Feynman Student Dilemma Options Five dilemmas (situations) for students to consider and focus on within their project:
Dilemma 1 Problem Statement Feynman was uneasy about the Roger’s Commission limited approach to sorting out the fundamental cause of the disastrous destruction of the space shuttle Challenger – he was in need of input and facts from the shuttle engineers in order to discover the cause of the explosion. Critical Questions Considering Feynman’s dilemma in how he discovered the truth (talking to the engineers on the ground the morning of the launch), in what ways do you empathize with his uneasy disposition?
How did Feynman navigate adversity with this critical crossroad?
In way ways has your team become aware of your collective growth/fixed mindset dispositions and decision making practices?
Dilemma 2 Problem Statement While Feynman, ever the scientist searching for answers, was not afraid to pursue his questions, many others on the commission were hesitant about rocking the boat and shaking up traditional government protocol. Critical Questions Given the rules and regulations that governmental bodies employ to keep order and chain of command, in what ways can you empathize with Feynman’s disposition of “thinking different(ly)?”
Why might others on the commission, including famous people like Neil Armstrong, Chuck Yeager (1st man to fly faster than sound), and first female astronaut Sally Ride have been afraid to go beyond the governmental rules and regulations?
In way ways has your team become aware of their growth/fixed mindset dispositions and decision making practices?
Dilemma 3 Problem Statement Feynman never gave up on finding answers to his questions and the things he wondered about. His persistence was key to finding out the reasons for the shuttle’s catastrophic failure but it was a departure from the process that was being adhered to by the Roger’s Commission. Critical Questions Persistence is a key aspect of genius but how might ruthless persistence cause problems?
In way ways has your team become aware of their growth/fixed mindset dispositions and decision making practices?
Dilemma 4 Problem Statement Feynman chose to disclose his findings during a televised hearing rather than at a commission meeting and as a result, his findings were only given to President Reagan and not included in the commission’s official report. Critical Questions What problems might the government have had with their star scientist’s findings that they would not have included them in their written report?
Could Feynman have made a different decision?
In way ways has your team become aware of their growth/fixed mindset dispositions and decision making practices?
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