Undergraduate political communication in action: volunteer experiences in a situated learning course

Brubaker, Jennifer

doi:10.1080/14703297.2010.543775

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 18 publications

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“…Citing a number of other authors on the subject, Jennifer Brubaker (2011) suggests that "rather than merely the transfer of information in a fixed classroom setting, knowledge becomes 'know-how'" (Katula & Threnhauser, 1999, in Brubaker, 2011. "Students are given the opportunity to make sense of the social world in ways outside of the logic of a textbook" (Jovanovic, 2003, in Brubaker, 2011.…”

Section: Educational Efficacymentioning

confidence: 99%

Reversing the ethnographer�s lens: A reflection on the challenges and possibilities of doing �off-shore� field research as a group

East¹

2013

DRA

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In this article I draw on the experiences of an ethnographic field trip to Kerala, South India, undertaken by myself and seven postgraduate students in January 2012. I will address questions arising from our perceived group identity in India, including that of our representation as a group of New Zealanders (from varied cultural backgrounds); our own sense of groupness; our presence and practice as a group of researchers in the field; and the pros and cons of travelling as a group. While each student was exploring an independent dance research topic and while each came from very different backgrounds, we were nevertheless travelling as an organised group and were therefore perceived as culturally homologous. Finally, I address the educational efficacy of doing field work as a group in general, its impact on the cohort being researched, and the learning outcomes for students. I suggest that this kind of translocational or situated learning experience can lead to heightened reflexivity and allow greater insight both for the students themselves and the culture they are researching.Ethnography is not simply a collection of the exotic 'other'; it is reflective of our own lives and cultural practices even when discussing another culture. (Tomaselli, Dyll, & Francis in Denzin & Lincoln, 2008, p. 352) MEMOIR AS/OR PREAMBLEWe are finally on board the plane and bound for Trivandrum in Kerala, South India.We are a group of seven excited university Summer School students and me-their teacher. We have come together over the past five days to prepare for our three week "ethnographic reconnaissance", which Harry Wolcott (2008, p. 190) describes as a preliminary investigation of a potential field in order to establish relations and assess the potential for future ventures. Some of the group have not met before, though all but one has been my student at different times. None have been to India and two have never travelled overseas. Once we are seated on the plane, I pass my

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Section: Educational Efficacymentioning

confidence: 99%