[an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]Tuesday, 21-Aug-2007 09:02:01 EDT' --> [an error occurred while processing this directive] (none)
Text Encoding at Wheaton College TEI at Wheaton Learning TEI TEI reference Models of TEI use FAQ

Exploring Applications of The Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) for Small Liberal Arts Colleges

June 2, 3 and 4, 2004 at Wheaton College, Norton MA

[workshop schedule] [introduction] [invitation] [two-page proposals] [grant coverage]


Introduction:

For the last two decades the TEI Consortium has provided valuable resources and developed robust guidelines and standards for encoding "maximally expressive and minimally obsolescent" texts. The TEI is an international and interdisciplinary standard that helps scholars represent all kinds of literary and linguistic texts for online research and teaching. TEI encoding employs SGML and (more recently) XML to enhance digital texts so they can be manipulated, represented, and queried in more complex ways than ordinary digital representations of texts. In addition to producing rich products, the process of encoding requires decision-making by the encoder choices which can amount to performing close readings and sophisticated analyses of the text. Both the act of encoding and the use of a TEI-encoded text, therefore, can lead to a deeper understanding of the text, reveal the creative process, and stimulate critical thinking.

Until now, this kind of text encoding has been the domain of large research universities and institutes, who have the resources for large-scale digitization efforts. Notable examples include the Versioning Machine at the Maryland Insititute for Technology in the Humanities (MITH), The World of Dante at UVA's Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities (IATH), and the Women Writers Project at Brown University.

An Invitation from Mount Holyoke and Wheaton Colleges:

We believe that it is time for small colleges to explore the potential uses of encoding and manipulating TEI texts. Students and faculty in the humanities, and those who support them, should become literate with the concepts and applications of text encoding as an increasingly important skill for the research and analysis of texts and manuscripts. To do this, we must adapt the methods and technology developed by the TEI-C to fit within the realities, constraints, and advantages of our smaller institutions. Through a grant from CET, Wheaton and Mount Holyoke invite members from our fellow MANE colleges to a workshop designed to explore the pedagogical implications of tailoring these methods and tools for use in small liberal arts colleges. David Gants, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Humanities Computing at the University of New Brunswick, will be joining us along with Julia Flanders, Director of the Women Writers Project at Brown University, and Syd Bauman from the Scholarly Technology Group, also at Brown.

This three day summer workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to:

  • explore and review existing scholarly and pedagogical models which use TEI-encoded texts,
  • learn about valuable resources and tools for locating, encoding, querying, transforming and distributing digital texts,
  • gain fundamental and practical knowledge about the text-encoding process,
  • discuss potential pedagogical and scholarly uses of TEI on a small scale, and
  • develop a support structure on each campus and a network of pedagogical and technical support with other MANE colleges.

Teams interested in exploring the potential of TEI-related projects are strongly encouraged, and will be given preference over individuals. An appropriate team might include a faculty member and an instructional technologist, or an archivist, reference librarian, and library technologist. We also ask that participants come to these workshops with some ideas of the materials they would like to encode or have their students encode as part of a classroom module, lab session, or research assignment. Some examples of appropriate materials include documents from a colleges archives and/or special collections, transcripts of interviews, or published materials in the public domain. Texts free from copyright constraints are preferred.

Participants should also develop some preliminary thoughts about how the encoding of the chosen materials could be accomplished at a small liberal arts college. For example, Wheaton is looking at developing TEI course modules -- encoding projects which can be completed as part of a students work in an undergraduate class. Mount Holyoke is interested in examining contributions it could make to larger digital archives. Both colleges also want to examine digitizing and encoding selected pieces of their libraries special collections.

Proposals for Participation:

Those interested in participating should submit proposals which contain the following:
a two-page narrative which includes:

  • a description of materials that the team would like to explore for encoding;
  • a justification for encoding the materials -- how will the encoding benefit your curriculum, archives, research projects, etc.?;
  • preliminary ideas for how to carry out the encoding project,
  • a brief note acknowledging the legal availability of materials to be encoded (e.g. ownership information or copyright release of materials to be published electronically;) and
  • a short biography of each team member.

Proposals should be submitted to our Planning Committee by May 17, 2004. Applications should be sent via email to tei@wheatoncollege.edu. Questions or other communications can be addressed to Kathleen Ebert-Zawasky (Principal Investigator) to kzawasky@wheatoncollege.edu or 508-286-3926.

Participation in this project involves:

  • a three-day summer workshop on June 2, 3 and 4 at Wheaton College, Norton MA,
  • additional follow-up workshop(s) in January 2005 (date and location to be determined),
  • ongoing support and communication for pedagogical and technical issues.

The call for participation and supporting information is available at http://tei.wheatoncollege.edu. In addition, you can follow and contribute to the ongoing discussions about TEI in liberal arts colleges (including planning for the upcoming workshops) at this weblog: http://webedit.wheatoncollege.edu/mt/tei/.

This program is a collaborative effort of Mt. Holyoke College and Wheaton College and is sponsored by a grant from the NITLE Center for Educational Technology. Expenses for participants from MANE colleges, such as resources, lodging, travel and meals are covered by the grant.

Text Encoding at Wheaton
Wheaton College home 		Last modified (none) by (none)