This document outlines Nicola Beddall-Hill's PhD research which uses mobile ethnographic methods to study student learning on higher education field trips. The research uses tools like head-mounted cameras and iPhones to collect video, photos, audio and other data on student interactions and technology use in the field. Challenges included the mobile setting and large amounts of qualitative data collected. Data was analyzed through storytelling, thematic analysis and mapping interactions over time and space. The research considers ethical issues in using these mobile methods and technologies for data collection and analysis.

1. Nicola Beddall-Hill ( & Bump ) LDC ESRC PhD candidate Ensemble TLRP TEL project Developing mobile ethnographies using novel digital tools: stories of visual methodology and analysis with an iPhone 3GS and head mounted camera – (Presentation will be on Slideshare afterwards) Strand: Using New Technologies International Visual Methods Conference: 13 th - 15 th September 2011, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK Supervisors: Prof. S. Quinsee & Prof. P. Carmichael

5. DATA COLLECTION: FIELD TRIPS Field trips 2009 Lake District 2009 Malta 2010 Lake District Students 6 (4 male, 2 females) 10 (6 males, 4 females) 10 (7 males, 3 females) Projects 2 projects of 2 days 1 full day, 4 half day data collections 2 projects of 2 days Total data GB 17.88 (Not including indoor DV) 27.3 20.45 Digital ethnography Video, photos, field notes, GPS tracks, questionnaires & focus groups. Digital video, still photos, field notes, audio recordings, also focus groups Video, photos, field notes, GPS tracks, questionnaires & focus groups. Mobile methods Head camera No additional to above Head camera & iPhone 3GS

9. Using head mounted Cameras – weighing up the pros and cons… DD = Device dependant Advantages Disadvantages Excellent sound & picture quality (DD) Delicate equipment - easily broken! Reduced capture of participants’ faces Creates a lot of footage to review -but can ‘tag’ sections (DD) Some are water others weatherproof (DD) Difficult to maintain the correct recording angle Focused recording of the mobile device & interactions around it Not clear what is happening on the mobile device’s screen Students are interrupted less by using this method Visible to the public (DD) which can create anxiety for some Long record times, easy download (DD) Focus of attention/event is not wholly selected by the researcher

11. Using the iPhone 3GS – weighing up the pros and cons… Advantages Disadvantages Reasonable sound & picture quality Capture is researcher-led Quite robust for use outdoors & lightweight Difficult to view screen in sunlight & not waterproof! Can capture many different types of data, only using one device Poor zoom & sound range Wide choice of applications to choose from Expensive equipment Students are interrupted less by using this method Students & public may not know they are being recorded Long record times & large storage, easy download & synching Occasional signal loss & wrong application selected

14. ANALYSIS: Large data sets Raw data Bento-files linked & labeled But software fails! Level 1 Level 2 Level 2b

19. Email: [email_address] Twitter : http://twitter.com/citymobileangel Web: http://www.ensemble.ac.uk/ Nicola Beddall-Hill ESRC PhD candidate Learning Development Centre TLRP TEL project Ensemble Learning with mobile devices in the field