Analyzing classroom artifacts

Sit together with your writing group members and choose a classroom artifact to analyze. Any material object can work as long as you can draw and/or transcribe it and relate its significance to the culture.

· Example: Studying interaction in the weight area of the rec center: Transcribe a rule sign that is posted somewhere. Consider how the sign influences how people interact. What kind of environment does the sign create for people who work out there?

· Example: Studying customer service at Wright Place: Get a printed
menu or transcribe a menu sign and consider how easy it is to understand, what it suggests about the selection, etc.

You have all observed the culture of your English 1200 class for nearly two months, so choose a material object to analyze that will help your group to tell the story of our classroom culture. Through your analysis, you should reveal your group's reading of our course values, beliefs, goals, language, relationships, stories, etc.

Please elect a secretary to cut and paste the information below into a Word document and type your group resonses. You have thirty minutes to complete the following questions and add a new page to post your responses under this assignment page. You will then have five minutes to orally present your mini-analysis to the class.

Classroom Artifact Analysis
List your group name and its members (only those present and participating).

1) Describe your artifact in detail.

2) List at least 5 possible research questions concerning artifact.

3) List at least 4 ways to start researching this artifact.

4) Analysis Questions:

• What is the artifact’s purpose? Which details/features of the artifact lead you to this conclusion? How does it function at the site?

• What does the artifact say about the people who use it? About the person who made it? Which details/features of the artifact lead you to this conclusion?
• What does the artifact say about the relationships among those who use it? Between the person who made it and those who use it? Which details/features of the artifact lead you to this conclusion?
• How do the artifact’s users respond to it?
• What does the artifact reveal about the time it was produced? Which details/features of the artifact lead you to this conclusion?
• What does the artifact teach you about the site/activity and its values, procedures, goals, etc?
• How does the artifact relate to your purpose for observing the site?
• What metaphor might you use to describe the artifact and its function?