Scientists' notebook vs. research "diary"
08/05/2013 - Episode 1 (E2, afternoon)
Here is my first episode form the class on Monday.
And my first (ever) blog post.
I chose this clip because it surprised me how emotionally Gail (lady in black) reacted to the idea of sharing her notebook with others. This conversation happened right after Rachel informed teachers that by the end of the workshop, they will exchange notebooks with each other.
Gail is clearly not happy with the idea that someone else will read her notes. She claims that knowing that she is not writing for herself but for others will make her pay more attention to HOW she is writing rather than to WHAT is she putting in her notebook.
I wonder if she would be less upset if sharing notebooks was optional, i.e., if teachers were told that at the end of the workshop they can decide whether they want to share their notes with others or not. That would allow her (and others) to be as open as she wants to and only at the end of the class would decide what she feels like doing. Because she knows from the beginning that she has to share her notes, she feels that she can't be as open as she would like to and that she has to be more neat than she normally is. It found her reasoning against sharing notebooks very interesting.
Wow, this is a very emotional video. I've heard yesterday you talking about her looking back at the camera while talking... I think she looking at that moment to the camera could also be an indicator of she being aware she is observed.
ReplyDeleteAfter she shares her concern "now I have to be more professionally" in her notebook, maybe she is relating that into being observed. Not only by her writing in her notebook but she realizes she is being literally observed by the video camera.
I hope this notebook situation works out well for them. I also agree with you on considering if they need to share their entire notebook or maybe then can share a particular day that they feel comfortable for others to read. Lets see how it goes.
I love that she is so articulate about her own feelings and also her students. I also think there might be something interesting here about her identity as a scientist. This feels like a moment where she wanted to "be" as scientist, but then how do you do that and also "be" a student. I think she brings up a great issue!
DeleteDid you notice that she speaks directly into the microphone at 1:02? Fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI did. I talked about this yesterday. It seems to me like is she was thinking about saying something else but then realized that we record her and so she didn't finish but rephrased her thought...
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ReplyDeleteGail says, "it put fear in me" around 0:44 in regard to the sharing of the notebooks. I think for her the sharing of the notebooks makes the class less of a safe space. Today Gail also spoke to me directly a few times and turned to face the camera once or twice when I was filming Energy Theater in the lobby. She seems especially aware of the video compared to other teachers.
ReplyDeleteWhen someone is this conscious of the videocamera, I generally avoid videotaping their group and put the mic at another table. It doesn't happen often, but every once in a while it does, and it's best to just back off and give them some space.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious, given that this is happening in E2, if she also had issues with the camera when she was in E1.
Would it be helpful, now that a few days have gone by, to speak to the entire class at the beginning of the day, and speak some reaffirming words about the video and audio to all of the teachers we are filming? Make it a positive message spoken by us videographers or Amy/Abby. Letting them know that we are really grateful for their participation, encouraging them by saying how thoughtful and impressive their conversations are. Reminding them that we DON'T want them to try hard to be professional or perfect, but that we just want to see their human interactions. I know this was done on day one. But to come back and say it again might be powerful. Maybe it will help folks? I don't think it could hurt.
ReplyDeleteI spoke, very briefly, to two folks in E1 during break today. I told them how I really appreciated their comments and questions, and how I felt they really contributed positively to the conversations. I particularly picked out two people who I feared might be feeling frustrated or feeling that they were making dumb comments. I was being truthful, but at the same time strategic. I feel like I got this idea from someone else. And they both responded very positively to me. Who doesn't like positive feedback!
Brad, I think Gail is more concerned than other people in the class. Observers please correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that most everyone is totally fine with the videotaping. Mostly they are too busy and engaged to be interested in the camera, and when they do think of it, it seems benign. Gail might be an exception. Myself I wouldn't put a mic on or near her.
ReplyDeleteIt happened both on Monday and Tuesday that Brad said something straight to the mic while looking right a the camera - these were some silly comments of the type "I know you are watching me" etc.
DeleteI was watching Gail also yesterday (it happened that she got moved to the table that I wanted to videotape that day) and she did not look at the camera even once, nor did she make any comments in the conversation about recording. Maybe this was because of the conversation you had with them about the option of not sharing everything? I think she was really upset that she has to share her notebook as on Tuesday she again started talking to Debra that she thinks it is not a good idea.
But I can definitely make sure not to record the table that she is satting at.
I interpret this differently. I don't think she cares about the camera at all in this video and she is USING the camera to get her point across. I think we should video her more because she is not afraid or intimidated by the camera at all (to me).
DeleteSo you think it is ok if I keep videotaping her? I think it could be interesting to see if she will act differently now that she knows she does not HAVE TO share everything. I think that yesterday she was more relaxed than on Tuesday and she did not bring the notebook issue up (she did on Tuesday in conversation with Debra).
DeleteMy impression is YES. However, you have been in the classroom more. Based on this video I would be totally fine asking her to be mic'd again.
DeleteI agree with Abby! I didn't interpret her as uncomfortable at all.
DeleteGreat! I would like to keep watching her. Especially that since yesterday she is much more active in the group and makes very interesting remarks during activities.
DeleteOne of the students in E1, Rob, has told me that he is uncomfortable with having the researchers in the room and doesn't like to be videotaped and/or mic'ed. Yet, he said that he would be okay with being videotaped if the rest of his group said it was okay and he didn't have to wear the mike. Also, our table 2 is spending a lot of time talking into the mic and trying to get Susan to laugh.
DeleteWe had what I thought was a very good conversation about notebooks at the morning meeting yesterday. We agreed that people can opt out of sharing their notebooks, or can keep certain pages private using sticky-note shields.
ReplyDeleteI switched tables from # 2 to # 6; not because they were talking to me,but i had an interest in Emma and her table which at the time was predominantly femail
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