Next Chapter: Crowd Sourcing and Ethnography
September 18, 2011 in Blog, Ethnography, Summit by Laura Deisley
The first part of the design process is called “discovery.” During this phase at Next Chapter, we want to collect information that will inform our work in the days ahead. It is really important that we have student voices, as well as voices that expand beyond the summit participants. So, we are going out to “the crowd” for some data.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for information about how people learn, where they go to learn, what they are interested in learning about, and who helps them learn. We’re really curious about ideas, behaviors and places/spaces that engage people in learning…and wondering if the library already is, or perhaps could be, designed as a place to do that. Or is library not a physical place? What is a library and what happens, or might happen there?
Some specifics:
Who the crowd is: students, teachers, family members, people on the street
What the crowd can tell us: the conditions and behaviors/interactions that create a great learning experience inside and outside of school.
How you can participate: Gather interviews/responses and get them to us by Wednesday, 9/21 midnight EST
Help us by asking the following questions of people you know or don’t know in your school, home, city:
1. Where do you choose to go to learn something hard? At school? At work? At home? Why? Can you describe that place, what is it like?
2. How do you find out about things you are interested in?
3. Where do you feel connected? To ideas, to people
4. What kind of things and spaces do you need when you are working on a project with friends?
5. What tools do you use to learn about something? [books, phone, ipad, Google, wiki, blog, online)
6. How do you share your ideas? (write, paint, video, construct, present, perform)
7. Where do you go to create something? What tools do you need?
8. Where do you go if you are stuck and can’t find what you’re looking for? Or, don’t know if the information you have is accurate?
9. If you could design a space for learning that is this place we currently call “library” what would it look like? Who would be there? What would be there? How would people interact there?
10. In your mind, is the future of a library a “place”?
Help us collect their responses in any of the following ways:
1. Video interview (.mov file posted to YouTube with the tag “next chapter” and/or emailed to ldeisleyATgmail.com)
2. Audio interview/podcast (.mp3 file sent to ldeisleyATgmail.com)
3. Blog comment on this post
4. Twitter updates with the hashtag #nxtchp2011
Guidelines for the interviews (should you go that route):
Don’t ask a question to which someone could answer “yes” or “no”. We want to find out what people are thinking. You’ll also want to dig further than a simple answer, giving the interviewee an opportunity to expand his/her thoughts. We want to hear the story from them. So what types of questions should you ask? Where, how, what, when, who, etc. See the list above.
If you want to work on this with your students, here are some suggestions to them:
Go out in groups of 3 or 4, or at least in pairs. Assign tasks. You should have an interviewer, a note taker and a videographer / photographer. Choose by who is comfortable doing what. Don’t be a paparazzi. Don’t put camera in their face. Do take nice full head shots, and make sure you have solid audio. Simple is better.
Approach people/groups by politely introducing yourself and your team and say that you’re working on a special project and would like to get their opinion and experience about how they learn.
Questions? Email Laura Deisley (ldeisley@gmail.com) and/or Jeff Sharpe (jeffsharpe@beplayfuldesign.com) of the Reimagine:Ed leadership team.
Dorcas Hand said on September 19, 2011
From my friend Ann J who travels globally doing professional development for doctors.
1. Where do you choose to go to learn something hard? At school? At work? At home? Why? Can you describe that place, what is it like? I TEND TO FOCUS ON ACADEMIC JOURNALS OR THE INTERNET FOR PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION. TO LEARN “SOMETHING HARD” SUCH AS A NEW LANGUAGE I WOULD GO (AND HAVE GONE) TO THE LOCAL UNIVERSITY FOR CLASSES (RICE)
2. How do you find out about things you are interested in? I CHECK THE INTERNET FOR SCHEDULES AND PROGRAMS
3. Where do you feel connected? To ideas, to people SOCIAL MEDAI, THE INTERNET, MEETINGS, DINNER PARTIES AND OVER DRINKS
4. What kind of things and spaces do you need when you are working on a project with friends? WE NEEDS SPACE SUCH AS A DINING ROOM TABLE AND MATERIALS (WORKING DOCUMENTS, ETC.)
5. What tools do you use to learn about something? [books, phone, ipad, Google, wiki, blog, online)BOOKS, WIKI, ON-LINE, TELEPHONE AND ACTUALLY TALKING TO PEOPLE
6. How do you share your ideas? (write, paint, video, construct, present, perform) i WRITE AND PRESENT MY IDEAS BUT IN SHARING IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN
7. Where do you go to create something? What tools do you need? MY CREATIONS INVOLVE WRITING SO I GO TO BOOKS AND JOURNALS AS WELL AS PEOPLE.
8. Where do you go if you are stuck and can’t find what you’re looking for? Or, don’t know if the information you have is accurate? IF I CAN’T FIND WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR OR DONT KNOW IF THE INFORMATION IS ACCURATE, I LOOK FOR OTHER VETTED SITES FOR VALIDATION OR KNOWLEDABLE PEOPLE WHO CAN CONFIRM OR DIRECT
9. If you could design a space for learning that is this place we currently call “library” what would it look like? Who would be there? What would be there? How would people interact there?A LIBRARY WOULD BE A WELCOMING PLACE WITH COMFORTABLE CHAIRS AND SPACES IN WHICH TO STUDY, TO READ (ANY MEDIA) AND DISCUSS. THERE SOULD BE LOTS OF NATURAL LIGHT, SPACES FOR PRIVACY, ROOMS IN WHICH TO WORK WITH OTHERS, ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC MEDIA FOR ALL, HARD COPY AS WELL AS THE MEANS TO COPY THE MATERIALS TO BE USED WITH PEN AND PAPER. IT IS ALSO IMPRTANT THAT THERE BE A REAL PERSON TO HELP DIRECT AND FCOUS SEARCHES FOR INFORMATION OR TO FIND THAT PERFECT BOOK TO READ AS AN ESCAPE.
10. In your mind, is the future of a library a “place”? ABSOLUTELY. A LIBRARY IS A PLACE OF DISCOVERY AND LEARNING–MUCH OF WHICH INVOLVES OTHERS.
Dorcas Hand said on September 19, 2011
From my 22 year old son who just graduated from college and is a sound engineer:
1. Where do you choose to go to learn something hard? At school? At work? At home? Why? Can you describe that place, what is it like?
The place is not as important as what it provides. I need to be able to sit comfortably, listen to my music, and not be expected to talk to people. Because of that, I tended to not want to do stuff like that at school (its too easy to get drawn into conversations/doing other work)
2. How do you find out about things you are interested in?
Stumbleupon
3. Where do you feel connected? To ideas, to people
Everywhere. That’s kind of the coolest part of the technology I get to carry around(smartphone). I’m (almost) never more than 5 minutes away from a Wifi hotspot and I can always text and look things up on my 3G.
4. What kind of things and spaces do you need when you are working on a project with friends?
This is the college kid in me, but, couches, pizza, and beer.
5. What tools do you use to learn about something? [books, phone, ipad, Google, wiki, blog, online)
This is a pretty silly question because the tool I use to learn about something is ENTIRELY dependent on what I want to know about. I would say in general I will use a properly formatted google search as my first line of inquiry but it can go any number of ways after that.
6. How do you share your ideas? (write, paint, video, construct, present, perform)
7. Where do you go to create something? What tools do you need?
8. Where do you go if you are stuck and can’t find what you’re looking for? Or, don’t know if the information you have is accurate?
I go to GoogleScholar and look at bibliographies of papers on related topics and then see if I can find any of those sources.
9. If you could design a space for learning that is this place we currently call “library” what would it look like? Who would be there? What would be there? How would people interact there?
10. In your mind, is the future of a library a “place”?
I’m going to respond to 9 and 10 together. I’m not really sure how I envision the future of the “library” but I do know that the first problem is the way most people perceive reading ad libraries. Most people thing of a cold room that’s so quiet you can hear the A/C and is full of stuff organized in a way they don’t really understand. Reading is boring and its so much faster to just find some stupid video on the internet. It is probably true that it is not only environmentally irresponsible but also a bit silly to not make the information in libraries available in a digital format but you still need to keep the function of the librarian as part of it somehow. Having a person who can guide you in new directions when you are trying to research is extraordinarily useful (I know this isn’t the only thing they do but its what I’ve always used them for). I guess the only thing I think libraries should provide more of/make more accessible are videotaped lectures by interesting people. I’ve learned so much from just watching stuff like TEDtalks.
Elisabeth Abarbanel said on September 20, 2011
This is from one of my seniors (a girl):
1. Where do you choose to go to learn something hard? At school? At work? At home? Why? Can you describe that place, what is it like?
I need a quiet, structured setting like a classroom or my kitchen table at home. Sitting outside or in a noisy area has too many distractions. Sitting in my room is too cozy. I need to have my phone and my computer out of my sight and then I can easily focus on the task at hand.
2. How do you find out about things you are interested in?
I usually found out about interesting things while talking with other people. The internet can be a good source for community service events, 5k runs, and political news, though.
3. Where do you feel connected? To ideas, to people
I feel the most connected to myself at the ocean or while I am on a run. I feel connected to other people through commonalities between the things we are passionate. I feel connected to my community when I bake them food.
4. What kind of things and spaces do you need when you are working on a project with friends?
A quiet place to voice ideas, pencils and paper, maybe some music in the background
5. What tools do you use to learn about something? [books, phone, ipad, Google, wiki, blog, online)
The internet is a great source of information. For scientific research I use online peer reviewed journals.
6. How do you share your ideas? (write, paint, video, construct, present, perform)
I usually voice my opinions through writing stories or narratives. Sometimes just speaking my mind is the best way to go.
7. Where do you go to create something? What tools do you need?
To create something I usually need paper and pen. When I write, I like sitting on my bed or reclining on the couch.
8. Where do you go if you are stuck and can’t find what you’re looking for? Or, don’t know if the information you have is accurate?
I usually get up and run, or play piano. Something that takes my mind away for a little bit. If I doubt the accuracy of my information, I’ll ask my mom, my brother, or my adult friend Nomi. They are all amazing source of information.
9. If you could design a space for learning that is this place we currently call “library” what would it look like? Who would be there? What would be there? How would people interact there?
The library would probably have various levels: one level for complete quiet and one level for talking while working. Comfortable chairs and couches are great. Basically, the library is a studious place and people come in there to work, not to hang out.
10. In your mind, is the future of a library a “place”?
Yes, unless there was a way to make the library outside…but to be outside there would need to be nature which LA has very little of.
Elisabeth Abarbanel said on September 20, 2011
This is from a junior (girl)
1. Where do you choose to go to learn something hard? At school? At work? At home? Why? Can you describe that place, what is it like?
My room. I curl up on my bed and read. It is soft and comfortable environment, and I usually have my cat next to me. I like his environment because I can get all my materials easily from there.
2. How do you find out about things you are interested in?
3. Where do you feel connected? To ideas, to people
I feel connected to people on Facebook, and at school, and I feel connected to ideas everywhere.
4. What kind of things and spaces do you need when you are working on a project with friends?
I need something to write with, and on, and I need a space where we can move and have fun, but still be productive.
5. What tools do you use to learn about something? [books, phone, ipad, Google, wiki, blog, online)
I mainly use books to find out about something, but I do use Google, and the internet and my phone.
6. How do you share your ideas? (write, paint, video, construct, present, perform)
I write fantasy books (am in the middle of 2), I draw, I sew, and I write, compose, and play music.
7. Where do you go to create something? What tools do you need?
Depends on what I want to create. I usually write on my bed, but I can write anywhere. I compose songs whenever they come to me, I design clothes in my room, and I draw outside. I really only need my imagination, but a comfortable place to sit is always helpful.
8. Where do you go if you are stuck and can’t find what you’re looking for? Or, don’t know if the information you have is accurate?
I go to the library, and ask someone. I look in books, and if all that fails I cross-reference on the internet.
9. If you could design a space for learning that is this place we currently call “library” what would it look like? Who would be there? What would be there? How would people interact there?
If I were designing a library I would make a pattern with the bookshelves making a quiet study nook inside them. I would also have comfortable chairs and tables around that. I would want my friends to be there, and plenty of books and resources around me. People could be silent and study on their own, or people could work in groups making a fun environment too.
10. In your mind, is the future of a library a “place”?
YES if libraries did not physically exist I would be devastated. I think they are an imperative part of society, that even with the increasing dependence on technology libraries need to be a place for people to learn.
Elisabeth Abarbanel said on September 20, 2011
This is from a 10th grader, named Shelby:
Hey Ms. Abarbanel! here’s my answers to your questions for the lib thing, hope they’re sorta what you were looking for and hope you have a good time at the conference — it sounds cool.
The questions made me feel like I should learn and create things all of a sudden : )
–Shelby
1. Where do you choose to go to learn something hard? At school? At work? At home? Why? Can you describe that place, what is it like?
If I’m learning something hard it usually takes place in the classroom but if I had to understand something difficult on my own, I’d do it at home or some other quiet place where I won’t get distracted.
2. How do you find out about things you are interested in?
Computer, friends, parents.
3. Where do you feel connected? To ideas, to people
Class, activities, sports, some websites and magazines
4. What kind of things and spaces do you need when you are working on a project with friends?
Somewhere we can discuss freely and won’t get distracted. Not a silent zone. For some physical projects, access to a printer and being able to use art supplies is good. For studying together, a whiteboard is fantastic.
5. What tools do you use to learn about something? [books, phone, ipad, Google, wiki, blog, online)
Online, ask parent/teacher. Books if it’s for a school project kind of thing.
6. How do you share your ideas? (write, paint, video, construct, present, perform)
Writing… although I don’t really share any ideas with people/the public.
7. Where do you go to create something? What tools do you need?
At home probably, when I have an idea for art/story/poem/etc. All I need is a piece of paper to brainstorm and time to get ideas out….
8. Where do you go if you are stuck and can’t find what you’re looking for? Or, don’t know if the information you have is accurate?
We’re talking “in the library” right?
Well if so, I guess I’d ask a librarian or use the book search on the computer. If I don’t know if info is accurate, that means it probably came from the internet – I’d check in with a book.
9. If you could design a space for learning that is this place we currently call “library” what would it look like? Who would be there? What would be there? How would people interact there?
Hmmm. I think our library is pretty sweet how it is already; study tables for groups, cubicles for individuals, cozy couches, computers, all genres of fun and research books. . . those are all really important factors I would say.
Ideally just someplace you can learn, study, or just hang out and feel comfortable!
10. In your mind, is the future of a library a “place”?
Yes, although maybe I’m taking libraries too literally, I don’t know. To me a library is a safe place of knowledge and culture accessible to the public.
Michelle Simon Fromme said on September 20, 2011
This is from a 10TH grade girl:
1) I mainly challenge myself to learn difficult things at school. I tend to dig deep into projects and feel the need to really understand the material I am learning. I like to be in a quiet workspace with access to teachers and peers to support me in my work.
2) I find out about things I am interested in through learning things in school, and having a desire to dig deeper and find more about it. Another way I find out about things is through the internet, sometimes when I am doing research i stumble up something that interests me, that I then continue to research and learn about.
3) I feel connected to people to ideas and people mainly when I am with people I can discuss my ideas with.
4) When I am working on a project, I need the internet, access to someone with information or a database and in some cases books. And the normal supplies (scissors, paper, glue etc.)
5) When I am learning about something I use my computer, my phone, sometimes a textbook, or regular book. I do almost all of my research on google and sometimes databases.
6) I usually present my ideas in a powerpoint, an essay, or a presentation of a project.
7) When I am creating something I usually go to my advisory room where I have access to all the materials I need, or I create at my house where I feel equally as relaxed and comfortable. I need glue, scissors, paper,
magazines, a printer, stapler etc.
8) If I cant find what I am looking for I usually seek the help of an advisor or peer or someone who works at school to help me find the resources I need. If I’m not sure if the information I have is accurate, I will look on a database to confirm what I found is correct, or check with a peer if
they have the same information.
9) My ideal library would have all the arts and craft supplies I need, in addition to unlimited access to books, the internet, and reliable databases. It would also have peers and librarians that knew what I was learning about. It would also be a comfortable quiet workspace.
Joanne Baker & Jeannie Hixon, Woodward Academy said on September 21, 2011
We used a tweaked version of the ten questions and surveyed 167 students in grades 7-12. This, in a nutshell, is what they had to say. Our students like to learn at home and at school. They learn more from online sources and people than from books. They feel the most connected at school. Google is their favorite learning tool, but they also use other online sources, books and phones – not so much wikis or blogs. Our students, by far, like to share ideas by talking and writing. They prefer to create projects at home and use the standard old supplies along with online resources. Where do they go first, if they need information? You guessed it! Google wins by a mile! Books /libraries came in second and databases represented a very distant third. A large majority of the students clearly see the future library as both a place and a collection of online resources. What do they want the library of the future to look like? They want multiple spaces – quiet individual study/reading spaces and spaces for talking and collaboration. Comfortable chairs, a warm and inviting atmosphere, books and more computers were at the very top of the list. Our biggest surprise – the number of students who mentioned the need to keep both the books and the quiet atmosphere along with the librarians to answer questions!
Michelle Simon Fromme said on September 20, 2011
This is from an 11TH grade boy:
1. Where do you choose to go to learn something hard? At school? At work? At home? Why? Can you describe that place, what is it like?
If I find a concept difficult to grasp, the most effective working space is my home, specifically my room. I find that quiet jazz or classical music in the background, ample lighting, and limited noise helps me concentrate on a task. Supplies are always within a hands reach and pictures of friends and family surround me. I feel that this welcoming, quiet, and distraction-limited environment helps me focus on learning concepts that I consider ‘difficult’.
2. How do you find out about things you are interested in?
I subscribe to magazines such as The New England Journal of Medicine, Policy Review, Foreign Affairs, National Geographic, Scientific American, and Time Magazine which discuss issues I’m very interested in. I also listen to BBC Radio and watch their television program as well as listen to public radio. I rarely get interested in things by mass-appeal or peer-pressure.
3. Where do you feel connected? To ideas, to people…?
This is a difficult to answer, if the aforementioned question asked When instead of Where, I would be able to tell you without hesitation. I feel connected to ideas and people in spaces that are welcoming, active, and strangely enough, cool in temperature (the point being that the warmer the temperature is, the less likely I am to be actively engaged in something). Additionally, I connect to ideas and people in places that are frequently changing and within reason, free from suppositions (you can’t do this because… you shouldn’t do this because).
4. What kind of things and spaces do you need when you are working on a project with friends?
I try my best not to work with close friends on projects, because this ultimately leads to distractions. However, a space that includes my friend and or project partner(s) ideally looks like this: supplies are ample, lighting is ample, mood music is present, water and other amenities are available in short distances, references and source material available in print and online.
5. What tools do you use to learn about something? [books, phone, ipad, Google, wiki, blog, online)
When I hear about something new, the first place I go is Wikipedia. I find that this gives me an overview or limited insight into the issue to give me a greater spectrum of tools to search for my topic on databases and book stores. These tools include keywords, tending topics, and proper vocabulary usage surrounding the issue.
6. How do you share your ideas? (write, paint, video, construct, present, perform)
The most frequent medium I use to share or express my ideas are through speaking with others. My second most preferred choice is by writing. I consider myself a future author, and hope to produce works that express my opinion on topics with evidence and reason behind statements. Thirdly, I express my ideas through web-design, I implement my speaking and writing skills and combine them to produce material to put on websites that reenforce the points I’m making.
7. Where do you go to create something? What tools do you need?
I usually go to places that have ample supplies, like my house. I rarely go outside of my home to complete an individual project solely on the grounds that there is more comfort, security, and availability.
8. Where do you go if you are stuck and can’t find what you’re looking for? Or, don’t know if the information you have is accurate?
I go to first person documents or read about the material directly from published books. When I find that databases, wikis, or online materials aren’t giving me the tools I need, I head straight of e-books of physical books discussing the topic.
9. If you could design a space for learning that is this place we currently call “library” what would it look like? Who would be there? What would be there? How would people interact there?
I would design a space that includes amenities and is less e-present, in the sense that technology is acting as a distraction rather than a reinforcement for learning. I would disallow the playing of computer games in the library and encourage more work time and person-to-person discussion. I would provide amenities on a give what you get basis and install a water station in the library to make working more comfortable. I would change the space on a weekly basis and host events to get people interested in the notion that books and information are key to understanding why and how the world works. I would make the space open, accessible, and friendly while maintaining a balance of industrious works. I would implement surveys that people take when entering/leaving the library discussing issues like “How productive were you today?” “Did you accomplish the goals you set before coming to the library?”, and the like.