Wired Warp and Woof: An Ethnographic Study of a Networking Class

Abstract

This paper describes an ethnographic study of the electronic community formed during an intensive summer school seminar on networking. The seminar, conducted in a mostly electronic environment, was comprised of master′s and doctoral students involved in various fields of study. Ethnographic research techniques facilitated the observation and description of the actions and events of this networked learning community, where events reflect both individual personalities and shared knowledge. This exploration of the cultural meanings of class pedagogical events led to an enhanced understanding of both the nature of the online educational environment and the applicability of ethnographic research techniques to networked communities.