Course info

Welcome to Visual IT assisted Methods in Cross-disciplinary Studies

Description:
The complex interaction of users with environments is found in a broad range of fields in modern life and is studied in a number of different scientific fields including IT studies; media studies and foodscape studies. Qualitative research methods are important tools for approaching the understanding and interpretation of these phenomena.

Qualitative illustrative methods and Media ethnographic methods are ways to capture and use these qualitative data as well as Photo elicited methods, Go Along methods, Perspective and Cultural probes, Photo Driven methods, Ego Point of views are examples of novel interactive and iterative approaches that offers researchers new opportunities for getting richer insight into complex fields of reality such as our interaction with media and foods in our surroundings.

The course will take both a theoretical and a practical approach. The theoretical approach by choosing relevant theories and methods for conceptualizing the planning, analyzes and interpretation of own case data presentation. The practical approach by making a short presentation of the visual methods used in the chosen case.

Course content:
The course will present new methods and the underlying theories such as a general understanding of video-ethnographic methods, perspective probes, self-provided photo safaris, interactive video footage sessions. The participants will work with own case during the PhD course, and will use relevant visual ethnographic methods. The participants will use video, cooking sessions and still cameras during the course. Cases will primarily by selected from within Media Studies and FoodScapeStudies.

Purpose of the course:
To demonstrate the opportunities of visual ethnographic methods/qualitative illustrative methods in case study research within a broad range of research areas.

Format:
Workshop where participants chose a case (either from own specific field or from list of suggested cases) which is the focus for actions in the workshop. During the workshop days, the lecture room is transformed to a FoodScapeLab where participants will work in groups with a chosen case and related assignments using ethnographic methods and theories related to emotions, foods, social interaction within the specific research area. During the workshop each group or individual has to write an 8 – 10 pages case story (including both written and visual material, approximately 4-5 pages written text and 4-5 pages visual material) about the case that you are going to work with and the media ethnographic issues connected to the chosen case.

Exam:
The examination consists of three parts:

1. Task assignments;
2. Case story paper (8-10 pages, including both written and visual material;
3. Group presentation and discussion of the paper.

The examination is based on a weighting of each part (assignment/paper/presentation). The precise details on how the final assessment is calculated will be presented at course start. The exam ends with pass or no-pass.

(Please see programme below under Materials)

Organizer: Organiser Thomas Bjørner , Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology, email: tbj@create.aau.dk

Co-organisers: Bent Egberg Mikkelsen, Professor & Research coordinator, AAU-MENU
Lise Busk Kofoed, Professor, Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology

Lecturers: Bent Egberg Mikkelsen, AAU- MENU, Development and Planning, AAU CPH
Lise Busk Kofoed, Professor, Medialogy, AAU CPH
Thomas Bjørner, Associate Professor, Medialogy, AAU CPH
Maria Bruselius-Jensen, Post doc, Steno Health Promotion Center
Helene Christine Reinbach, AAU-MENU
Sanne Sansolios, AAU-FoodScapeLab

ECTS: 3

Time: September 11-12 and October 7, 2013

Place: Aalborg University, Copenhagen

Zip code: 2450

City: Copenhagen

Number of seats: 18

Deadline: August 15, 2013

Important information concerning PhD courses

We have over some time experienced problems with no-show for both project and general courses. It has now reached a point where we are forced to take action. Therefore, the Doctoral School has decided to introduce a no-show fee of DKK 5,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately three months before start. This can hopefully also provide new students a chance to register for courses during the year. We look forward to your registrations.