Digital Ethnography Of Fiji. Empowering people to portray their Culture Through Technology.

Digital

Ethnography

Of Fiji

Empowering people to portray their Culture

Through Technology

Outline-------------------------------------

1. Introduction / Background

2. Goals

3. In the Field

4. Final Product

5. Conclusion

The Background-------------------------

• Information Revolution is evolving Anthropological field work and cultural learning.

•There is very little existing field research in Digital Ethnography.

• The idea of empowering a culture to portray themselves is relatively new to Anthropology.

The Goals----------------------------

• Create a Model for Future digital ethnography projects.

• Establish a perpetual cross cultural communication between American and Fijian High School students.

• Create an effective interactive web based cultural learning tool.

In the Field--------------------------

• Implemented during a 3 month term abroad in Rakiraki Fiji

• Funded by a grant from the KECK Foundation

• 8 Digital Still Cameras 2 Digital Camcorders 2 Audio Recording Devices

Union Term Abroad Students:

• Multimedia materials (photos, audio, video)

• Field notes, Ethnographic papers

Nakauvadra (Fijian) High School Students:

• Cultural Identity Research

• Individual Web Pages

• Cultural Group Projects

• Nakauvadra High School Web Page

• Web Cam Conference

Local Fijians:

• Primary source on Fijian culture

• Multimedia (photos, videos, audio)

Final Product------------------------------

• Dissemination of ethnographic materials

• Interactive Cultural Learning

• Cross Cultural Communication

Conclusion------------------------------

• Provides a model for future work in Digital Ethnography

• Learning environment being utilized by both Fijian and American students

• Unexpected Successes and Failures

• Dynamic Technical Structure is integral

• Project has met the initial criteria for success

• Ease of Use Effective dissemination of information Continual cross cultural communication Engaging interactive features Accepted into education curriculums

Digital

Ethnography

Of Fiji