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Observation Workshop

Page history last edited by ted.coopman@... 13 years, 1 month ago

Directions:

This workshop consists of a self-paced slide show as well as links and basic information below. The slides are available in Keynote and PDF (PDFs are accessible for screen readers). These slides are plain and designed to download fast and simply provide you with information you need for this course.

 

Once you have looked over these slides, you need to make at least one comment below (100 word minimum) that directly address the slides content for workshop credit, ask questions, etc. While you are not quizzed on this workshop, you are responsible for using this information for your course projects. This is stuff you need to know. Refer back to these slides

 

Keynote: Observation_Workshop_156i_online.key

PDF: Observation_Workshop_156i_online.pdf

 

 

 

Make sure to check the interviewing section on the Assignments page for details on what you need to do to use this method on your project.

 

(transcript available on request)

Comments (19)

Christopher Harrell said

at 6:20 pm on Feb 22, 2011

Video is private

daren johnson said

at 3:09 pm on Feb 23, 2011

I thought the slide that compared Sherlock Holmes as to how as researcher should be looking for clues. I would not have looked at like this before taking this course, but like another term used this semester, "tactical," that I enjoyed associating with researching, it is helpful to view research from a broader perspective. Other aspects I found important are the organized and systematic qualities stressed. The word observing sounds very superficial on the surface, and seemingly relatively easy to accomplish. Learning the finer nuances will undoubtedly lead to better quality research and results. I am very glad I had not yet started my observations before taking this workshop because I feel so much better equipped now.

daren johnson said

at 3:11 pm on Feb 23, 2011

(correction) original comment above first sentence should have ended with "...was interesting."

Nick Andolina said

at 3:31 pm on Feb 23, 2011

I thought that the slide in terms of notes on notes was one that was not only beneficial for this particular workshop but for research in general. I think the idea of clarifying your notes after you have jotted them down into more organized outlines is so important for you to be able to see what you have accomplished and what you need to accomplish next. The most important part to me was the statement about annotating your scratch notes immediately after observing. This is key in order to be successful in this field and the results will be far more clear and concise

uismiguel@... said

at 5:35 pm on Feb 23, 2011

I like the idea about not erasing notes, this slide was a remembrance of an experience i went through. The example about Sherlock Holmes was very good in this workshop because it helped me out to understand and think outside the box. Another thing from the slides was being simple in explaining because the observer can be more assertive and clear when talking about the study. The most important thing, from my perspective, was taking notes because notes assist you a lot when people do not remember things. This workshop was very helpful and informative.

jstoltz89@... said

at 4:40 pm on Feb 24, 2011

I really enjoyed this workshop adn thought it provided alot of helpful tips on how to observe a scene for our project. I like how they made a note to say that this is about noting what is happening at that very moment and not focusing on what will happened or what has happened in the past. I also thought the section on note taking was very helpful. I defenitly find myslef focusing more on my writing which can be an issue when I am trying to observe a scene. I like the scartch note technique and the idea of trying to make the notes as simple as possible. I also thtought the part that said not to erase any notes was important. You never know what may be important to your research till after you are done observing. I thought overal this workshop was very useful and had alot of helpful information, especially when it comes to note taking and organization.

megnance@... said

at 5:38 pm on Feb 25, 2011

Workshop Comment:
“To observe behavior, you need to train yourself to concentrate and systemically analyze your surroundings.” This workshop really provided helpful tips for our own projects, yet this quote, by far, had to be the most informational because it applies to everything we’re learning at this point in the class. The text always breaks down the information in a way that is easy to follow, but the workshops reinstate the actual important topics presented in the loaded chapters. For example, chapter five described all sorts of the observation method with examples and explanations of adapting roles, tactical observing, fieldnotes, and new media and participant observations. The observation workshop really structures the steps of preparation of conducting research with reviewing literature, preliminary observations, drawing maps and taking notes. This is essentially what we needed to get started on what we are assigned and there is great advice of how to “ALWAYS note date, time, and location for each observation.” This will be extremely helpful in our research and clarifies the entire process eliminating the “lost” feeling of what to do in what situations.

megnance@... said

at 5:38 pm on Feb 25, 2011

Also, the video for this workshop is private and I was unable to view it.

Christopher Harrell said

at 1:30 am on Feb 26, 2011

I have noticed within this workshop, other than the video being private which is undesirable, that the methods of looking at observation is much different than that of the book. The book is essentially telling you how to go to the scene and how to write your notes but there is not quite so much detail given to the ideas of actually observing. What you have to do, what the rundown is, not only to look for things but to look for things that are normally invisible. This is mainly because we are in the scenes already. We exist in this context and are an active participant which makes it hard to notice the nuances that we all let slip by every day.

daren johnson said

at 6:39 am on Feb 26, 2011

Christopher, the video is available, that message will appear if you are not logged in, which therefore makes the video "unavailable"....if you sign in via link in upper right corner, then u should be able to view the video

Derek De Vine said

at 10:33 pm on Feb 26, 2011

This workshop had some great tips for how to go about taking notes, and what to do afterwards. The first piece of information that was helpful was thinking about the future as well as the "now." Being aware/taking notes on what happens next should be apart of everyones note taking. Just as the book was talking about, drawing a map of the scene will help you visualize and put content to you notes as well. One of the challenges that we all will have to overcome is not being to distracted as a participant in class. We all have to still focus on being students and as a observant as well, so balancing the two is critical.

Andrew Terry said

at 1:27 pm on Feb 27, 2011

Organized and systematic, I can agree that a higher level of concentration is needed to effectively carry out a proper observation. This workshop is very accurate about how we observe on a daily basis is very sloppy and we are not always concentrating on our environments and whats actually the social norm. When "filling in the blanks" as regards to accuming scenes we think we know since we been in them before is not effective when conducting an observation so leaving out all assumptions is important to studying the scene. The prep for the scene is what I got out of this worksho that will be new to my research because I never properly prepared by answering questions and drawing a map. Writing notes on a notepad is not oldschool in my opinion since I dont entirely trust technology when it comes to note taking. I will most likely be using a pen and a notpad to write all my notes down.

Jason Steib said

at 3:01 pm on Feb 27, 2011

This was an interesting workshop, as it served as a re-enforcer for what the chapter had already introduced to us in terms of observation. However, the workshop went the extra mile in helping us to develop a deeper understanding of how observation is really done in a research setting. I really liked how the workshop provided us with a preparation section in which a lot of helpful tips were provided, such as constructing a map. Other parts of the workshop that I found to be helpful were the pragmatics section in which detail was provided on creating a system for taking notes. I believe this will do a lot for any researcher in terms of organization. Lastly, the notes on notes section introduced me to more tips in reference to creating organized and proper scratch notes.
-Jason Steib

kenuy15@... said

at 8:29 pm on Feb 27, 2011

This workshop seemed to be easy enough, but it contains many steps. I think that it is extremely important to follow the tasks of this workshop. This way we are able to stay on schedule and not get behind in our observations. I think that this workshop gave great examples. I especially enjoyed the tip on creating a template for notes. I find that it is difficult to stay focused in class, so I have to assume that it is even more difficult to try to listen to a lecture and actively observe. All of the tips in this workshop have given me a good idea of where to start and how to complete successfully.

Rebecca said

at 9:19 pm on Feb 27, 2011

I really enjoyed reading this workshop-It made me less nervous about doing this project as it helps to show what you need to do to organized yourself to prepare for observation. I think I will really enjoy doing a map as i am a visual learner. Also I completely agree with your "notes on notes" slide. There were too many times where I would go home and realize that I didn't understand my notes. I also liked the tip where you mentions that its good to have organized set time to jot down your notes, and not continuously writing notes as you can miss something in the process. I appreciate all these tips and cannot wait to apply them in my research project.

Ryan Black said

at 10:09 pm on Feb 27, 2011

I like this workshop because it offers guidance in an area that I really haven't learned much in my prior schooling career, and that is information on HOW to observe. I have never really been taught the prooper way to observe people when I am attempting to complete any type of study and for this reason I found the workshop very interesting. I can really relate to what the workshop says about how we pay attention to the disruptive. For example, when sitting in class and someone comes in late or the door opens, it is almost inevitable that everyone in the class will turn to see who is coming in the door. I think that the fact that we are so anxious for a disruption while sitting in class, that we almost get excited about an oppurtunity to turn our heads. The steps that are presented for gathering research throughout the workshop that are specific to our classroom research project are extremely helpfull. I really like the idea of taking scratch notes and to never erase something you thought to perhaps be important at any time. The note taking plan and the schedule we really help in organizing the observation portion of my project.

Micah Dela Cruz said

at 10:33 pm on Feb 27, 2011

This week's workshop on observation was really helpful. It stresses to notice the things that we do not usually see in the classroom, and how we only notice the things that are disruptive or abnormal. Preparation is also another thing that the workshop brings up like noticing what might hinder our ability to observe. We should do that for most things too. Taking notes is another thing that I liked. I am used to making scratch notes and I feel that their dependability has been pretty sturdy. The only limitations for taking scratch notes are having enough paper and ink in my pen: I don't have to worry about having enough power, where the outlets are, and how much space I need for my laptop. Never scratching out the notes was a good point as well as always putting the time and date. Overall being organized, and having a system is the way to go.

mateoman89@... said

at 11:10 pm on Feb 27, 2011

This workshop was very informative! There were several aspects to it that got me thinking and giving me some deep-thinking moments. I took a fancy to the preparation portion of the workshop. The beginning of the preparation slides made note to the lack of focused observing in environments that have become norms to us. We take more not to a new environment and seem to be "lazy" as you said in a familiar environment or scene. We find it easy to point out the abnormal and seem to miss the normal actions people make everyday. We need to draw a map of the environment, review literature on the subject, and do your homework! These steps make a lot of sense when put into simplistic wording as you did, for that I thank you. Lastly, I thought that the notion that observation is organized and systematic opened my eyes to a more complex way of observing my surroundings. I need to have a plan in mind. This workshop was very helpful indeed.

-MATT LOGAN

Christina Salacup said

at 2:40 am on Feb 28, 2011

I agree about using an old- fashioned technique on note-taking. There are a lot of college students now who depends almost everything on their laptops or mobile phones. I still prefer to write on notebooks (except for my online classes) because it is more convenient than carrying a laptop. I also tend to concentrate more on what I am reading. This workshop’s example about creating a system on note-taking is new to me. I usually just use 2 colors of pens or put an asterisk to highlight the key words. According to career websites like Hotjobs and Monster , note-taking during an interview is important because it gives you a good impression as a job applicant.

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