Summary: Reflect on relationships between course material and your own observations "in the field."
Goals:
Due: Each student will be expected to write at least two field notes. The first field note may be turned in at the beginning of class on any Thursday up to and including Thursday October 15. The second note may be turned in on any Thursday up to and including Thursday December 11.
A field note is a one-page note reporting your own observations "in the field" of ideas, events, or experiences connected in some way to the content of our course. You are required to turn in at least two of these notes during the semester, at least one before fall break. Eight possible formats are listed below; the two notes you write should use two different formats.
These "one-page" notes should be in the range of 150-500 words. The notes are not meant to be formal academic essays, but rather informally written reports. In evaluating these notes I will be looking for careful observations and reflective analysis, rather than perfectly polished writing. However, each note must contain at least one formal citation (complete with reference list) to one of our assigned readings.
Particularly interesting notes will be posted (with your permission) in the Pioneerweb area for our course, so that other members of the class may read and react to them.
Possible formats are as follows.
Analysis of a place: Describe and comment on a place (a building, street, neighborhood, city, etc.) in relationship to technology. Draw on your personal experience with that place. If possible, include a photograph of the place.
Account of a conversation or incident: If you have been involved in a conversation, encounter, or other incident that relates to our course readings and discussions, describe and analyze what happened. What did the participants say and do? What emotions were displayed? How did the interaction unfold? What was the outcome? (Take care in your account to protect the privacy of those involved, if necessary, by changing names or other identifying details.)
Account of work or volunteer experience: If you have done paid or volunteer work that relates to the topic of our course, reflect on that relationship. Comment on the work you have done, the worksite, your supervisor or co-workers, the people served, and/or any conversations you have had with people at the site, in relationship to the topic of our course.
Analysis of a performance: Describe and comment on a play, movie, TV show, or other performance you have seen that deals with situations or themes relating to the topic of our course. If possible, go to a newspaper or website to find a published account of the performance to be turned in with your note.
Analysis of a work of literature or art: Describe and comment on a novel, short story, or poem you have read, or an art exhibition you have seen, that deals with situations or themes relating to the topic of our course. Be sure to include a formal citation if you are commenting on a work of literature. If possible, include a photograph if it is a work of art.
Analysis of a reading from another course: If a reading from one of your other courses sheds new light on issues, ideas, or events discussed in this course, describe the connection and comment on the ideas or information that you have gained from this additional perspective. Be sure to include a formal citation for the work you are analyzing.
I will grade your field notes on a scale of plus/check/minus. To earn a check, the field note must address one of the formats above and include appropriate citatations and references. To earn a plus, the field note should exhibit exceptionally careful observation or insightful analysis.
Janet Davis (davisjan@cs.grinnell.edu)
Created August 21, 2008 with thanks to Kent McClelland