Abstract
Working in a team presents an opportunity for someone to teach as they learn. I realized that I had good communication skills when we started the project, and I helped in the appointment of the team leader. Taking meeting minutes is not as complicated as most people think, it only matters that one makes sure that they are very attentive during the meeting. The use swabs to create a platform provided a challenge of working with fragile raw materials, to make structures that are strong and creative. Working with glue to wax the buds of the swabs enabled us to create bonds in a way that ensured an intersection of three buds, to horizontally and one vertically, acting as a pillar of the platform. Minor improvements, like using a stronger glue to connect the buds and factoring of geometrical knowledge in building the pillars, would make the platform stronger, enough to support two books.
Reflection
The project was fascinating, as the team members were allocated duties. I brought the cotton swabs and glue that we used in building the platform. I was also instrumental in the selection of the group leader, as I suggested that my friend leads us. The most challenging task I took was that of writing minutes. We appointed minutes takers in every meeting, and when my day came I was very excited. My friends told me that the minutes were good.
While developing data for the project, we evaluated the available literature on using cotton swabs and glue to build a platform. I searched for books online and in the library and found some very amazing design books that helped us in understanding our project. From the internet, I found pictures and videos on YouTube that helped out group very much.
My assessment is that we did some fantastic work as a group. The group discussions were fun and interactive, and all the members contributed their ideas and input. The rotational role play ensured that everyone learned how to do different things like writing minutes, managing the discussions and allocating duties.
I suggest the task to be allocated more time in future. The fact that the project is very technical means that members spend a lot of time trying to understand the tasks and the way to approach the project. With more time, members of groups will get a chance to do thorough research and come up with perfect resolution.
Other ideas include the need to use theatrical means in learning, to enhance interaction between teams. That would promote creativity and exchange of ideas between different groups. Though, the project was very exciting.
For a start, cotton swabs are very fragile; they are usually meant for picking ears, with buds of cotton on both ends. It means that, due to the size and shape, the glue can only be applied at the tips. That creates a colossal challenge on the way someone can ensure that the platform is very strong. If one were able to use glue at the middle areas of the swabs, the strength of the platform would be better because of the enhanced support.
Despite the challenges of the use of swabs, our team managed to make a very strong platform. The way glue sticks on buds help in making sure that the swabs cannot be separated, once glued. The soft nature of cotton and adds to the cohesion and adhesion forces at the connecting ends. The sticky nature helped us to construct a platform that could stand on its own, and we tested its strength by placing a medium size book on it. The platform supported a 450-page novel, attesting the strength of the bonds at the ends of swabs.
Analyzing the whole project, it emerges that, working as a team brings out the creative juices in people. At first, nobody thought that the project is workable, and we dilly-dallied for long whiles without an idea of where to start. Eventually, members started coming up with ideas on the best way to stick the glue on the swabs and the interconnection of swabs without weakening the joints.
The team realized that one of the most important factors to consider was the approach to constructing the joints. Connecting many buds on a single line weakened the platform, so the design needed mathematical precision to ensure maximum strength. For instance, the team opted for pillars in the middle of the breadth and length, to connect the layers. Pillars connected the swabs from one level to another, forming an intersection of three swabs glued together.
There are several ways to improve the design. Using geometry, the team can construct triangles, with the shape of a roof. Then triangles would concentrate strength at the tips and apexes as compared to creating rectangles structures that have weak points in the middle of the swab connection. The other advantage of using a triangle is that the strength of the platform would be determined mathematically, by measuring the stability of the angle ends that act as pillars for the platform.
Another area of improvement would be the choice of the glue. The office glue that was used does not stick the swabs very well. While the office glue creates bonds, it does not offer permanency, and it was noticed that, when someone places some weight on the platform, the fixed areas bend down a little bit, proof that the strength is not evenly distributed. The wood glue would have helped in making perfect bonds.
The platform performed very well, especially after we factored in the comments of the instructor. The team members were happy to discover that one can make so many structures from common materials. Cotton swabs were the last thing we imagined that could have helped us make such a platform. Factoring geometry would have made the platform stronger, and a better choice of super glue would have ensured strong bonds in the middle.
