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Aboriginal ‘Simple’ Machines: It’s Not Just About European Males!. EDUB 2130 Nature of Science Applications to the Teaching of Science. ‘Simple’ Machines. Simplest mechanisms that provide some advantage in moving an object.
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Aboriginal ‘Simple’ Machines: It’s Not Just About European Males! EDUB 2130 Nature of Science Applications to the Teaching of Science
‘Simple’ Machines • Simplest mechanisms that provide some advantage in moving an object. • Pulleys, screws, wheels & axles, inclined planes (ramp), lever and wedge • Reduced labour – most of us aren’t into ‘no pain, no gain’ • HN #1: If there’s an easier way, I’ll use it! • HN #2: Faced with a problem, we seek solutions! • Historically the attention to Simple Machines has been given to Archimedes & Greek society in 3BC ( 5000 years ago). • Any consideration that we don’t need to look far to see SM, even earlier, even among our First Peoples?
Salmon Wheels • Archaeologically dated to 3000 years. • Modified significantly since then • Effective use of a wheel and axle system as well as an inclined plane (lots of YouTube examples) • Were not given a ‘science name’ – Gwichin - fish large hands. • Creative solutions to problems faced – world wide examples of simple machines among Aboriginal peoples • Science – technology link – without these creative solutions our scientific understanding both simple machines would be limited – • Science and technology development is intertwined