Collaborative Classroom

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Riders to the Sea Design

Ethan Friedson

Course: THAR 130

Faculty: Eric Baratta

I created a scenic design concept for the 1903 one act play Riders to the Sea by J.M. Millington. This was a projected for Eric Baratta's THAR 130 class on theatre design. The model was created in Google SketchUp. A number of research images were essential to creating the design, including the backdrop image which is a painting by Ivan Aivazovsky. The play, which takes place on a small island in Ireland, features a woman whose six sons have all drowned on the sea.
Riders to the Sea Scenic Design

Jingyi (Connie) Kang

Course: THAR 130

Faculty: Eric Baratta

This scenic design model was created for Riders to the Sea, a play written by Irish Literary Renaissance playwright John Millington Synge in 1904. The interior was inspired by Irish cottages in 1900s. The fishing net on top was designed to symbolize the relationship between Irish villagers and the sea.
Penn and The Surrounding Community

SWRK 781: Qualitative Research and Rosemary Frasso

Photo-elicitation was first named in a paper published by the

photographer and researcher John Collier (1957). It involves a

qualitative interview stimulated and guided by participant-generated

photographs. This method can help break down barriers between

researchers and participants and can promote rich and collaborative

discussions (Harper, 1994).

Each student in the Fall 2016 Qualitative Methods Research Class

recruited one study participant (n=25) (undergraduate and graduate

students) and trained them in the appropriate and ethical use of this

method. Study participants were asked to explore the meaning of

“Penn’s relationship with the surrounding community” over the

course of one week using their phones to document their

exploration. Using the participant-generated photographs to guide

conversation, each member of the research team conducted an

interview with a participant. Additionally, each student investigator

recruited five members of the Penn community (n=125) and asked

them to answer a free-listing question designed to help us explore

perceptions of Penn’s relationship with the surrounding community.
Conceptual Scenic Designs

Robert Zhou

In Eric Baratta's THAR 130 class, we were tasked with designing sets for two plays, Awake and Sing! and Riders to the Sea. I designed my set for Awake and Sing! in Autodesk Maya, which gave great flexibility concerning shape and positioning. The goal of the design was to create a claustrophobic NYC apartment just barely holding together. The set for Riders to the Sea was designed in Google SketchUp, and with it I could create the precise atmosphere of an Irish cottage sitting precariously close to the ocean.
Conceptual Scenic Design Project

Izer Martinez

This project was completed for Eric Baratta's THAR 130 class, Intro to Lights, Sets, Costume, held in the Collaborative Classroom in Van Pelt Library. The project uses SketchUp to showcase the knowledge the class gained on building a 3D structure that could explore theatrical space and its importance for the play The Doctor In Spite Of Himself. Using the elements of design and principles of composition, I was able to construct a 3D design in order to create the vision I interpreted of that stage.
Living Space Model

Jordan Rodnizki

We often do not consider the intricate measures, lines, and forms that comprise the spaces in which we live. For this THAR 130 (Intro to Light, Set, and Costume Design) project, I used a tape measure to meticulously note the lengths and widths of all surfaces in my Harnwell apartment; I then reconstructed the space from scratch using SketchUp architectural software.
Riders to the Sea Set Design Proposal

Amanda Shur

This project for THAR 130 course, Intro to Lights, Sets, Costume, aims to set design for J.M. Synge's Riders to the Sea. Creative design is especially important for this play because Synge as a playwright was so focused on capturing the essence, and daily living and struggles of the people of the Aran Islands, and set design in particular is necessary to create the aura of the setting and the lives these people lived. The design concept and style for this project focuses on minimalist realism and historical relevance.
Fear and Safety: Students use qualitiative methods to explore the meaning of fear and safety among the University of Pennsylvania community

SWRK 781: Qualitative Research

Each student in the Qualitative Methods Research Class (SW781), Spring 2015, recruited a study participant (n=25) (undergraduate students, graduate students, staff, and faculty from across the University) and trained them in the appropriate and ethical use of this method. Study participants were asked to define and explore the meaning of “fear” and “safety” in their daily lives and were instructed to use their phones to document their exploration over the course of one week. Using the participant-generated photographs to guide conversation, each member of the research team conducted an interview with a participant.

The topic for this project was determined using nominal group technique (NGT). NGT is a structured small-group discussion approach used to reach consensus. A moderator (in this case the professor) asks the group a question and gathers the responses (in this case potential project topics) from each group member.

Once all potential topics are shared with the entire group, each member of the group prioritizes the topics. This process prevents one person from dominating the discussion, encourages all group members to participate, and results in a set of prioritized topics that represents the group’s preferences. The class, by way of NGT, decided to investigate how the University of Pennsylvania community perceives fear and safety.
Pressure: Students use qualitative methods to explore the meaning of pressure among graduate students here at the University of Pennsylvania

SWRK 781: Qualitative Research and Rosemary Frasso

Each student investigator (n=14) in Qualitative Methods Research Class (SW781), 2014, recruited a study participant (graduate students from across the university) and trained them in the appropriate and ethical use of photography in this context. Study participants were asked to define and explore the concept of pressure in their daily lives and were instructed to use their smart phones or digital cameras to document their exploration over one week. Using participant-generated photographs each member of the research team conducted a photo-elicitation interview with a participant. Additionally each student investigator recruited between 3 and 5 members of the Penn community (n=75) and asked them to answer 2 freelisting questions designed to help us explore the meaning of pressure.

Preliminary review of the audio recordings from the interviews resulted in the identification of several themes. Examples include time, health, money, depression, sleep, and self-care. Here, we share with you a sample of these themes through participant generated photos and associated quotes. Additionally, we share the preliminary analysis of freelist data.