Methods of Research

After reading Chapters 21-24 of J Gary Knowles and Ardra L. Cole's book, "Handbook of the Art in Qualitative Research I learn some interesting methods of research. Probably the method I found to be the most useful to me was in Chapter 22 about the use of collage as inquiry, particularly the process of "memoing." When I was working with my after school art club, Hempstead Community Based Art Group, I found that what the students discussions and interactions were very interesting to watch. The group was set up to help build better communication and quality of living and learning in the Hempstead community. The students wanted to take art into action by dealing with bulling, name calling, discrimination, racism, etc. It was through our discussions I felt that the students were actually moving further backwards then forwards though. I found that the same group of students who were trying to improve the culture in our school also were becoming more of the problem. I think if I would have had the students create a collage about their school it may helped them realize their own perspectives about their school. DANG IT. I really wish I would have thought about that a few years ago. I will defiantly do that next time.

I need to apologize to you all about my lack of blogging. I have always been terrible at emailing and my blogging habits are not any better. THIS BLOG WAS SUPPOSE TO BE ENTERED ON THE WEEK OF FEB 10th.

Curiosity? I am curious about a great deal of many things. I am always curious on how I can improve myself, my health, my job, the school I teach at, the environment, my community, and how to better help others. Although I feel I haven't really done much to help accomplish anything. Another curiosity that always sticks in my head is how technology is constantly changing the habits of communication around us and what old methods of communication will be lost. How will communication change our culture in the future.

What first drove me to this interest is not only my inability to communicate well through technology, but the methods in which I enjoy communicating are become less practiced. This curiosity started when I started teaching High School. Everyday I like to stand out in the halls between classes and listen and watch the students communicate to each other. I think I get this trait from my father, who's only reason to go to the mall with my mother was so he could watch all the other people walk, communicate, shop, etc. Yeah my dad was a mall watcher. I never really understood it at first but now I am starting to. The only difference between me and my dad is that dad never intended to step into these peoples lives and try to effect it the way I hope to.

I think another reason I became interested in this topic is because I am also curious what the future holds for these very technological driven students, who will later live and work in a very advanced technological culture. Will they be able to talk to people face to face without the interference of technology. Yesterday I counted how many students have ear buds or headphones on as they walk from class to class. I said hello to fifteen of them as they walked by, but only three or four could hear me to say hello back. Currently in the coffee shop I am typing this blog entry at is a couple sitting next to me. The girlfriend is trying to talk to her boyfriend while he is listening to music really loud in one ear. I can hear it from fifteen feet away. It is no wonder we need online dating services theses days, because people are having trouble meeting and communicating to each other face to face.
Twitter, Face book, and My Space all bring similar curiousness about how we communicate. I can say I currently do not have an account on either. I did try twittering once though. I found it to be a very dull experience. Their are benefits to these types of online communication, such as the ability to keep in contact with friends from college that live in other places around the globe. The things I find are missing from these services is the ability to read peoples body language, the environment they are currently in, the smells and tastes that are around them. The use of these communication devices doesn't help appeal to all of the senses.
I have not done much to fulfill my curiosity on this topic. Perhaps I should get a face book account to truly see what it is like. If anyone has any ideas on books to read about this topic I would love to take time to read them.