Writing Assignment [due 3/6] Reading Notes + Interview Assignment
1. Read the assigned texts/readings (from Bandura and Cronon). 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
Interview Assignment -- Urbana City Outreach/Contact
2. Tailor the email draft below that follows and your Assigned/Selected Urbana City Gov. Contact (Contact1) from last class. Aim to schedule an in-person interview with them in their office of work in the next week or 2 (ideally by 3/6, but you can take until 3/12 for TWO interviews. This, because next week, you'll also be assigned to conduct an interview with a non-City of Urbana Gov. Contact/Contact2. Notes from BOTH interviews will be due on 3/13):
2a. Once you have your interview scheduled, structure your interview around the following questions:Dear XX,
My name is XX, and I am a student of the Community Data Graduate class being taught this semester under UIUC’s School of Information Sciences. Melissa Haynes at the Urbana Police Department has been collaborating with Anita Chan, the faculty instructor of the course, to work towards the design of a Survey for City of Urbana representatives and workers on data practices related to their work on developing quality of life programs, efficacy of such programs, and changes they have seen over time in the City of Urbana. Melissa has requested we concentrate primarily on the Crystal Lake Park neighborhood of Urbana. Overall, the course explores current practices in participatory design, civic data research, and community data application and outreach.
I am reaching out to request an interview with you as part our work for the course, to provide some advice and guidance on research I'll help undertake for the city. Would you be free for a short interview - about 30 minutes - in the next week or so (ideally, by Friday, March 8). I would be happy to meet you in your office between normal office hours. Or, if needed, speak by phone.
As part of the course, we will also help compile a list of key resources and research journals/publications on topics related to community, data and _______. For this work, defining Search Terms is essential. When we meet, one topic I’d love to get to speak with you about is what key terms you think would be most useful for you to have us to conduct searches on. (ie. Melissa flagged for us terms like "collective efficacy" and "police legitimacy" as key markers for community safety and policing article searches.)We can include the terms you suggest - three or so phrases would be helpful, if any come to mind -- in our search and compilation work. We hope this can help ensure the findings we generate are genuinely beneficial for your city department.
In case it’s helpful, the course schedule and syllabus is available online here. Thanks so much for your time, and we look forward to hearing back from you!
Regards,
XX
- What are the general responsibilities/services for Urbana are covered under your department/office? What size is the staff (and budget) to cover this work?
- How long have you worked in XXX? (and/or: where were you before)
- What changes have you seen over time? (or: how do you compare your observations with your past institution?)
- What do you think of as working well in the city? (Or does a "best practice" in the city come to mind?)
- What do you think of as not working as well, or still a challenge?
- In your work, what data do you make use of regularly? What (new/added) data might you like to see to help inform your work?
- Are there any key partners for your work?
- What would you like to get more feedback on (either specifically or generally) from City workers/staff, or Urbana City residents?
- Is there anything more in particular you would like to share?
- I'll be creating a short list of most relevant Communications/Information Science journal articles on topics related to your field. What "search terms" (if any) would you recommend I use?
2c. Make sure to include the Key Terms for searching journal data bases that the contact suggested.
3. Email me your reading assignment link and an update on your Interview status (asaychan@gmail.com) by 9A Wednesday 3/6. The actual Interview summary and 2 pages of notes/transcripts for Contact 1 will be due on Wednesday 3/13 at 9A, along with your Interview summary and 2 pages of notes/transcripts for Contact 2.