June 14, 2005

Today's class started with a series of observation activities. The class was divided into two groups, investigators and observers. The investigators were sent out of the room while the observers were given thirty seconds to view a picture. When time was up the investigators were called back into the room. Their task, to deduce what picture the observers had seen. The investigators probed their classmates with questions that would hopefully provided them with helpful answers. The two groups then switched places and the observers became the investigators.

After a short snack break, the students were challenged with solving the case of Sally Suehappy's Bungee Jump. In the activity, Sally claimed she was injured at a carnival's bungee jump. The carnival claimed she lied about her weight and it was, therefore, her fault if she sustained any injury. The students had to determine the answer to two important questions: Was the platform really 73 meters?; If it was 73 meters should she have hit her head?

After determining the answer they had choose who to defend, Sally or the carnival company. They were split into two groups and asked to come up with an argument supporting their case. Several Shodor interns and staff were called in to serve as jury members and deliberate on the case.

When the jury came back with their decision that Sally was responsible for her injury the groups were allowed to argue for an appeal. The victorious group was allowed to present a counter argument for the appeal. In the end the jury decided the case had been fairly tried, and not appeal would be accepted.