This afternoon we are almost entirely processing data, not observing. Room 1 has diagrammed their energy theater work and is engaged in a discussion of whether to come to consensus about the diagrams -- whether their representational diversity is a limitation, or an appropriate freedom. I am torn about not documenting that conversation. On the one hand, surely there is cool stuff getting said. But if we record as much as we possibly can, it's the Heap, and we never get to it anyway so why do it in the first place? I am determined not to repeat the experience of last summer. We buried ourselves in data and have still not dug ourselves out.
On the other hand: The joy of last summer for me was the observation I did. Sam and I had this incredibly engrossing experience, living through the course with one group of participants each day, listening to every part of their conversation in the headphones, watching them for hours in the display, taking copious field notes. (I can't take field notes while filming energy theater because I have to be mobile and hold the camera.) It is not going too far to say that the experience of doing that changed my professional life. Right now I am not doing that.
Any way I do it, there is so much I am missing!
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