explain ideas thoroughly. Just like when hear a lecture, after reading something interesting I often research it a little more. Basically I’m an auditory and visual learner.
I believe that you, Mr. Coyle, in the three weeks that I’ve been in your humanities class so far have added a good blend of all three types of learning mentioned. Creative and exciting ways of learning keep students interested and aware of the topic that is being taught. If you follow all three different types of learning students will probably like the idea and keep investigating it after the lesson is over. However, if you keep doing the same type, like auditory, over and over again students tend to stop paying attention and lose interest. Mr Coyle, so far your doing great at teaching us, and I hope it stays a great learning experience.

Feedback, Quarter 1

What are two highlights from the first week of school?

My first highlight was going to a soccer game again for the first time in 4 months. It felt great to play with my friends and feel the exhilarating rush that you get in a game. My second highlight was meeting all the new people at AES and making a few friends. We even got together to hang out for a while. 

What was your first impression of Humanities?

My first impression of humanities was that it was going to be an enjoyable and learning experience. The little Simpsons figures were a give away that humanities eight is great time. Also, all the old 8th graders told me how much fun your class is. 

What are two goals you have for this quarter in Humanities?

  My first goal is to be able to have a Socratic Seminar where we actually have all the facts to back up our ideas and opinions. My second goal is to be able to write and revise my own essay without too much peer revision. 

my "Gang"

I've had some good freinds in my life. One of them is Paul, and I've known him since I was 6th months old. We went to the same school since preschool, and the eariliest memory I have is of playing with him in the park. Even though I moved to India, we still talk alot. Back at my old school in NYC I had alot of friends. In AES there are a few people who make up my "gang," excluding my parents. Kris, Sebastien, Sam G, Sam R, Adi, Garrett, Snorri. I met Kris on my first day last year, and we've been good friends since. Sebastien wandered into Aes halfay through last year and now were pretty close. I dont really know what to say about Adi, he appeard one day in my humanties class, and he's pretty funny, he can make anyone laugh any time. I'm sure there are a bunch of others, but I probably forgot about them. These guys are my gang because I hang out with them and spend time with them. All of them are always there for me if I need them. We can cry, laugh, smile, frown and play sports together. However, were still working on the synchronized swimming part.

Well this is my second year here, so who knows which friends are gonna stay and which ones are gonna leave, but this is where it stands as of now, August 12 2008.