Teams are commonly celebrated as efficient and humane ways of organizing work and learning. By means of a series of in-depth case studies of teams in the United States and Finland over a time span of more than 10 years, this book shows that teams are not a universal and ahistorical form of collaboration. Teams are best understood in their specific activity contexts and embedded in historical development of work. Today, static teams are increasingly replaced by forms of fluid knotworking around runaway objects that require and generate new forms of expansive learning and distributed agency. This book develops a set of conceptual tools for analysis and design of transformations in collaborative work and learning.

“Mr. Petit is the perfect teacher” in this fascinating, educational volume on knot-tying—an art and science that has held civilization together (The Wall Street Journal). Philippe Petit is known for his astounding feat of daring when, on August 7, 1974, he stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between the World Trade Center’s twin towers in New York City. But beyond his balance, courage, and showmanship, there was one thing Petit had to be absolutely certain of—his knots. Without the confidence that his knots would hold, he never would have left the ground. In fact, while most of us don’t think about them beyond tying our shoelaces, the humble knot is crucial in countless contexts, from sailing to sports to industrial safety to art, agriculture, and more. In this truly unique book, Petit offers a guide to tying over sixty of his essential knots, with practical sketches illustrating his methods and clear tying instructions. Filled with photos in which special knots were used during spectacular high-wire walks, quirky knot trivia, personal anecdotes, helpful tips, magic tricks, and special tying challenges, Why Knot? will entertain and educate readers of all ages. “In reading Philippe’s book we are cogently reminded that without the ability to secure a rope, or tether a goat, or make fast the sheets of a galley, much of the civilization that we take for granted would disappear as easily as a slipknot in the hands of a Vegas conjuror.” —Sting, musician and activist “His descriptions are clear, he deploys humor frequently and he makes his points with anecdotes that are colorful and memorable. Explaining the purpose and creation of knots and thanks to those flawless drawings Mr. Petit earns perfect marks.” —The Wall Street Journal

The present book addresses the following challenge: How do we create and sustain a teacher community? For practitioners, the main question in this handbook is: How do we build and facilitate teacher communities? The different chapters discuss teacher interaction for learning and professional development in light of three constructs: the group, the community, and the network. There is a wealth of literature, especially on theoretical frameworks, success factors, and barriers to participation in teacher communities. However, this book addresses the need for a step-by-step guide with valuable suggestions for those who want to create (from scratch) and support a community of teachers brought together to deal with specific issues and, importantly, mediated by educational technology

Teamwork is critical to the success of any group—students, athletes, businesspeople, community members, and others. Team Building Through Physical Challenges: A Complete Tool Kit, Second Edition, takes a proactive approach to building teams as it explains the concepts of team building, shows how to set up teams to facilitate growth, and provides 67 mentally and physically challenging games and activities that will foster team building and the development of numerous social and emotional skills. These activities are an ideal way to start the school year, a sport season, corporate training, an adventure trip, or any endeavor that requires working together. New and updated materials for this resource include the following: Updated content on how to implement the activities A new emphasis on social and emotional learning A new web resource with video demonstrations, reproducibles, and a sample team-building course outline Team Building Through Physical Challenges features 67 ready-to-use, field-tested activities and challenges for introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels. They are presented in a clear and practical format that addresses setup, rules, equipment needs, and variations for each challenge. The web resource offers video clips showing team building in action, as well as reproducible forms to make implementation easier. The web resource includes challenge and organizer cards for all challenges; these cards give the teams all the information needed to begin the activities. Another important feature of the book is the rationale it offers to obtain support and funding for the implementation of team building in schools, organizations, and businesses. Participants will focus on and build a variety of skills and character traits: Trust building Conflict resolution Leadership Self-control Collaborative problem-solving Effective communication Critical thinking Creativity Optimistic thinking Listening skills Appropriate risk-taking Resilience Growth mindset Team Building Through Physical Challenges assembles the best team- and character-building resources developed by the authors since the first edition of this popular book was published, plus new activities and supporting material. The authors are recognized experts in the field who have been creating, compiling, and experimenting with team-building activities for nearly 50 years. Team Building Through Physical Challenges is the only comprehensive book of team-building activities that focus on physical challenges. Through the clear instruction and guidance on team building, the useful web resource, and the exciting and challenging activities, participants will learn to become respectful competitors, valuable problem solvers, selfless leaders, and high-character members of their school, team, company, or community.

Howard offers powerful easy-to-read and easy-to-follow-and-apply strategies that will challenge readers to identify and break free from negative bondage, build positive habits, and then turn them into actions to help you achieve your dreams. In Untie the Knots That Tie Up Your Life, Ty Howard presents the "Untie the Knots Process" and uses it to create techniques that will help you develop a life of better health, balance, significance, harmony, potential, and prosperity.

The human mind is best understood when it is studied in the context of meaningful and goal-oriented interactions between individuals and their environment. These internal and external activities help to shape the human consciousness and experience. Contemporary Approaches to Activity Theory: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Human Behavior is an opportunity to study the complex, socially-oriented contexts of humans by considering the entirety of our environments: cultures, motivations, signs and tools, and various activities. Highlighting strategies in design, educational and work practice, and methodological analysis, this book is an essential reference source for academicians, researchers, and students interested in gaining a thorough understanding of the interaction between humans and their environments.

What's the difference between a square knot and a granny knot? What kinds of knots do fishermen use? How do you make a rope ladder? A tourniquet? What's the best way to secure a boat to its mooring, or pitch a tent? How do you tie stretcher knots? These questions and many others are answered in Allan and Paulette Macfarlan's encyclopedic work on the practical art of knot tying. Knowing how to tie a variety of useful and reliable knots is a necessity for weekend sailors and campers: it's a passport to safety and success. Rock climbing, horseback riding, and other outdoor activities also inspire the enthusiast to pursue the requisite knots. In unusually clear illustrations rendered by artist Paulette Macfarlan, accompanied by precise written instructions, the authors of this book explain how to tie hundreds of knots, including basic knots, stopper knots and hitches, toggled knots, knots for joining two ends of rope, hitches and knots for typing ropes to things, whipping, seizings, loop knots, horsey knots and hitches, decorative knots, lashing, and splicing. Practical applications are also discussed: rappelling, raft building, tracking a canoe or small boat, heaving line, log rolling, making a travois, and rope tent-frames, beds, and bunks. In addition to discussing the practical side of knot tying, the Macfarlans cover the entertaining end of the craft: knots and ropes in history and literature, knot mystery and magic in ancient and contemporary times, and games, tricks, and stunts with ropes and knots. Nearly every aspect of knot tying is represented in this comprehensive and concise reference work. Boaters, campers, boy scouts, and others interested in practical or decorative knots will want to add this volume to their bookshelves.

When Senenmut answers the summons to interview for the tutor for the Egyptian queen’s daughter, he sees an opportunity to make a name for himself and earn titles and importance. He succeeds beyond his wildest dreams, becoming second in importance to the pharaoh. However, his very success causes failure, and he suffers a fate worse than death. His son Yahmose also succeeds to second in importance, but has to leave Egypt, resulting in the First Exodus. Then, he must return.

In view of the explosion of mathematical theories of knots in the past decade, with consequential applications, this book sets down a brief, fragmentary history of mankind's oldest and most useful technical and decorative device - the knot.