Comments on: Mini Ethnography Assignment http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/2011/11/03/mini-ethnography-assignment/ part of the MSc in E-learning at the University of Edinburgh Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:20:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Neil David Buchanan http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/2011/11/03/mini-ethnography-assignment/#comment-94 Neil David Buchanan Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:10:10 +0000 http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/?p=4435#comment-94 Bit of a delay in my response but I think Kevin's ethnography neatly highlights the issues that surround both anonymity and attributed comments. Most of the world lives under govt systems that do not allow for democratic expressions of opinion or for any notion of "freedom of speech" or "right of reply". This is actually supported by many Western universities as they are they ones who have not only devised the technology for internet censorship but often administer it, for sizeable fees, too. I think it's too facile an argument to say, well, if you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to hide as what constitutes "wrong"? Even as I write this, I'm aware that I must censor myself in terms of the examples I can use to illustrate my point! Retribution happens not only at govt level but also at employer level, which is probably the scariest for most people as with employment comes right of abode, salary and future employability. Until there is a completely level playing field, it is disingenuous to speak of "no need for anonymity". Bit of a delay in my response but I think Kevin’s ethnography neatly highlights the issues that surround both anonymity and attributed comments. Most of the world lives under govt systems that do not allow for democratic expressions of opinion or for any notion of “freedom of speech” or “right of reply”. This is actually supported by many Western universities as they are they ones who have not only devised the technology for internet censorship but often administer it, for sizeable fees, too. I think it’s too facile an argument to say, well, if you’ve done nothing wrong, you’ve got nothing to hide as what constitutes “wrong”? Even as I write this, I’m aware that I must censor myself in terms of the examples I can use to illustrate my point! Retribution happens not only at govt level but also at employer level, which is probably the scariest for most people as with employment comes right of abode, salary and future employability. Until there is a completely level playing field, it is disingenuous to speak of “no need for anonymity”.

]]> By: Jen Ross http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/2011/11/03/mini-ethnography-assignment/#comment-48 Jen Ross Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:13:08 +0000 http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/?p=4435#comment-48 This hooks this work in neatly to the wider web debates going on at the moment about anonymity - google's decision to insist on 'real names' in google + has brought this to a head in the past couple of months. What's your take on that position? This hooks this work in neatly to the wider web debates going on at the moment about anonymity – google’s decision to insist on ‘real names’ in google + has brought this to a head in the past couple of months. What’s your take on that position?

]]> By: Neil David Buchanan http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/2011/11/03/mini-ethnography-assignment/#comment-44 Neil David Buchanan Mon, 07 Nov 2011 09:38:52 +0000 http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/?p=4435#comment-44 @Jen - thanks for the feedback. As you know, my fascination lies with how context et al influence interaction and collaboration. As with the "Buffy" study, I found that the real life world of this group is very much alive and kicking and this may be why many members seem to use this as a post box rather than a chat room. The other dimension is the local context and the fact that all email addresses are shown on this site. Public life here tends to be more restrained in comment and public expression of opinion and public rebukes or criticism is rarely given. In online newspapers, you can find a lot of criticism of different groups but this is presented under the guise of pseudonyms. In the group I looked at, exchanges were very polite because I think, to use a local phrase, you don't know "who's standing behind" the person you're talking to. Occasionally older members tell newer members that a subject has been covered or one of the old timers recently suggested that a topic be put on hold for a while to allow "folks" the chance to digest information and try it out for themselves. Overall, I think the online representations very much mirror conventional local practice and form. @ Jeremy and others - yes, following the nodes would have been my next step but it was time to "publish and be damned" or keep tweaking! I'll try next time! @Jen – thanks for the feedback. As you know, my fascination lies with how context et al influence interaction and collaboration. As with the “Buffy” study, I found that the real life world of this group is very much alive and kicking and this may be why many members seem to use this as a post box rather than a chat room. The other dimension is the local context and the fact that all email addresses are shown on this site. Public life here tends to be more restrained in comment and public expression of opinion and public rebukes or criticism is rarely given. In online newspapers, you can find a lot of criticism of different groups but this is presented under the guise of pseudonyms. In the group I looked at, exchanges were very polite because I think, to use a local phrase, you don’t know “who’s standing behind” the person you’re talking to. Occasionally older members tell newer members that a subject has been covered or one of the old timers recently suggested that a topic be put on hold for a while to allow “folks” the chance to digest information and try it out for themselves. Overall, I think the online representations very much mirror conventional local practice and form.
@ Jeremy and others – yes, following the nodes would have been my next step but it was time to “publish and be damned” or keep tweaking! I’ll try next time!

]]> By: Jeremy Keith Knox http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/2011/11/03/mini-ethnography-assignment/#comment-43 Jeremy Keith Knox Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:33:47 +0000 http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/?p=4435#comment-43 Great use of mindmapping software here, and I share others enthusiasm for it. I think your metaphor of being more interested in the journey than the destination really works, and suits the ethnographic approach perfectly, especially for this size of study. The mind map gives a good overview of the extent of the community, and I am thinking how it might be useful for a kind of quantitative study, however, like others I found myself wanting to follow many of the nodes and find out more! Great use of mindmapping software here, and I share others enthusiasm for it. I think your metaphor of being more interested in the journey than the destination really works, and suits the ethnographic approach perfectly, especially for this size of study. The mind map gives a good overview of the extent of the community, and I am thinking how it might be useful for a kind of quantitative study, however, like others I found myself wanting to follow many of the nodes and find out more!

]]> By: Grace Elliott http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/2011/11/03/mini-ethnography-assignment/#comment-42 Grace Elliott Sat, 05 Nov 2011 10:20:14 +0000 http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/?p=4435#comment-42 Hi Neil, This is great - so refreshing. I've made use of mind maps in the past but not so much in recent years. I can only guess at the number of hours needed to put this together. Importing and fatigue.... fully understand. Hi Neil,

This is great – so refreshing.

I’ve made use of mind maps in the past but not so much in recent years. I can only guess at the number of hours needed to put this together. Importing and fatigue…. fully understand.

]]> By: Carol Collins http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/2011/11/03/mini-ethnography-assignment/#comment-41 Carol Collins Sat, 05 Nov 2011 10:04:20 +0000 http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/?p=4435#comment-41 Hi Neil Really liked your use of inspiration..i do a lot of mindmapping with medical students who use it to represent the innterconnectedness of their studies, and I think it's a really great way to represent a community as it shows the complexity of links between the branches of activity, connection etc. that users experience. I love the way your shadow on your notes became the shadow of the ethnographer - a brilliant metaphor! Hi Neil

Really liked your use of inspiration..i do a lot of mindmapping with medical students who use it to represent the innterconnectedness of their studies, and I think it’s a really great way to represent a community as it shows the complexity of links between the branches of activity, connection etc. that users experience. I love the way your shadow on your notes became the shadow of the ethnographer – a brilliant metaphor!

]]> By: Jen Ross http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/2011/11/03/mini-ethnography-assignment/#comment-40 Jen Ross Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:27:46 +0000 http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/?p=4435#comment-40 "I think what is important is the perception that digital culture facilitates restless exploration, hence my over-enthusiastic employment of arrows which I see as being the antithesis of nomadic thought and yet seem symptomatic of “click here”" - just love this sentence! Have tumblr'ed it for posterity. And I really like what you've attempted here with the mindmap format. I know what you mean about the work all being behind the scenes, but I think it does show through. Especially interested in the 'activity' area that talks about restraint and non-critical exchange - would it be cheating for you to say a bit more about that? :-) “I think what is important is the perception that digital culture facilitates restless exploration, hence my over-enthusiastic employment of arrows which I see as being the antithesis of nomadic thought and yet seem symptomatic of “click here”” – just love this sentence! Have tumblr’ed it for posterity. And I really like what you’ve attempted here with the mindmap format. I know what you mean about the work all being behind the scenes, but I think it does show through. Especially interested in the ‘activity’ area that talks about restraint and non-critical exchange – would it be cheating for you to say a bit more about that? :-)

]]> By: Neil David Buchanan http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/2011/11/03/mini-ethnography-assignment/#comment-39 Neil David Buchanan Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:27:41 +0000 http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/?p=4435#comment-39 Hi Daniel, thanks for the feedback. I use mind maps all the time but I've noticed that they are difficult for others to follow once finished. So I wanted to see if I could use one but with some explanatory text, too. I'm sure there's a mind mapping group out there I could join! Hi Daniel, thanks for the feedback. I use mind maps all the time but I’ve noticed that they are difficult for others to follow once finished. So I wanted to see if I could use one but with some explanatory text, too. I’m sure there’s a mind mapping group out there I could join!

]]> By: Daniel Griffin http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/2011/11/03/mini-ethnography-assignment/#comment-38 Daniel Griffin Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:37:54 +0000 http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/?p=4435#comment-38 This is a great way to present your findings Neil. It gives a really clear picture of how the group interacts with one another. I did need your supporting text to figure out what is actually being shared but I can't see a way around that. I just looked them up in Google and it does look like a really interesting group - looking forward to digging into it a bit more on their website. Cheers! This is a great way to present your findings Neil. It gives a really clear picture of how the group interacts with one another. I did need your supporting text to figure out what is actually being shared but I can’t see a way around that. I just looked them up in Google and it does look like a really interesting group – looking forward to digging into it a bit more on their website. Cheers!

]]> By: Neil David Buchanan http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/2011/11/03/mini-ethnography-assignment/#comment-37 Neil David Buchanan Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:14:00 +0000 http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/neilb/?p=4435#comment-37 I appreciate your feedback, Austin. I found that I became more interested in the journey rather than the destination with this activity. Especially after reading the other, far more detailed studies in this block's reading list. I knew this mini ethnography would not reach such a depth of immersion so I felt more at ease to focus on why I was intrigued by my own reactions to aspects such as subjectivity vs objectivity. It also felt good to try out a new style of presentation online - it actually felt risky as I feel it skimps a lot of detail but the largely unseen, unfelt process of getting to this point provided the most satisfaction. It also took hours to get to grips with importing images and how to arrange the information, so some fatigue set in, too! I appreciate your feedback, Austin. I found that I became more interested in the journey rather than the destination with this activity. Especially after reading the other, far more detailed studies in this block’s reading list. I knew this mini ethnography would not reach such a depth of immersion so I felt more at ease to focus on why I was intrigued by my own reactions to aspects such as subjectivity vs objectivity.

It also felt good to try out a new style of presentation online – it actually felt risky as I feel it skimps a lot of detail but the largely unseen, unfelt process of getting to this point provided the most satisfaction. It also took hours to get to grips with importing images and how to arrange the information, so some fatigue set in, too!

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