Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Observing People & Spaces on Campus
Before class on Monday (May 3), I would like you to practice observing a public space on campus and how people use it. You’ll need to reserve about 45 minutes for this exercise, and what I’d like you to do is find a space on campus—like Jazzman’s, Driscoll Green, or a nearly coffee shop—where you can practice taking field notes. You’ll need to write down your observations in as detailed a way as you can. Describe the space, its layout and design, colors, smells, objects—whatever you can observe. Then describe the people you see there, what they are doing, how they interact with the space and each other. If you can, I’d like you to interview a few people briefly and ask them about how they use this space and why it is significant to them. Last, you’ll need to type up your field notes and post them to our blog before class on Monday, May 3.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
· Jmac Lawn 2:00 PM
ReplyDeleteA lot of kids outside everyone excited and upbeat
· Separate groups interacting with one another, not a lot of overflow and mixing between groups
· Soccer circle full of boys only interacting with one another, no girls involved in the soccer circle
· Girls sitting in clusters talking to one another, lying on towels and many have books or computers, doing homework
· A lot of people in comfortable clothes, swim suits and sunglasses
· Frisbee is an activity that both genders are enjoying
· Campus golf played by some boys
· Even those who know one another might usually say hi tend to stay secluded in their groups.
· All of the outdoor cafeteria tables full
· Very hot and sunny, slight breeze, beautiful day
Driscoll Green 2:00 PM
ReplyDeleteBusy with students on their way to class. Everyone seems to be in their own world not noticing what is going on around them. People are playing Frisbee on the lawn and one of the fraternities is blasting music while selling tickets for their bar party coming up. Various girls scatter around the table before heading to class to talk to the boys. The boys of SAE are out in front of their house “frat practicing” as they like to call it. Some are hanging out on the porch while others are throwing a football. The boys of Kappa Sig are on their porch blasting music that is echoing off of Driscoll. I can smell the hamburgers that had just been cooked at the grille, which is still packed with students finishing their lunch. Everyone around me is young and well dressed. Two girls great each other with big hugs and walk away talked about what I predict was last weekends’ happenings. Everyone seems busy and determined to get to class. By about 2:15 most of the crowd has dispersed to class and only a few people remain on the lawn along with the fraternity boys at their table. The hot dog man is still standing with his stand along Asbery, but seems disappointed with the days sales. Its warm outside and people are definitely taking advantage of the heat and the sun.