Comments on: Separating from the Pack http://historying.org/2009/05/14/separating-from-the-pack/ thoughts on scholarship and history in a digital age Sun, 13 Jun 2010 02:39:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: teaching carnival « Bethany Nowviskie http://historying.org/2009/05/14/separating-from-the-pack/#comment-294 teaching carnival « Bethany Nowviskie Mon, 18 May 2009 03:07:17 +0000 http://historying.org/?p=763#comment-294 [...] through the future of work and the future of higher education and Cameron Blevins surveys the divide between traditional and digitally-oriented departments, from the perspective of a grad school applicant. (Blevins concludes that the long-term advantage [...] [...] through the future of work and the future of higher education and Cameron Blevins surveys the divide between traditional and digitally-oriented departments, from the perspective of a grad school applicant. (Blevins concludes that the long-term advantage [...]

]]> By: Cameron Blevins http://historying.org/2009/05/14/separating-from-the-pack/#comment-291 Cameron Blevins Sat, 16 May 2009 16:40:49 +0000 http://historying.org/?p=763#comment-291 Susan, I think that's an important take-away. It's sometimes easy to get into cheerleading mode about new technology, but you're exactly right - ultimately the success or failure of integrating tools is making them applicable for that "large tent." Zotero has done a great job of doing that, so even scholars reluctant to pick up digital tools can see the immense benefit and ease of use for that particular application. Making digital history accessible to a wider audience is really important, we can't just sit at our computers virtually patting each other on the back for writing a new string of code. Pulling in those "benign" historians (and, to a lesser extent, the hostile ones) into the conversation is critical to the widespread adoption of new tools. -Cameron Susan,
I think that’s an important take-away. It’s sometimes easy to get into cheerleading mode about new technology, but you’re exactly right – ultimately the success or failure of integrating tools is making them applicable for that “large tent.” Zotero has done a great job of doing that, so even scholars reluctant to pick up digital tools can see the immense benefit and ease of use for that particular application. Making digital history accessible to a wider audience is really important, we can’t just sit at our computers virtually patting each other on the back for writing a new string of code. Pulling in those “benign” historians (and, to a lesser extent, the hostile ones) into the conversation is critical to the widespread adoption of new tools.
-Cameron

]]> By: Susan http://historying.org/2009/05/14/separating-from-the-pack/#comment-287 Susan Fri, 15 May 2009 17:11:05 +0000 http://historying.org/?p=763#comment-287 Sorry, that sounded more negative than I meant it. I guess it's a reminder that there are benign non-participants and hostile ones. I'm benign. I'll use what works. (So I use Zotero.) It's also that it's important to know what keeps you intellectually humming. History can be a large tent. I'm delighted that my program will have an undergraduate track in digital history in a year or so; I'm not interested, right now, in teaching courses that fit it. Sorry, that sounded more negative than I meant it. I guess it’s a reminder that there are benign non-participants and hostile ones. I’m benign. I’ll use what works. (So I use Zotero.) It’s also that it’s important to know what keeps you intellectually humming. History can be a large tent. I’m delighted that my program will have an undergraduate track in digital history in a year or so; I’m not interested, right now, in teaching courses that fit it.

]]> By: Susan http://historying.org/2009/05/14/separating-from-the-pack/#comment-286 Susan Fri, 15 May 2009 17:06:45 +0000 http://historying.org/?p=763#comment-286 I think you're right that there will be an emerging group of schools that have paid significant attention to issues in digital history. But -- as an old fogey who went through grad school when computers were going to change history in the late 70s -- I think it's important to remember that tools are tools. You need to know when you need a hammer and when a screwdriver. If a tool will help me explore the questions I am interested in, I'll learn it. But if the tools don't help me do that, well, I am glad they are there, but I have a pretty full plate. So I'm a cautious observer right now -- waiting to see where this leads. In other words, I'll let my intellectual curiosity guide me, rather than using technology and figuring out what it can do. I think you’re right that there will be an emerging group of schools that have paid significant attention to issues in digital history. But — as an old fogey who went through grad school when computers were going to change history in the late 70s — I think it’s important to remember that tools are tools. You need to know when you need a hammer and when a screwdriver. If a tool will help me explore the questions I am interested in, I’ll learn it. But if the tools don’t help me do that, well, I am glad they are there, but I have a pretty full plate. So I’m a cautious observer right now — waiting to see where this leads. In other words, I’ll let my intellectual curiosity guide me, rather than using technology and figuring out what it can do.

]]> By: Candace http://historying.org/2009/05/14/separating-from-the-pack/#comment-285 Candace Fri, 15 May 2009 13:46:46 +0000 http://historying.org/?p=763#comment-285 Hah! yes, that third group is one I'm familiar with! I was part of a campus learning community for graduate students this past year and had many conversations about implementing different teaching methods in a traditional discipline. Luckily my own supervisor is open minded but I sure got some funny looks when I showed up with crayons and chart paper for classroom discussion days. I wonder how the first two groups of historians will treat each other and how it will impact tenure. Where will/do digital historians publish and will they be perceived as pseudo-computer scientists/librarians/?? rather than "real" historians? I guess that anytime a field grows there are growing pains. Hah! yes, that third group is one I’m familiar with! I was part of a campus learning community for graduate students this past year and had many conversations about implementing different teaching methods in a traditional discipline. Luckily my own supervisor is open minded but I sure got some funny looks when I showed up with crayons and chart paper for classroom discussion days.

I wonder how the first two groups of historians will treat each other and how it will impact tenure. Where will/do digital historians publish and will they be perceived as pseudo-computer scientists/librarians/?? rather than “real” historians? I guess that anytime a field grows there are growing pains.

]]> By: Cameron Blevins http://historying.org/2009/05/14/separating-from-the-pack/#comment-284 Cameron Blevins Fri, 15 May 2009 13:06:18 +0000 http://historying.org/?p=763#comment-284 Candace, Your comment is making me brainstorm a possible new post or maybe even a community wiki on a guide to applicants looking at digital history programs. I also think you bring up a good point about the rise of a two-track path for pioneers developing the tools and historians using them (although can't forget the third one - those historians who won't use new tools). Good luck with looking at PhD programs, it's an exciting (albeit sometimes stressful) process! -Cameron Candace,

Your comment is making me brainstorm a possible new post or maybe even a community wiki on a guide to applicants looking at digital history programs.

I also think you bring up a good point about the rise of a two-track path for pioneers developing the tools and historians using them (although can’t forget the third one – those historians who won’t use new tools).

Good luck with looking at PhD programs, it’s an exciting (albeit sometimes stressful) process!

-Cameron

]]> By: Candace http://historying.org/2009/05/14/separating-from-the-pack/#comment-283 Candace Fri, 15 May 2009 12:37:04 +0000 http://historying.org/?p=763#comment-283 "they’d likely hear a one-name (if any) reply: George Mason. Most advisors wouldn’t be able to point towards Nebraska-Lincoln or University of Virginia as digital history strongholds" and don't forget Concordia University's Digital History Lab in Montréal, Québec! I'm currently finishing up my Masters and looking at PhD programs. I realize I have to choose whether to follow the research area or the tools. In the end it looks like geography will be the deciding factor for me but if there were a digital history opportunity in my part of the country I'd be drooling. I'd like to see the tools helping to make connections between departments at different universities. In my own department I seem to be the only one with any interest (everyone's busy, learning curve seems too high, etc) but I just keep talking about what I find. We might see two groups emerge: historians who develop the tools and historians who use the tools. For now I'm okay with being in that second group, appreciating the work of the first! “they’d likely hear a one-name (if any) reply: George Mason. Most advisors wouldn’t be able to point towards Nebraska-Lincoln or University of Virginia as digital history strongholds”

and don’t forget Concordia University’s Digital History Lab in Montréal, Québec!

I’m currently finishing up my Masters and looking at PhD programs. I realize I have to choose whether to follow the research area or the tools. In the end it looks like geography will be the deciding factor for me but if there were a digital history opportunity in my part of the country I’d be drooling.

I’d like to see the tools helping to make connections between departments at different universities. In my own department I seem to be the only one with any interest (everyone’s busy, learning curve seems too high, etc) but I just keep talking about what I find. We might see two groups emerge: historians who develop the tools and historians who use the tools. For now I’m okay with being in that second group, appreciating the work of the first!

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