Ethnography Results, Week 1

My original idea was to observe two different programming lab sections, each with a different TA, to determine if there are noticeable quantitative or qualitative differences between them. As a peer teacher, I was able to easily observe each of these sections without affecting the already-established environment. In order to keep each section as similar as possible, I perform my work in the same manner for each section, answering questions when asked directly or going to students with their hands raised. I focused on two specific days, one for each lab, each where no homework is due that day.

The first lab occurs in the late morning and is taught by a TA with previous teaching experience with other classes. Out of the 11 students in the class, only 5 showed up, resulting in a 45% attendance rate. The TA didn't spend time lecturing or discussing the homework. Instead, she ran the lab by walking around and looking at the students' work, correcting as she saw problems or responding to specific questions. Out of the 5 students that showed up, one came in only for the last ten minutes of class, and two others asked questions. At the end of the lab, the TA left immediately, followed by most of the students.

The second lab occurs in the late afternoon. Out of the 20 students in the class, 15 showed up, resulting in a 75% attendance rate. The TA started the lab by discussing the current homework with the class, and giving hints that she felt would be helpful to figuring out the problems. As for answering questions, she remained at the front of the room, going to students with their hands raised. When there were no hands raised, she encouraged the class to ask more questions. About half of the students that showed up asked questions throughout the lab section. At the end of the lab, the TA remained longer to answer more questions, and none of the students left right away.

The differences between the labs could be attributed to many different factors, and further studies would be necessary to determine whether the attendance rate was due to the different TAs' teaching styles, the time of the labs, or the specific homework that had been assigned. However, I am abandoning this topic, as it does not fit the definition of an ethnography. While the results from this study could be important in improving learning environments, I am already part of this environment on a daily basis, and therefore will be finding a new topic that is not currently part of my own culture.