HASTAC to me seems like a unique and genuine forum for collaboration amongst people with the same niche interest in the digital humanites branching topics. It was a surprise to me that to be a confirmed and registered member, that our profile had to be accepted into the organization. It makes me realize that open and free participation in other blogs, forums, and social media I have taken for granted. Much like reading free articles on the web I haven’t even thought twice about, until websites like Wall Street Journal and even local newspapers websites have begun charging for access.
This limited access however, assures to me that my interactions and doings on this site are protected and encouraged. “In order to maintain and support this diversity, all forms of trolling and aggressive posting are prohibited and may lead to account removal. Any obscene, violent, profane, taunting, or antagonistic content will be removed. We rely on our community members to support this endeavor through personal accountability and mutual respect.” A community based with such respect as it’s building blocks makes for a digital safe space, if you will.
This article I found while exporing the site a little bit, and they peaked my interest in the way they talked about teaching digital humanities and forming digitial humanities initiatives. https://www.hastac.org/blogs/paulallison/2016/12/17/using-personas-skill-trees-and-playlists-design-engaging-online This post discusses different techniques such as skill trees, persona developments, and playlists ( which I had only been familiar with in terms of music).
https://www.hastac.org/blogs/amanda-visconti/2016/09/12/designing-digital-humanities-initiative-background-campus-dh-survey. This post, written by a Purdue librarian, was a very in depth chart of what makes a healthy department, the surveys conducted to carry out the correct themes, and action items that campuses need that could be sovled throught digital humanities, such as collaboration, teaching and research.
One response to “On Discovering HASTAC”
I agree with many of your points! I was also surprised that there was an acceptance process, and found myself thinking about all of the other websites I had joined without any acceptance process and why some websites make that choice while others do not. When I found HASTAC’s statement on diversity and trolling, it was comforting in a sense. I would like to know a little bit more about why you chose the other articles to link to. What personal connection do you have to them? What do you like/dislike about them? The “Using Personas, Skill Trees, and Playlists to Design Engaging Online Learning for Youth” article has a lot of interesting content that I think you could comment on. I enjoyed the overall structure and content of the post.