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Description Of The EthnographyThe ethnography consisted mostly of observation. Notes were written during class activities and supplemented and clarified while notes were entered into the computer. Maps of classrooms and schools were drawn and redrawn to aid memory and note where activities took place. See Appendix C for examples. These maps were later adjusted and supplemented with the use of official school maps. Notes frequently indicated where students were during activities and what areas were and were not used. At each school, three courses were observed, but the actual time on the campuses and the percentage of the courses observed were significantly different. Suburban High was observed for the greatest total time, at approximately 76 hours. Threecourses in sequential class periods were observed, usually once a week, from about six weeks into the school year until the final week. Each class was 50 minutes long with ten minutes between classes. Periods 2 through 4 were selected. Two of the three courses were Television Production, and the third was Advanced Television Production. Two other beginning classes were given in the afternoon but not studied. During the time before observations began, the beginning students did not use the cameras but spent time in more traditional activities, such as reading and lectures. One class was observed in the spring of the following year. Urban High, though observed with almost the same frequency as Suburban High, had fewer hours and presented a far more irregular schedule. The school itself used an unusual yearly schedule, leading to two classes being observed for the second semester of one school year (2001-2002) and the third class being observed the first semester of the following year (2002-2003). The school held classes year-round with each of its three tracks being in school for different periods, such that two tracks were always in session. The “New Media Academy” held classes from July through November and January through April. “New Media 1” (for their first semester of camera work) and “New Media 2” were observed for the second semester of the school year. “New Media 3” was observed for the first semester of the following school year so that each of the three media teachers would be included. Several students were also observed for two semesters. One class period of “New Media 3” was also observed at the end of the second semester. Each course was observed once a week, but because the school had a “block” schedule, meaning that classes met once a week for one hour and twice a week for two hours, class periods during the first year (school year 2001-2002) were split so that half of each two-hour class was observed for one hour. Boarding High also had an unusual schedule because of the nature of the video program. The courses were to consist of only five classes, and three courses in all were observed. Some video projects from a fourth course were also viewed. With the exception of the first class of the third course (due to last minute notices), each class in its entirety was observed. Scheduling conflicts arose so that the last session of the first course was never held, but twice, arrangements were made to meet with students after school so that they could be interviewed. Also, two visits to the school were made to participate in extracurricular activities to which the community had been invited. One was a centennial celebration, and the other was a Pow Wow. Though these experiences contributed to my understanding of the schools in terms of the centrality of school history and the lack of connection to the surrounding community, notes were not kept on these events because I attended them as a participant and their research value was not initially recognized. Table 1 shows a summary of the observation details for an easier comparison. The differences in observation reflect the differences in the schools and programs, and therefore are not expected to have a strong influence. Nevertheless, the level of familiarity with individuals was different and will be indicated in later discussions. |
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