February 10, 2021
To fly or not to fly
A roleplay activity that simulates the day of the launch of a new 62 passenger aircraft fully constructed out of carbon nanotube composites. The aircraft has potentially sustained some damage in the night before the scheduled launch. Students take on roles of characters in the Management Team who must decide whether or not to launch, given imperfect knowledge about the aircraft’s condition and safety. Observers pay attention to and report back on the normative, performative, informative, and responsibility dimensions of the discussion about the launch.