Writing Assignment [due 2/20] Reading Notes + Second Data Walk
Reading Notes:
1. Read the two assigned texts/readings (Mosher et al and Foucault). For each text, compose half a page (single space) of notes that identify key terms, arguments, themes or methods that strike you as useful for translations across fields/sectors/or disciplines, and are worthy of further discussion.
1a. At the end of your notes, be sure to articulate Two Key Questions that extend insights or tensions that emerge from the texts.
Neighborhood Walk Data/Notes
2. Spend 30-45 minutes walking around an area in Ward 3. Take along a note pad and camera (your cell phone camera is fine) - and take at least 5 photos of objects/sites that draw your attention during your walk. This can be at any points or moments of observation that generate interest, tension, confusion, surprises, counter-intuitive findings (Ned adds: poetic insights and existential questionings also invited). Make note of what sites/moments you observe for seeming either "civically" rich or calm, "data" rich or calm, and "community" rich or calm (however you'd like the interpret those terms, based on your experiences locally or in another city).
Be sure to keep similar questions in mind as you go through the area as you did for your first data walk assignment. What do you notice as you walk as signs of "the city" or "community" activity? What signs (or lack) of city/public services, and community/neighbor/neighborhood activity, do you notice? Is it evident City/Public services, Neighbors, etc. take "care" of the area? What do you notice about the ease of walking or biking? What is noticeable in terms of green space or landscape maintenance, be it on public or private property? Keep in mind the diversity of significant users of neighborhood space: youth, elderly. pets, families, travelers, resident who speak different languages, residents in wheelchairs, etc. Also: the diversity of routine city "services" for users: transportation, parks, education, maintenance (safety, waste services, lighting, etc), public housing, etc. And the diversity of potentially meaningful signs of community/resident activity in a neighborhood: use of yard, street or sidewalk space, signage posted, etc. Feel free to stand still for 5-10 minutes in a significant/selected spot, and take note of what you observe from there.
2a. In no more than 1 page, describe what you noticed in your walk. Start by reflecting any prior impressions you may have had of the area, and what City/Public services had been/are there. And take note of what objects/signs drew your attention as you walked, and why. How might others characterize the area, were they to have made the same 30 min. walk and noticed the same objects? Feel free to make connections to current events or other resources if you like.
2b. Make note of the time/day of your walk, your starting point, and your walking path. Save the photos you take during your walk; we'll upload them to our sites and share them in class Wednesday.
3. Go to our Community Data Glossary, and add in one bullet/data point (or example) for the each table created for our Week 3 articles by Nafus (Working Ethnographically With Sensor Data) and Powell (Data Walkshop). Be sure to credit yourself at the end of your entry!
4. Email me your assignment links (asaychan@gmail.com) by 9A Wednesday 2/20.
