DAS Subcommittee Conference Meeting Minutes
8/9/16
Present: Bishoff, Brancato, Gengenbach, Ghaznavi (Chair), Ghering, Lindberg, Martzahl, McAninch, Mitchem, Rosko, Schaefer (members); Capodilupo, and De Sutter (staff). Absent: Call, Lassere, and Legg,
- Martzahl shared a conversation she had with someone who challenged the Thinking Digital exam. It appears that a question was presented in a way that indicated that there may be several options; we have to take a look at the actual classmarker exam; this webinar is offered in TX on a large scale. There’s also something that isn’t represented correctly e.g., a fine point between digital and electronic – latter means it requires electricity so it can refer to both analog and electronic records. Solution is to work with De Sutter to add a handout to the material that students download.
- Martzahl is planning on submitting an IMLS Planning Grant As part of CoSA – this relates to the lack of an environment enabling students to work with various tools. For example, Digital Forensics and like courses require installation of software and that’s always problematic. The planning grant (within next month) would allow investigation into setting up a sandbox and doing an environmental scan to see how it is done in academic institutions. Schaefer submitted something along that line and offered help. Bishoff inquired about CoSA being the applicant? What would SAA be – a partner? De Sutter offered that SAA would sign on in support.
- Kelcy Shepherd is withdrawing from teaching Preservation of Digital Archives and De Sutter asked for instructor recommendations. Schaefer is available to teach.
- Bill Wisser’s Faculty Training session in Atlanta was a success. Lindberg commented that he was very knowledgeable technologically, his speaking style was good, he used examples and people responded well. He did a good job affirming DAS thinking but should concentrate a bit more on webinar development. Ghaznavi highlighted Lindberg’s role and knowledge in getting DAS to this point.
- McAninch found Wisser inspirational – Wisser thinks webinars should tell a story and grab people and that many PowerPoint presentations limit peoples’ ability to engage and learn. There was a discussion about webinar participants often meeting in groups and instructors could prompt discussions with their questions.
- Ghaznavi noted student feedback she received from a recent webinar. Case studies were at the end of the presentation. Feedback indicated that many students wanted to begin the class with case studies and then move to discussions of techniques and tools. Case/user studies help tell a story.
DAS feedback at meeting
- Overall heard good things; at office hours someone came to inquire about the program and someone else came who was in the midst of pursuing the certificate and the two ended up talking and exchanging cards.
- Two other people approached and said they had taken DAS courses but can’t get them done within 2 years due to financial reasons (courses aren’t in their vicinity or funding is so limited that …)
- Spoke with Maria La Called about the web archiving course (face to face) that should follow the Perricci webinar.
- Spoke with David Kay – Martzahl was there – and the idea of “Ethics of Web Harvesting” came up; A&D has an ethics webinar scheduled for October.
- To be discussed at face to face in October.
Outgoing committee members were asked about parting thoughts
- Bishoff finds ethics interesting, particularly all the issues in government about electronic records that are challenging; ties in with copyright; put it on the top;
- Rosko suggested thinking about TST courses expanding and bringing in the digital aspect of Privacy and Confidentially – bring it in – focus on shorter tool related webinars and the foundational, diversifying the faculty and being thoughtful on how that is done. Figure out how to get rid of Comp exam and upgrade individual course exam; do an assessment of Comp Exam usefulness; return on investment; is there a better approach?
The call concluded with Ghaznavi thanking Bishoff, Ghering, and Rosko for their many contributions to the success of the DAS Program, for their good humor at all times, and for being the wonderful people they are.
