Ethnographic Study Summary

The research study by Christo Sims focused on 2 different perspectives on studying the connection between digital media and social inequality. Sims argued that the method of differentiated practices is a better method than differentiated uses. Differentiated use factors in the use of higher level technology in schools to help address the issue of digital inequality. Differentiated practices does the same, but also incorporated the element of the students’ life outside of school, and how students can apply their skills outside of the classroom. The study pushes that study approaches in today’s society should involve differentiated practices instead of differentiated uses. The study was an ethnographic study that involved the researchers observing children in a technology-based middle school. The study was done at Downtown School for Design, Media, and Technology in Manhattan, and it ran from 2009 to 2012. The extensive study revolved around a class of 25 students and it documented many aspects of the student’s lives including social life, schooling and family life. Researchers also recorded the students’ social classes by categorizing the students as either …show more content…
Sims drew from the data that while the aspects of reform in the school incorporated the issues differentiated uses, the students either didn’t apply the skills outside of class or they were unable to apply their skills outside of class because they had limited access to technology. Sims then notes the issue of differentiated practices that is seen throughout the school in examples such as students being more interested in their classes because they were familiar with the technology in class due to the fact they use the same technology outside of class. Sims then concludes that exploring differentiated practices in research can help solve issues that can’t be solved when just exploring differentiated