An Adventure in Space and Time

(with apologies to the Doctor, and his

companions)

Using Student Interns in Ethnographic Research

David Clover – Library and Learning Services, University of East London

Context – The University of East London

And our students…

Student demographics

• Over 12,000 students on campus (over 10,000 FTE)

• Primarily undergraduate (over 80%)

• Over 80% full time

• 62% female

• High number of mature students (only 41% 18-20; 38% over 30)

• Ethnically diverse 34% Black, 33% White, 21% Asian

• 12% declared disability (46% of which dyslexia/learning disability)

Docklands Library Refurbishment Projects

• Skillzone refurbishment (Summer 2015)

• Planned further three year project with initial budget for each year and work to be carried out in:• Summer 2016• Summer 2017 • Summer 2018

• Emphasis on the Student Experience and meeting student expectations and changes in ways of studying

• Recent build so no major changes expected

• Student numbers at Docklands such that not overcrowded

Skillzone

Why interns?

Lack of skills currently within staff team

Opportunity to collaborate with academic departments

Employability agenda

Presence of Anthropology Department

“Busy” time for Library and Learning Services staff

Students bring skills in ethnographic enquiry

Approachability and accessibility

Insider status

Less biased by what staff already think students want/behave

CASE assistance and support

Learning by doing

Nailed, derailed, failed?

Partnership?

Diversity?

Training?

Data analysis?

Time?

Staff development?

Refurb part 1 plus next steps

Questions?

References• Hammersley, Martyn, “Ethnography: Problems and Prospects”,

Ethnography and Education, 1(1), 2006, 3-14

• Jeffrey, Bob and Geoff Troman, “Time for Ethnography”, British Educational Research Journal, 30(4), 2004, 535-548

Acknowledgements

• Tardis: original uploader was Sceptre at English Wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons.) [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

• All other images either from UEL or the presenter