Sample
Testing an embed code for a map in Georeferencer…
Compare maps
Georeferencer is an online tool that assigns geographical location to any image.
Principles of learning web content creation
I teach at Slippery Rock University
- You can’t break the Internet.
- If you don’t know how, Google it.
- Messing up is how you learn.
- If you do something online, no one will (necessarily) notice.
Digital tools for community-engaged learning
Thanks to all those who came to my presentation at SRU’s Community Engagement Breakfast Series. Below are some tools to spark your thinking about digital tools for community engagement in your own classes!
HistoryPin Assignment materials
I would definitely recommend reading through the “Read Me!” file in there, as it contains my comments on lessons learned, refinements, etc.
Easy-to-use tools for digital storytelling – including timelines, audio annotations, mapping, and more
An open-source web publishing platform for sharing digital collections and creating media-rich online exhibits.
Be sure and check out their directory of projects for ideas on the wide variety of ways this platform can be used by students and partner institutions
Juxtaposing urban history
Today I was playing around with Knight Lab’s Juxtapose tool to illustrate changes over time in East Detroit. This was made using images from Google Maps and the DTE historic aerial photo collection housed at Wayne State University. I’m just dropping it here so I don’t lose it 🙂
CETET Workshop “The Public Professor”
Today I’m offering a workshop through SRU’s Center for Teaching and Learning. Here are the slides for my talk!
My Digital History Students: A Tech Profile
This fall, I am teaching a course in Digital History for the first time at Slippery Rock University. At the beginning of the course, I had my students complete a brief survey about their access, use, and familiarity with various forms of computer technology. (This is an idea I stole from several DH pros, including Sharon Leon.)
The results of this survey were enlightening – some answers were expected, but there were also several surprises. A couple of interesting takeaways:
- The desktop is officially dead. All 18 students indicated they own laptops, while only three own desktop computers. 17 owned smartphones, meaning there is one lovable Luddite holding out in my class!
- I was surprised how few students use Firefox, which is generally my favorite browser. I suspect the longtime lack of an iOS version of Firefox (only released in August 2016), combined with Google Chrome’s obsession with syncing bookmarks, account info, etc. across devices has contributed to making it the default browser used by many.
- While Facebook was by far the most popular social media platform, only half the class reported using Instagram or Twitter. We got started with Twitter on the first day (hashtag: #sruhist411) and will be using it through the semester to follow issues, debates, and cool stuff happening in the DH world.
- There seems to be a general lack of experience with authoring content in the digital realm (aside from social media, of course). 13 of the 18 reported they would be “not at all confident” in their ability to publish their own website with a custom domain. Only 3 reported experience with a blogging platform, and the same number indicated they had used wiki tools in the past.
If you’re interested, full results of the survey can be seen here. I’m excited to see how the class develops as we go along, and my hope is that by the end my students will not only have a much broader familiarity with technological tools available to them, but greater confidence in their ability to use these tools to move from being consumers to creators in the digital world.