We spent the first two weeks looking at different projects to help us better understand tool that are available. Each example of a digital humanities project has been unique – a diverse display of projects within the DH community. I don’t know how far my project will go, but I know it will serve as an example for future DSSF cohorts. As we learn more and more about DH we are reassured that our work is valuable to the larger community. Digital humanist are interested in the work of undergraduates because they are a small part of the larger DH community.
Collaborating with the DSSF cohort has shaped my understanding of my project. From the beginning, we agreed that constant feedback and sharing of information are essential to the success of our projects. Not only have we gained information for our projects, but we are also learning to talk about them for people that are not familiar with our projects. I am researching the history of Gettysburg College; although the other fellows do not have a similar research question, we have all found information that benefits the work of one another.
The trip to Bucknell was not what I was expecting. Our time there was dedicated to learning Omeka. Learning to add metadata and creating exhibits felt independent and not a community practice, however, my table felt comfortable asking each other for help when needed. Unfortunately, we did not spend time working with each other as cohorts, but rather as individuals. The DH community covers different aspects academia. The trip to Bucknell taught me that unity within a practice is essential to understand what we are doing. No one person understands fully comprehends all the tools available to the cohort; sharing the skills can help improve someone’s project and you can have fun while doing so.
Thanks for your comments. I think that there were several factors surrounding the Bucknell visit that didn’t allow the two programs to come together as cohorts as best we had hoped. The visit to Bryn Mawr in a few weeks will likely be very different, because you will be farther along in your project, and you will also be interacting with students from several schools.
And you’re right, Digital Humanists are very interested in the work of undergraduates, because they are often the ones driving a lot of the work! I’ve always loved how DH can help break down hierarchies and allow students to be colleagues with librarians, IT, faculty, etc.
Sometimes it’s easier to see something clearly when an element of your thing is suddenly gone. The trip brought some aspects of DSSF into sharper focus for me, too.