Introduction: Students will examine ways in which knowledge is shared in a community.

Students will collect data and observations about educational constructs, environmental design, and physical surroundings.

Researching environments and understanding how a community of practice works or does not work is critical in understanding knowledge management. The purpose of ethnographic research is to put yourself in the shoes of the participant.

For this field study:

1. Observe a selected place or setting for 30-60 minutes. The location can be one of your choosing. A public place (such as a park, coffee shop) or a private space (office area, meeting location). If it is a private location please make sure to obtain permission to sit and observe. Alternatively you may also observe and watch a gathering online or a recorded video.
2. Write down observations that focus on the following questions:
   1. Describe the people and environment.
   2. What is the domain, community, and practice of the community of practice?
   3. How does the environment create a community of practice? Observe patterns of human behaviors.
   4. What is the description of the scene? Describe physical aspects of the environment.
   5. What occurred during your observations? What happened? To who and what? Please make sure not to use any names or information that would give away the identity of someone if observing a live situation.
   6. How is knowledge transferred among the community of practice? Describe how the members of the group were able to learn from each other.

3) After you are finished, you are then asked to write up your results in a comprehensive format answering these questions in detail. In addition also answer in your opinion the following:

• In what ways is this community of practice effective?
• In what ways can it be improved upon?