Wednesday, May 30, 2007

podcasting and tech workshop

we discussed saturday after finals week, June 9th, as a good option for most people. please let me know which of these times works best for you and i'll follow up with a final schedule (final projects are due June 11th at midnight).

rsvp via email with (1) your preferred time and (2) indicate if one of the two time periods does not work at all, and (3) if you would like to attend, but saturday does not work.

saturday 10-12:00 noon or 1-3:00pm

tentative agenda:
- podcasting demo (30 mins): presented by the pod casting committee
- geo tagging demo (30 mins): presented by the tech committee
- issue crawler demo (30 mins): presented by clifford
- general questions and/or practice (30 mins): all

if not all group members can attend one strategy is to choose one among you to attend and to be the tech person for the group.

Announcements for the week of May 29

Hello group,

A few brief announcements:

1. Reminder for Weds class: We will have the final research proposal presentations, fill out course evaluations, then watch "Soldier of Orange" and eat pizza! The movie runs 149 minutes.

2. Social Gathering at Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria in Wallingford, Thursday, June 21 (Summer Solstice!), 5:30 p.m.: 4411 Stone Way N., Seattle, WA 98103 -- 206-633-3800 We will go "dutch" this time. Average cost of meal is $10. Please let us know if you are able to attend. If this date does not work for people, we can also try Wed, June 20. Let me know.

3. Recent news articles of interest... Dying Woman to Donate Kidney on TV Show. A 37-year-old woman suffering from an inoperable brain tumor wants to donate a kidney before she dies and will choose the recipient from among three contestants on Dutch national television, a TV network said Tuesday, claiming it wants to highlight a crisis in organ donations. Interesting Germany and Immigration article:

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Immigration policy in U.S.

Hello,
Here is an interesting article just out today about the bipartisan compromise immigration bill. Interesting to consider this in relation to what is happening in Europe, re: immigration policies:

As Law Is Renegotiated, Immigrant Families Are on Edge By JULIA PRESTONA bipartisan bill would worsen the plight of legal immigrants who have been waiting as long as seven years to bring their families to live with them. Here.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

"Let's Talk European"

Phil Shekleton mentioned this link during his lecture:

The site is hosting an international debate regarding Buruma's book. It's interesting and relevant to our discussions. Also Phil writes:

"This website translates opinion pieces into English to help foster a pan-European debate and public space. It seems like there might be something here for your students looking at technology and the civic sphere."

Also, I have just finished reading Ayaan Hirshi Ali's memoir INFIDEL. If anyone would like to borrow the book, please let me know. It's a fascinating read, especially after having read Buruma's book.

Research Proposal Guidelines

Research Proposal || Basic Structure || Due 11 June 2007
“Pragmatic Tolerance”, Spring Seminar H A&S 397A


1. Abstract (200 words max)—the abstract will be close to its final draft, but does not need to be THE final version.

2. Background (~1000 words) – an overview that synthesizes the project for all group members This should include:

a) Literature review (from your reading discuss what are the core issues, common concerns, and debates)

b) Context (Why is the topic relevant. How will it advance yours and others understanding of the issue? Remember to consider why it is of personal interest to you.)

c) Problem(s) (what are the struggles you have encountered while beginning your research?)

3. Research Questions. This is where you set up your individual research as one component of the overall group research project. Spend one or two paragraphs developing your specific research question(s).

• researcher 1
• researcher 2
• researcher 3 (if applicable)

4. Research Methods (~1000 words/approximately 2 pages, plus bibliography)

• Affordances- how is each method appropriate for your research
• Limitations- what are the limitations of each method
• Reflexivity- what biases and what assumptions do you bring to the project
• Analysis- how will the data collected help answer/ask your research question)
• citations of relevant methods literature
• preliminary survey questions
• preliminary interview questions

5. Human Subjects: discuss 1) your methods for recruiting (interview) subjects, and 2) measures taken to guarantee confidentiality and anonymity. (include the human subjects application only if you are applying for IRB approval)

6. Daily research schedule while in Amsterdam (1-2 pages). You should have one consolidated schedule for the group. Initially, this will be a partial schedule and is expected to be a evolving document. However, you should try to add as much detail as possible even if it's just a placeholder for some event that has yet to be defined. The schedules should include resources you will use in Amsterdam, i.e.:

• People (names, titles, etc.)
• Places (address)
• Equipment
• Information

7) Reference List (bibliography)

8) All work to be submitted via wiki by midnight 11 June 2007

Monday, May 21, 2007

interviews & final presentations

the end of the quarter is upon us and we are a bit behind in coordinating the final presentations that begin this week on wednesday. I have looked at the interview assignment posts and they look good. however, due to some initial confusion about the instructions (my fault) and the host of activities last week, symposium, etc., i would like to modify the final presentations to foreground the interview assignment.

the interview/observation component of your projects is crucial so it is important that we take the time to practice and work through some of the challenges that emerge. even expert interviewers can easily be foiled in an unfamiliar environment where you have fewer contacts and where your instincts can be somewhat impaired.

interview assignment:

1) each person should interview someone using this in-depth interview format:

2) blog your field notes and include reflections about how you found your subject. was it difficult? how did the information you received from the interview compare to your expectations? in other words, what were some of the limitations of the interview?

3) some of you emailed with scheduling difficulties. take the time to conduct the interview as needed and post your notes before wednesday. we'll discuss your experiences in the first 10 minutes of class today.

final presentations:

1) the schedule: to initiate the scheduling process, i'd like to propose that we reverse the schedule from the last presentations. the groups that went on the second day would present on the first day this time (this wednesday). and those who went first last time would present on the second wednesday, may 30th. it would look like this:

may 23

- way-finding
- sex worker info needs
- Moroccan religious fashion


may 30

- immigration & health care
- transportation
- coffee shops
- waste management

talk with your group members and contact me as soon as possible if you need to switch days.


2) the format:

begin by briefly identifying any refinements or reformulations of your research project since the last presentation. in 2-3 minutes, summarize the following:

a) Research goals (int’l engagement, pilot study, publishable research)
b) Relevant literature
c) Research question
d) Field sites (both online & offline)

spend the remainder of your time (7 minutes) discussing what you (collectively) learned from the interview and how that informs what you will do in Amsterdam. this means you will need to synthesize your individual experiences to establish a plan for Amsterdam. use specific examples from your interview exercise.

3) the media:

post your presentation outline and any relevant resources on your wiki. for example, you should link each of your interview blog posts to an appropriate section on your wiki. the wiki is the collaborative workspace and a medium that allows people outside of the program to have all the pieces in one place.

deliver the presentation using whatever medium (or media) you choose as the best way to convey the material. this is a media intensive process, so our expectation is that you will use the overhead projector in some way to convey your material as well as your organization of the project.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Seminar Updates

Hello,
A few changes and updates to this week's seminar schedule: **No readings or postings due this week**

1) Interview assignment will be due on MONDAY, May 21. We will send out another email clarifying the assignment. Also, you should read the final two chapters of Buruma book (6-7) for Monday's class. Please post a brief reaction to the reading and also questions you might have for Phil Shekleton, our guest speaker and associate director of the EU Center for Excellence. I'll soon send more details about his talk...

2) Wednesday's guest speaker is Art Historian and Rome Program Co-Director, Lisa Schultz. She will give you an intro to Dutch art history, the Golden Age, and discuss the works of the "Dutch Masters", paintings that you will likely see while we are in Amsterdam (and in den Hague). 3) Because it is a very busy week, I am going to postpone the optional movie and pizza that we had scheduled for 5-7 p.m. on Wed. Movie and pizza night will be on May 30, 5-7 p.m. Mark your calendars. You have two options: "Girl with a Pearl Earring" or "Soldier of Orange". Please let me know what you prefer.

4) Finally, a note from our friend Mirjam at UvA: "Just a thought, but about 3/4 of the Moroccans in Holland are from Berber descent, so not Arab, Since 9/11 their search and self confidence for their own identity has developed and grown. There are more Berber clubs and associations now. This might be an interesting research topic, not much is known, yet."

Symposium Poster e-mail

Hello Poster Group,
I'm checking in to make sure that you all are talking and starting to puttogether the poster for the session on Friday. Please read on...The poster does not have to be fancy, but you'll want to collect the researchquestions and photos from the blog and then craft an introduction to the entireprogram and discuss the various projects being done. You might want to useinformation and photos from last year's program, perhaps give a brief history ofthe program and it's inception: http://uwhonorsinamsterdam2006.blogspot.com/Please let me know if you have any questions about the program. I do have theposter from last year (in my office) and even the pdf if you'd like to view.We will give you some time to meet this week, about 15 minutes at the end ofclass on both Monday and Wed, but we hope that students can stay a bit afterclass and/or set up another time to meet. I think much of this can be done overemail, but someone probably needs to take the lead to get the ball rolling (Ibelieve Haley volunteered). The poster session runs 12:00-1:30 and again from3:00-3:30. They would like you to check in with your poster between 8:00-11:00(check in at registration table, set up the poster then come back at 12:00). Atleast one person needs to be present standing by the poster to answer anyquestions, so you'll want to coordinate schedules.The Symposium organizers ask "Presenters...to remain at their posters during theformal session times and as available throughout the afternoon. You should beprepared with a three- to five-minute summary for visitors using your poster asa visual guide. Some visitors may ask additional questions. Additionally, youare also strongly encouraged to attend the presentation sessions." Again, moredetails about poster here:http://www.washington.edu/research/urp/symp/posterparticipants.html
Let me know if you have any questions. Julie

Sunday, May 13, 2007

this week's activities & assignments

FOR MONDAY: tomorrow our guest lecturer is Clarke Speed, an expert ethnographer. in preparation for his lecture, reflect on the readings for Monday and post three questions on your blog related to your research project. for example, if you plan to interview and/or use observation, pose questions about practical challenges you would anticipate.

FOR WEDNESDAY: conduct an interview on someone you don't know (or at least not very well) using the "Organizing an In-Depth Interview" format noted in Monday's readings. post the "field notes" from this interview on your blog before class on Wednesday.

FOR FRIDAY: you should be meeting/coordinating with your symposium group and preparing your presentation or poster. Julie sent out an email to the poster group and I will send an email to the presentation group. please let us know if you have any questions or if you need guidance.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Research Symposium, May 18

Hello,
Just a reminder about the upcoming research symposium. The following students are signed up for the poster session and oral presentation:

Poster Sessions begin at 12:00

Jonathan Karademos
Sunil Garg
Haley Anderson
Shirley Chen
Irina Kolobova
Jenny Sager
Jana Slovic
Poster Information


Presentation: 3:30-5:00, MGH 271.

Alex Gwozda
NathanMarotz
Chase Winslow
Julia Hamilton
Edward Crabbe
Sathi Maiti
Mark Stevens
Presentation Information:

You can find more details on the Symposium here.

I have samples posters from last year and also a pdf if you are interested in viewing. We will give you some class time in the next week to discuss your poster and presentations.

Julie
A few important announcements and reminders:
1. We will need your passport numbers and expiration date for security clearance when we visit the EU Parliament in Brussels during the first week of our program. Please send your passport number by the end of the week. You can either email or give to me in class this week.

2. Please remember to let me know if you have any food allergies or smoke allergies.

3. The dorms will be available beginning Friday, July 27; our last night in the dorms is Saturday, Aug. 25. We are staying in Prins Hendrikkade 189. You can view photos by going to: http://www.shortstay.dekey.nl/
then look under "properties" link and scroll down to Prins Hendrikkade.
If you plan to arrive early or stay on, you will need to arrange for other lodging. There are lots of options in Amsterdam.
http://www.hostels.com/en/nl.am.html

4. Airfare is holding steady at around $1,300-1,400. You may find some student discounts through STA Travel:
http://www.statravel.com/

Offices are located at:
Council Travel Seattle U District
4311 1/2 University Way NE
Seattle , WA 98105
206-632-2448

Seattle Capitol Hill
424 Broadway Ave. East
Seattle , WA 98102
206-329-4567

4. A good source for cheap flights within Europe:
http://www.flylc.com/directall-en.asp
5. Finally, please let me know if you are not receiving emails from FIUTS, re: study abroad orientation. You should all register for an orientation session. More information below (and to register):
In-Person on May 12 and May 15
The online orientation is in addition to the orientations scheduled by
FIUTS on Saturday, May 12 (11am-1pm) and Tuesday, May 15 (6pm-8pm) which
will include topics like, "engaging your host culture, travel tips, and
country information sessions". We strongly recommend that students
register for and participate in one of these in-person orientations. To
register, students should visit www.fiuts.org.

Thursday, May 3, 2007

saturday particulars

UW/VKS Amsterdam Gathering

May 5, 2007, Saturday 4-7:00 pm

Refreshments Served

The Cosmopolitan Lounge
819 Virginia St. 9th Floor
Seattle, WA 98101
tel: (206) 356-7140 (clifford's cell)

directions & map

bus: The 71, 72, 73 buses from UW are frequent (approx every 10 minutes) and often express (no stops between UW and 9th/Stuart, which is the stop for the Cosmopolitan). the 71, 72, 73 buses stop across the street from Solstice cafe on University Ave at 42nd St. get off the bus down town at 9th & Stuart.

parking- there are a number of lots nearby but it's not cheap ($5-10). most are the sort where you drive on and put money in a box with a slot next to the number of your parking space. there's also some street parking ($3 for 2 hours). if you drive, i would recommend car-pooling.



Wednesday, May 2, 2007

paul's blog assignment

what is e-research?

how would you like to instantiate e-research in your Amsterdam project?