Technology and the Diversity of Limits

Students should work in their teams to complete the questions. Make sure all students record their own answers. You may wish to hold a class discussion about some or all of the questions.

1. Did the same brand of paper towel always rank as number 1? Why do you think that is?

   You may have discussed this in your class discussion. Even so, students should still write their ideas in their technology notebooks, because writing an answer helps them practice effectively communicating ideas. It also helps ensure that all students understand that different paper towels may rank differently depending on the property being tested.

2. What do you think would have improved the investigation? Why?

   Students will have different ideas depending on the investigation. They may realize that some variables were not carefully controlled or that using different materials may have helped. This question helps them think about ways to improve investigations and what they might need to consider for future investigations.

3. Put a copy of the graphic from The Process of Technology Design master in your technology notebook.

   1. With a different-colored pen or pencil, write down one or more Xs to indicate where this investigation would fit into the process.
   2. Write “Explore” next to the X.
   3. Explain in writing why you chose the stage you did.

   Students should enter the one-quarter-page graphic from Master 1-1, The Process of Technology Design, into their technology notebooks. If they are using a paper-based notebook, they can tape or glue the graphic into the notebook. If they are using a digital notebook, they can copy and paste the graphic into the digital notebook.

   Students will likely have difficulty with this question. It will help to remind them that paper towels are a technology. If they still need help, remind them that paper towels have already been developed. In this Explore activity, students evaluated the solution and shared the results. They evaluated the solution because they tested different brands of towels. They also shared the results of the tests with the class. In your discussion of this question, ask students why this testing is important. They will likely realize that consumers need to know which products are best. If they do not mention how the investigation would help engineers, challenge them to think of a way the investigation might help someone designing a solution. They may realize that tests would help engineers design the “next generation” of paper towels. Even though a solution has already been designed, engineers are always asking questions and trying to develop new solutions, so they would not stop designing once a paper towel has been created. They would continue through the process to develop better paper towels in the future.

4. Imagine doing this investigation by yourself. How did working as a team make it easier to do the activity? List at least three ways it is easier with a team.

   This question helps students think about the importance of teamwork. Students will likely realize that the investigation would have been a lot of work for only one person. They might not have been able to set up their materials in the same way if different students were not holding different parts. They may also realize that having a team helped them propose new ideas for the design and procedure. Other reasonable answers are acceptable.