PNC / ECAI Joint Meetings
October 19 - 22, 2004
Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

Schedule | PNC Site

Cultural Atlas as Learning Resource
October 20, 1045 - 1230
Room 2
Chair: Ian Gregory, Department of Geography, University of Portsmouth ian.gregory@port.ac.uk

“ECAI in the Classroom”
Lewis Lancaster, University of California, Berkeley
buddhst@socrates.berkeley.edu


Much attention has been given to the development of technology that is being used for cultural heritage databases. However, we are still struggling to understand how these databases can be used in the classroom for teaching and research. The attempts to engage secondary teachers in the use of such materials has not proven to be very successful. The time required to adapt such data for a classroom lesson plan is more than most teachers are willing to give. Webcast classes for higher education are prime candidates for the use of internet data. In this presentation, we will see examples of how one such internet streamed class made use of ECAI data through referencing “time” and “place.” Also, the format of “ECAI Iraq” forms the basis for ways of gathering material for use in the classroom. The aspect of how long it takes to prepare such material will be discussed as well as the question of whether the results are sufficient reward for a new type of teaching
 
“Visualising British and Irish Census Data in the classroom: A SECOS database”
Paul S Ell, Queen’s University, Belfast
paul.ell@qub.ac.uk


Drawing on large historical electronic databases in the UK of British and Irish census data, the Centre for Data Digitisation and Analysis at Queen’s Belfast has produced in collaboration with the University of Staffordshire a book describing the census, a CD-ROM containing the statistical analysis and visualisation software SECOS, an A4 size folder introducing students to various statistical and mapping techniques together with guidance on using the software. The resource also includes a series student worksheets aimed at a range of student age groups.

This paper describes the resource and demonstrates the power and flexibility of the software.
 
“ECAI in the Classroom? The Relationship Between Resources and Teaching”
Jeanette Zerneke, University of California, Berkeley
jlz@berkeley.edu


The pedagogical goals of instruction are distinct from the goals of creating digital resources or publications. The goals of people creating digital resources for teaching are not the same as those of the teacher themselves. The processes required for developing these systems are separate and have developed their own technical tools, standards, and infrastructures. How can we link these various systems and the resources they contain to improve the usability of digital resources and the efficiency of developing learning resources?

Substantial work is being done in the development of learning management systems and in development of digital libraries. At this point these systems can not easily interact. There are some technical developments in middleware systems that may help us link these systems. These are still in their infancy and need the guidance of experienced teachers and digital resource developers.

The processes used for development of digital resources need to be expanded to include the perspectives of instructors. Systems and tools for creating specific linear progressions through dynamic digital resources should be developed for instructors and made easy to use.

ECAI has been exploring the possibilities of looking at digital resource development as a multi-tier system. Resources can be developed to include: basic data resources, modules of data authored with specific themes or goals, and more specific linear presentations of combinations of basic resources and modules for a course presentation. Looking at digital project development as a multi-level process from the beginning allows for significantly more flexibility in the results. It encourages inclusion of the processes needed by instructors to be included in the initial design phases.

 
"Preliminary Thoughts on Spatial Information in the Humanities and Social Science Classroom"
Ruth Mostern, University of California, Merced
rmostern@ucmerced.ed


The University of California, Merced, is the tenth campus of the University of California system. Opening to students next year, it is the first new research university to be built in the United States in forty years. The university aspires to support interdisciplinary teaching and research, to integrate new technology into the library and classrooms, and to serve the population of California’s Central Valley region.
My informal talk offers some comments about how “ECAI principles” – studying culture, history and society with reference to spatial information and spatial change over time; and making data, maps, and web applications concerned with history and culture accessible over the web – can be institutionalized in a new university. My talk begins with some ideas about my area of expertise, World History, and also reports about initial conversations regarding a program in Spatial Studies. Primarily, this talk is intended to elicit suggestions and conversation from the PNC/ECAI community as the Merced Social Science, Humanities and Arts faculty develops founding-day majors and other programs.