Schaeffer+Interviews



toc

Copy of QI proposal for editing S. J. (Sandy) Schaeffer, III (updated 11/29/2006 - after class)

__Paper Title:__ //Using Wiki technology to create shared science: experiences in a graduate class//

Using my experiences as a graduate student of qualitative studies, I will describe my personal experiences in a class context using Wiki technology to create scientific knowledge as a community exercise. Focus will be on the process by which our group of novice Wiki users developed the necessary skills to collaborate effectively and create shared academic work. Questions to be explored include: How does collaborative development differ in a Wiki space versus traditional online learning environments? What are the implications on social inclusivity (or exclusivity) presented by the use of Wiki technology to create shared scientific work? What are some implications for the use of Wikis in qualitative research and education? My discussions will be grounded in pertinent contemporary literature.

This is my observational log from the trip to the OakCourt Mall on 9/20/2006
 * Time || Notes || Impressions || Themes ||
 * 6:58M || Sat at a table in the food court area about 40 feet from thee restaurants: - Steak Escape (SE), Chick-FilA (CF), ManchuWok (MW). I had a straight line view of the walk-up ordering location for SE and focused my energy their. There were 6 people in line when I started watching. Two 'pairs' and two singles - or at least it seemed that way. Two teenage (W) males had already placed their order when I began. There was a pair of women (B/W) behind them and the two women - perhaps in their 30s - were chatting as if friends and had come to eat together, but I'm not sure. || I felt a little anxiety about taking notes in a public place - as if I'm invading their privacy a bit. Not really sure what I'm looking for... || No anxiety or rushing amongst the patrons from my vantage point. From a distance, seemed like a relaxed experience for all in line. ||
 * 7:00PM || The B/W (female) couple have now placed their orders (separately) and the first one immediately began drinking her beverage and then walked around to the pick-up area around the corner to wait for her food to be prepared and served. Her friend was just placing her order and it went pretty quickly. The two first guys who had placed their orders were still waiting for their food to be served to them. Obviously for SE, you place your order at one location (which is pretty quick) and then wait about 4-8-min for your food to be served. I did notice that a female walking across the food court saw a friend/acquaintance in the SE line and walked up to give her a hug. || I guess the quick order makes the patrons feel like they've gotten fast-food service - even though they have to wait for it to be prepared for a few minutes. || Friendship? Socializing while in line? ||
 * 7:03PM || The B&W women (pair) continue chatting with each other while in the waiting area for their food. || Hard to tell if they're actually friends or just an accident that they could converse in the same food line. I'll keep following them to find out more. ||  ||
 * 7:04PM || Back in the food ordering area a teenage couple (maybe 16 or so) - both black were placing their order. They were side-by-side and about the same height. She did most of the talking and ordering while he remained to her right quietly. I'm not sure who paid. || Not sure if they are a 'dating' couple or brother and sister. ||  ||
 * 7:05PM || Watched the B&W female couple waiting on their food come to a table very near me and sit down together opposite each other. They continued their relatively energized conversation. || My guess is that they are co-workers at one of the stores in the mall. Their attire is casual work and they look about the right age to be in retail. || Seeking friendship and companionship in a busy world. ||
 * 7:07PM || Teenage couple are waiting for their food in the pickup area. He is now holding her right arm in a more initimate way. He became more more talkative in this context. || A dating couple, not bro/sis. || Romance, some insecurity about adolescent relationships. ||
 * 7:08PM || Back over in the regular order line - a solo black woman (maybe 35-45 yrs old?) seemed to be unusually engaged in dialog with the cashier / order-taker - more than all of the previous patrons. Not sure why. I also noticed that two children (maybe not hers?) walked up for about 15 seconds and seemed to know her. At least one of them hugged her. Then they walked away to a different restaurant with a different set of adults - maybe their parents? || Friendly interaction. Are these random passers-by or did they come in a group? A lot more cross-patron dialog than I would have expected. || The food-court is a socializing neighborhood? ||
 * 7:10PM || Al patrons to this point started consuming their beverages immediately upon receiving them at the cash register location. || Why? Thirsty? Nervous? Simply because they had it? ||  ||
 * 7:11PM || M/F couple (~20-35 / W) studying the menu in the ordering line. Both had waist-length jackets on. Seemed to be in serious discussion about what to order. Studied the menu at length – more than previous patrons I’ve observed this evening. They finally ordered, but as a pair, not separate orders. It looked like they had to agree on what each other ordered as if they’ve done things in joint- decision-making for some time. He paid in cash from his pocket. They walked in tandem to the pickup area to wait for their food. || Long-term relationship? || Companionship ||
 * 7:15PM || While waiting for their food, they last couple did not appear uncomfortable to be together waiting. She kept looking around the food court – not sure why? I did not detect any physical affection between them, but they also always stayed in close proximity to each other while in line – probably within 2-feet the entire time. Interestingly, they were the first patrons to not begin their drinks. One had something in a small cup (coffee?) and the other was a larger drink (probably with ice). || Comfortable familiarity with some mutual dependency ||  ||
 * 7:16PM || I switched over to the Manchu-Wok line to watch a group of three walk up to place an order: Many (35?), Woman (35?), and adolescent girl (10?) – all white. All in casual attire. They came in together much like a family would. All three studied the menu together and stayed in a very close group (elbow-to-elbow in a cluster most of the time). The male (father?) stayed in conversation with the cashier after placing order. He pointed through the display a couple of times while continuing dialog – probably clarifying the order. The child was eating some sort of hand-food at this point. The female adult (mother?) and adolescent girl (daughter?) left to find a table while the male (father?) paid the bill – in cash. || I had a very strong impression this was a family and probably a complete family. The close proximity gave me the impression of ‘protection’ for the family – much like watching a National Geographic show on animals in the wild. || Family, normalcy ||

General Notes that I observed across the entire experience:

The __lighting__ in the food court was generally subdued. I couldn't tell if any natural lighting would come in as this was in the late evening just before sunset outside. It was just bright enough for me to take notes. Interestingly enough I could not detect any strong __aroma__ of food in the table area where I sat - which was about 40 feet from the food serving lines. Why? High ceiling? Each vendor vented it out? Not really sure, but a surprise nonetheless. The __sounds__ were also subdued - almost silent. I could never hear anything they were saying. In essence the only sense I had to go by was visual.

The mood of the patrons was consistently patient and relaxed (externally). Everything moved at a quick and steady pace - with each patron spending no more than a minute placing their order at the cashier/counter. I noticed that all the menus are large and highly visible which gives the patron a good opportunity to be decisive when they reach the cashier. Everyone seemed relaxed an unhurried at all of the lines I observed. The food court was also not crowded at all this evening - maybe about 25% full in the eating/table area. (My impression is one of a "good" place overall for people.)