NCPH THATCampers: Please note the participants tab at the upper right of the page–this is a great way to get to know one another a bit before next Wednesday. If you haven’t already done so, please update your profile information when you log in to the site.

To add your picture, it’s necessary to sign up for gravatar.com and upload a picture, which will link to this site via the email address associated with your THATCamp participation. (By the way, “gravatar” creates a Globally Recognized Avatar that’s useful for other online activities).

As of today, 12 of 45 participants have posted ideas for THATCamp NCPH. We’ve got some good momentum going . . . let’s keep it up! We need to hear something from all of you to make this event a success. Take a peek at the existing posts and then log in and post your own.

To create a post, complete the following steps:

1. log into the site with your username and password.  The login link is listed on the lower right of the screen in the META section, which is below the twitter feed.

2. once logged in, click on the Posts link on the left side of the screen

3. select the Add New button to create a new post

4. give your post a title (related to your interests) as well as a detailed description of your topic in the text box

5. make sure to select the \”Topics\” box in the categories menu on the right side of the screen.  This will allow users to see only the topics others post when they select the topics link on the website.

6. after you finish your post and select the topics box, preview your post and, once satisfied, select the publish button.  This will make your post live for others to see.  Posts appear on the homepage of THATCamp NCPH 2011.

THATCamp NCPH will begin at 9:00 am on April 6 in the Grand Central Room at the Crowne Plaza.

The conference registration area does not open until 11:00, so your NCPH conference name badge will be waiting for you when you arrive at THATCamp.

Coffee and snacks will be provided; lunch is on your own.

A THATCamp topic for consideration and also a plug for a project I’m working on…

I have a current project to collect outstanding examples of projects related to historic buildings or districts and archaeological sites that presented an innovative or creative solution to mitigating adverse effects, interpreting the history, or public outreach. We have set-up a website at www.creativemitigation.com that provides background info on the project and allows the public to submit info on projects they have worked on, or just encountered as visitors. One of the categories we are looking at is the use of new and emerging technologies (social media,  web sites/virtual tours, GPS/smartphone apps, or anything else) to more effectively interpret historic and archaeological resources and connect with and outreach to the public in interesting ways.

So if you know of or have worked on an innovative and effective project associated with a physical historic or archaeological resource, tell us about it at www.creativemitigation.com. Thanks!

9 a.m. – 5 p.m., April 6,
Crowne Plaza Pensacola Grand Hotel in Pensacola, Florida

Join us for an exciting one-day THATCamp during the National Council on Public History 2011 Annual Meeting and explore the intersection of digital technology and public humanities.  THATCamps (The Technology and Humanities Camp) are participatory events where people learn from each other and work on actual projects directly applicable in their own institutions, companies, and programs.   With a program that will emerge directly from the interests and skills of participants, the event reflects the kind of collegial spirit that public historians bring to their own work.  More details about the event can be found online at:

ncph2011.thatcamp.org

Registration is $21 and closes on March 15; to register for THATCamp and/or the full conference, visit the NCPH conference registration page at:

ncph.org/cms/conferences/2011-annual-meeting/

Started in 2008, THATCamps are becoming a worldwide movement, with more than 20 held to date.  Graduate students, scholars, librarians, archivists, museum professionals, developers and programmers, administrators, publicists, managers, funders, people from the non-profit and for-profit sectors, and interested amateurs have all found ways to add to their skills and to push the conversation between digital technology and humanistic projects.  There are no audiences sitting and listening to presentations at a THATCamp—everyone is an active participant, helping to set the agenda, share knowledge, solve problems, take notes, blog, tweet, and collaborate with fellow attendees.  Staff from the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University will facilitate the event.

Registration is capped at 65 people.  Following the March 15 deadline, registrants will be asked to provide a short informal proposal for what they would like to learn, do, or share; those proposals will help us to start structuring the event on April 6.  Interested in better ways to use social media at your institution?  Need to beef up your podcast-making skills?  Want to learn to use Omeka, Zotero, or WordPress? Confused about georeferencing or digital copyright issues? Looking for help getting a specific digital project off the ground? Tell us your idea and then come to the camp and help us figure out how to explore it in a way that will be most useful for you.

The $21 fee for registration will help NCPH cover the cost of space for the event.  If the camp is filled, some food may also be provided from the registration fees, but participants should be prepared to bring or buy their own lunch (details will be shared via the THATCamp NCPH website as the event gets closer).

Please forward this announcement to anyone in the humanities, technology, design, or related fields who might be interested in what promises to be a lively and inclusive event.

Updates will be posted on the website as the camp date gets closer:

ncph2011.thatcamp.org

Brought to you by NCPH and the Center for History and New Media, THATCamp NCPH will take place at the 2011 annual conference in Pensacola.  Please continue to check this site for periodic updates and more information about THATCamp NCPH.