THATCamp Pedagogy: Applications Now Open

In recent weeks, ProfHacker has featured several posts about THATCamp.  Ryan wrote about his experience organizing THATCamp LAC. Heather wrote about her experience attending THATCamp LAC as as an “outsider.” My student, Celeste Kahn, discussed what is was like to attend an unconference as an undergraduate and encouraged more of our readers to consider bringing their students to such events.

If the thought of bringing a student (or students) to THATCamp appeals to you, you might consider attending the upcoming THATCamp Pedagogy in October (2011).  While most THATCamps do feature discussions of course and syllabus development and various digital tools in the classroom, I think it’s fair to say that many of them emphasize digital technologies and project management over the pedagogical implications and possibilities of such tools.  In contrast, THATCamp Pedagogy will focus exclusively on the intersections between various kinds of technologies and the classroom: possible sessions could include how to incorporate specific digital tools into course design, collaborative assignments either within a single classroom or across departments or even across campuses, or ways to deal with various institutional challenges.

One of the greatest benefits of THATCamp is the wide variety of people who attend: faculty from different disciplines, students both graduate and undergraduate, librarians and archivists, technology specialists, and administrators. Because there is no preset agenda–(participants themselves decide on session topics and scheduling once everyone has arrived–conversations and session topics arise almost organically, and there can be some spillover from session to session.  In addition, the digital nature of the gathering virtually guarantees a healthy use of social media tools like Twitter and wikis to expand discussions and archive the sessions.

One of the things that became clear (to me at least) as THATCamp LAC unfolded last month, was that there is still quite a lot of ground to cover when it comes to issues of technology and humanities in the classroom.  While the Liberal Arts THATCamp did offer sessions on digital archives and more research-based topics, one of the recurring themes of the unconference was the role of technology in the contemporary college classroom, whether English composition or its musical counterpart.  In fact, the pedagogical aspects of the digital humanities could quite easily have consumed days of discussion if they were allowed the time and space to do so. THATCamp Pedagogy is an attempt to provide such a time and space. The time is scheduled for October 15 and 16, 2011, and the place is Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY.

This particular version of THATCamp should appeal not only to those who teach or are trying to develop dedicated digital humanities courses but also to anyone who is interested in learning new technologies for their own teaching within various disciplines as well as those who might be interested in discussions of the many institutional challenges of teaching (with) technology.  Moreover, the organizers have openly encouraged participation of both undergraduate and gradate students in order to “[facilitate] active dialogue between students and teachers. . . . in order to lend their voices to the scholarship that both positions them as subjects and directly impacts their learning environments.”  As one of several faculty who brought students to THATCamp LAC, I’ll heartily second this endorsement.  As teachers and scholars, we talk a great deal about teaching and learning, but inviting students into the discussion can transform abstract theoretical talking points into engaging and vital collaboration.

Applications are currently open and will be accepted until Friday, September 16 or until the 75 spots are full.  Interested participants can apply here or find more detailed information on the THATCamp Pedagogy homepage.  You can also get updates by following @THATCampedagogy on Twitter.

[Creative Commons licensed image by Flickr user colecamp].