Introduction
As part of your research project, you will complete observations of your community. Some of you are doing live observations or participant observations. Others are doing observations via technology. Today, you will complete this webquest that will help you plan for your observation.
Task
Your task today, through videos and writing, is to explore the different options for observation and to create a document for taking observation notes.
Process
It is extremely important for you to complete these steps in order. Do not complete them out of order. :)
1. Watch this video on participant observation and then answer the following questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo8xrY0XxT4
A. What kinds of activities did this woman complete as part of her observation?
B. What ethical issues did this woman face?
C. For this woman, what were the limiting factors in participant observation?
D. Do you think this woman made the right choices with the sick baby? Why or why not?
2. Watch this video on participant observation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgebvaOdtKY
A. What questions does Grace ask?
B. To what extent are the others in the room aware of Grace's observing?
C. What are the limits of Grace's method for participant observation?
D. What does Grace learn from this observation?
3. Read the notes from these 6 classroom observations: http://www.esd101.net/cms/lib/WA01000865/Centricity/Domain/82/sschreine…
A. Which observation is the most factual and includes the least amount of interpretation/opinion? Explain.
B. Which observation includes the most interpretation/opinion? Explain.
C. What are the strengths of Observation #4? What about this writer's method will be helpful when he/she goes back to these notes?
D. What are the weaknesses of Observation #6?
4. In your Google drive folder, create a document with two columns. Watch this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=1rDih0Vusoo Do not do anything else while you watch it (do not write, draw, or make notes). AFTER watching the video, close the window completely. In the first column, answer the following questions:
A. How many people were in the room?
B. Describe the classroom.
C. Describe the activity.
D. What kinds of questions did the teacher ask? Quote.
E. What were the children's responses? Quote.
5. Now, view the video again while taking notes (you may need to print your notes, watch the video on a separate screen, or take notes by hand to aviod flipping back and forth). Try not to pause the video. Answer the same questions as above, but while you watch the video.
A. What did you get the second time (taking notes while watching) that you didn't get the first time?
B. What are the benefits of preparing for an observation before going in?
6. In your Google drive folder for this project, create a new document and title it "Observation Notes." Experiment with tables and charts a bit (similar to the featured on Microsoft word). Based on this activity and what you know about your own discourse community, create a method for your observation. You might note what you are going to ask or do, if this is a participant observation, or what you will look for and note. If you choose to take notes rather than record, think about how you can make taking notes as easy as possible. If you are going to take notes after recording (or if you are completing a digital observation), create a format for these notes. Share this document with me.
Evaluation
I will evaluate your presence in or absence from class based on the quality of your work on this WebQuest. Share your answers with me in a Google doc, or simply in the body of an email. :)
Conclusion
Review of Observations, if you need more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP6YzRR0lSk