History simulates assembly line

To help them better understand the changing role of the worker in the Industrial Revolution, students in Dan Polifka’s sophomore world history class transformed the classroom into a pen factory. The students assembled the pens with different numbers of people and in different conditions to learn about the changes in working conditions, efficiency, and time and task orientation in pre-industrial and industrial eras. The students realized more people working together increases productivity, but having too many can slow it down. Polika explained how the changes led to conflict between factory owners and workers.