Welcome to the Way Things Work Study Group! It's time to decide some specifics of how this study group will work, before we do scheduling. Please read this message and reply to the various questions by Monday night. 1. Proposals for Structure: I want to split up the workload for this study group by switching around who will teach. While I have knowledge and experience for teaching the class, I think this setup will be to everyone's benefit. Below are three scenarios for the study group. Email your preference to me, and I'll make the final decision. I also ask that everyone chip in financially. As a study group, we can expect some support from ESG, but we should supplement it ourselves. The proposed share is included below. I use lots of made-up terms, which I explain further below. Short: 1.5 hours meeting / week (~30 minutes information, ~60 minutes workshop) Needed Jobs: Primary Explainer, Workshop Organizer $20 per person Medium: 2 hours meeting / week (~40 minutes information, ~80 minutes workshop) Needed Jobs: Primary Explainer, Workshop Organizer, Supplement Provider $25 per person Long: 2.5 hours meeting / week (~45 minutes information, ~105 minutes workshop) Needed Jobs: Primary Explainer, Workshop Organizer, Supplement Provider, Additional Explainer $30 per person Glossary: ~X Minutes Information: "Talking" or "Lecturing" type stuff, which should still engage everyone, but isn't very hands-on. This is an average time. ~Y Minutes Workshop: The hands-on component. "Information" stuff can continue, but people will be working on something hands-on. Primary Explainer: Responsible for being able to explain the intricate workings of the artifact, and provide 1 small handout (at least 1 good diagram). Workshop Organizer: Manage specifics of the workshop section, including making sure the materials, tools, and instructions are available. Supplement Provider: Explore history, significance (larger picture), and related systems, and be ready to report. Additional Explainer: Be able to explain another important artifact in the same general area ("communication", "household items"). 3. Take-Away Issues The do many involved things in the workshops, we're going to want to combine efforts and produce far fewer end products than we have people involved. Between "I want something from every workshop" to "It'd be fine if ESG kept anything we make", where do you lie? 2. Proposals for Content I'd like to ask again for desired content for the study group. Is there something that you really want to understand the workings of? Something that you think would be cool to do as a workshop? Areas of modern artifact that the study group would be simply incomplete without? If you have idea, please say. Anyway, here's the list I proposed before: * Robotics: BEAM Robots - and build a BEAM * Household Items: Mechanical Locks - and pick locks * Transportation: Automobiles - and build a steam-powered device * Electronics: Computers - and build a circuit with memory * Hospital Equipment: EEG equipment - and do feedback experiments * Communication: Radios - and build a speaker * Recording: Surveillance Devices - and tap ESG's phone * Weapons: Tanks and Guns - and build an explosive * Big Business: International Airlines - and watch Catch Me if You Can * The Future: Space Station - and build space station - Jimmy