Proposal: Using 3D printing to visualize student activity in Bb

Come see how the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University used 3D printing technology to visualize student activity in Blackboard courses across an entire semester. Four dimensions of data (students, time, activity levels, and grades) are represented using x, y, & z axes plus color in the resulting 3’ x 4’ models. These 3D models allow the viewer to identify patterns in student activity that are not otherwise apparent. In this session, we will cover how UC extracted the underlying data from Bb, how it was converted to a 3D virtual model using Blender, and the collaboration between UC and Xavier to turn that data into a physical model.

Student activity was extracted from the Blackboard database, converted to 3D models using Blender, and then printed using several MakerBot Replicator printers.

Proposal: Garbage Reconciliation: Data Cleaning and Linking

“Garbage in, garbage out” is often heard in just about any field that uses data. Regardless of which application will be analyzing, transforming, or exploring your data, a quick run through OpenRefine will greatly reduce the amount of garbage data going into your project. In addition to cleaning and standardizing your data, OpenRefine can add a great deal of value to your data by transforming text into URIs for use in Linked Open Data (LOD) applications.

This session will demonstrate how OpenRefine can clean messy data. Once the data has been cleaned, we’ll discuss reconciliation services and how you can use them to turn strings into things.

Proposal: What Would We Do with a UC Game Lab?

What is a game lab and, well, what would we at UC do with one?

This session concerns the foundation of a UC Game Lab in conjunction with the new Film & Media Studies B.A. in A&S and the Game Art Design certificate in DAAP. Given that the Game Studies discipline has been growing by leaps and bounds since the mid-1990s, it is time that UC join the scholarly and institutional conversation.

Note that the topic does not concern if we had a game lab – those processes are already in motion.
Instead, it concerns what we would do with one, including research projects, teaching and learning opportunities, and lessons in the ephemerality of the digital archive.

Archiving the Digital Humanities – Digital Humanities at the University of Cincinnati and Scholar@UC

What are the digital repository and longer term preservation use cases for the Digital Humanities? Are these use cases different or parallel to use cases from other fields? Are there best practices to be incorporated into Digital Humanities projects – when longer term preservation is desired?

Scholar@UC is in production as the institutional repository for the University of Cincinnati. Partnered by the University of Cincinnati Libraries and IT@UC, it is sustained by a commitment to digital preservation. It is based on open source software furthered by Project Hydra. Let’s collaboratively explore how a digital repository such as Scholar@UC can actively support the Digital Humanities.

submitted by Linda Newman, Head of Digital Collections and Repositories, University of Cincinnati Libraries.

Proposal: Digital Humanities in the “Ordinary” Classroom: A History Experience (And Yours!)

In fall 2015, I debuted a 2000-level class on Early Modern European History at UC Blue Ash. Because I wanted to do something different than the normal survey, I began to brainstorm ways I could incorporate the Digital Humanities into an otherwise ordinary classroom set-up, with students who would be, for better or worse, expecting that entirely ordinary classroom. In this session, I therefore propose to discuss the ways in which I brought DH into the course, including particular assignments, and I invite others to discuss their own ways they made an ordinary course suddenly unusual with the addition of new technological tools. Questions we’d consider together include what kind of assignments work best for this and how to handle student technological failures or challenges. (Because as we know, they will happen!)

Propose a Session: How To!

Some campers may not see the “Add a New Post” link when they first login to THATcamp. Once you login, you should see the “Dashboard” for WordPress. Unfortunately some people see the normal home page. If so, be sure you are logged in, then please click this link to access the Dashboard.

Once in the Dashboard, at the top left, click Posts> Add New.

Prepare your post, then in the right sidebar, in the “Secured Categories” area, choose “Proposals” as a Category. (note: you can choose more than one category).

More information on proposing is here.

Proposal: Integrating Library Resources

“If you build it, they will come”- ?

Libraries have ever more sophisticated user interfaces for discovering collections and services. But are we really meeting users where they live?

Would users find more value in library services and collections if they were available where they already are? Mobile, Blackboard (Or other Learning sytems), Portals?

What about customization? Should users be able to save (my journals, my articles) resources?

What about other tools (Browzine).

Let’s Brainstorm!

Registration is Now Open

Registration is now open for THATCamp University of Cincinnati 2016! There is no cost to register. Simply fill out the form on the Registration page. THATCamp University of Cincinnati will take place at Langsam Library on the University of Cincinnati’s main campus on May 2 and 3. See the Schedule page for a preliminary schedule. Sessions will be determined during the opening session on May 2. Do you have an idea for a session? If so, register and then just follow the instruction on the Propose page. We look forward to seeing you in May!

2016 THATCamp Scheduled

We are pleased to share with you that we have the dates for UC/UCL’s second THATCamp event! THATCamp U Cincinnati 2016 will take place on Monday May 2 and Tuesday May 3, 2016. The event will be at UC Libraries, in the Langsam Library.

More details will be posted as plans develop. We hope that you are able to join us!

THATCamp University of Cincinnati 2016 Planning Team

Arlene Johnson-Associate Senior Librarian, Digital Humanities Strategist, UC Libraries
Lisa Haitz-Software Developer
Suzanne Reller-ARB Reference/Collections Librarian