Learners examine the psychological and sociological barriers that interfere with clear communication. They select examples of ad hominem fallacy, bandwagon fallacy, emotional appeals, red herrings, irrelevant appeals to authority, suggestibility and conformity, “poisoning the well’, and “shoehorning.” In an interactive exercise, learners identify ways to overcome these barriers.

Learners observe how a blood drop in flight continually accelerates and increases in velocity over time. As the drop falls, resistance accumulates. The increase in stain diameter relative to distance of a typical 50 ml drop of blood is represented here. This activity has audio content.