Anna L. Neatrour, Elizabeth Callaway and Rebekah Cummings
This paper aims to determine if the digital humanities technique of topic modeling would reveal interesting patterns in a corpus of library-themed literature focused on the future…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to determine if the digital humanities technique of topic modeling would reveal interesting patterns in a corpus of library-themed literature focused on the future of libraries and pioneer a collaboration model in librarian-led digital humanities projects. By developing the project, librarians learned how to better support digital humanities by actually doing digital humanities, as well as gaining insight on the variety of approaches taken by researchers and commenters to the idea of the future of libraries.
Design/methodology/approach
The researchers collected a corpus of over 150 texts (articles, blog posts, book chapters, websites, etc.) that all addressed the future of the library. They ran several instances of latent Dirichlet allocation style topic modeling on the corpus using the programming language R. Once they produced a run in which the topics were cohesive and discrete, they produced word-clouds of the words associated with each topic, visualized topics through time and examined in detail the top five documents associated with each topic.
Findings
The research project provided an effective way for librarians to gain practical experience in digital humanities and develop a greater understanding of collaborative workflows in digital humanities. By examining a corpus of library-themed literature, the researchers gained new insight into how the profession grapples with the idea of the future and an appreciation for topic modeling as a form of literature review.
Originality/value
Topic modeling a future-themed corpus of library literature is a unique research project and provides a way to support collaboration between library faculty and researchers from outside the library.
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Will Parnell, Angela Molloy Murphy, Elizabeth Quintero and Larisa Callaway-Cole
This research demonstrates diffractive documentation and practice as hopeful mechanisms in which early childhood educator-protagonists are proactive rather than reactive in their…
Abstract
Purpose
This research demonstrates diffractive documentation and practice as hopeful mechanisms in which early childhood educator-protagonists are proactive rather than reactive in their work with young children.
Design/methodology/approach
Our storying research process is a narrative-building approach, whereby we interrelate and diffract together to seek out new meaning and understandings and promote social justice-oriented actions.
Findings
Authors each share from burgeoning narratives to interrelate and show a collection of threads that deepen multiple meanings in our existence.
Social implications
If we can assure deep support for all and an ethos of planet and place-caring, stretching beyond the status quo to children and place, then policies and practices can be changed for a greater good.
Originality/value
Humbly, we maintain that first, if we listen with children and the more-than-human, they show empathy, creativity and generative learning, and through our diffractive (re)storying process, hope is found, producing actions and movements.
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The interest of the pioneers of cybernetics in psychopathology is illustrated. Examples are given of the application of cybernetics to psychopathology, from Wiener onwards. It is…
Abstract
The interest of the pioneers of cybernetics in psychopathology is illustrated. Examples are given of the application of cybernetics to psychopathology, from Wiener onwards. It is argued that cybernetics raises the possibility of a laboratory science of psychopathology. The computer modelling of psychopathological processes is examined, as is the relevance of channel capacity. Some cybernetic approaches to psychosis are reviewed. It is argued that cybernetics provides potential alternative diagnostic methods, based not on static diagnostic entities but on process, and suggests science‐based treatment possibilities.
Joe S.C. Au, Gail Taylor and Edward W. Newton
This is the first of two papers in which the design theories underlining the work of contemporary European and Japanese fashion designers are explored. In this paper, four…
Abstract
This is the first of two papers in which the design theories underlining the work of contemporary European and Japanese fashion designers are explored. In this paper, four general, major influential factors are discussed; specifically, the historical factor, the aesthetic factor, the cultural factor and the marketing factor. In order to investigate the underlying design theories of European fashion designers, two European fashion designers with international reputations are discussed, namely, Christian Lacroix and Karl Lagerfeld. These design theories are contrasted with those of two Japanese designers, Issey Miyake and Rei Kawakubo. The images of their customers, sources of inspiration, and possible underlying design theories are analysed with reference to their contemporary work.
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WE wish for our readers a Good New Year. Whether it would be appropriate to wish readers a Happy New Year at this stage will depend upon many factors. Even before these words…
Abstract
WE wish for our readers a Good New Year. Whether it would be appropriate to wish readers a Happy New Year at this stage will depend upon many factors. Even before these words appear in type we may be involved in the more intense struggle for the very existence of our country which everyone seems to think must come sooner or later. The ultimate outcome of that we do not doubt, but while it continues we shall need all the strength, spiritual, mental and physical, that we possess. Nevertheless, it will be a good new year if we remain sensitive to all the needs and opportunities that surround us.
Eric T. Anderson and Elizabeth Anderson
From 2002 to 2011, coffee-machine manufacturer Keurig Incorporated had grown from a privately held company with just over $20 million in revenues and a plan to enter the single…
Abstract
From 2002 to 2011, coffee-machine manufacturer Keurig Incorporated had grown from a privately held company with just over $20 million in revenues and a plan to enter the single serve coffee arena for home consumers, to a wholly owned subsidiary of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., a publicly traded company with net revenues of $1.36 billion and a market capitalization of between $8 and $9 billion. In 2003 Keurig had introduced its first At Home brewer. Now, approximately 25 percent of all coffee makers sold in the United States were Keurig-branded machines, and Keurig was recognized as among the leaders in the marketplace. The company had just concluded agreements with both Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks that would make these retailers' coffee available for use with Keurig's specialized brewing system. The company faced far different challenges than when it was a small, unknown marketplace entrant. John Whoriskey, vice president and general manager of Keurig's At Home division, had to consider the impact that impending expiration of key technology patents and the perceived environmental impact of the K-Cup® portion packs would have on the company's growth. Whoriskey also wondered what Keurig's growth potential was, and how the new arrangements with Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts could be leveraged to achieve it.
Details
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Hiller A. Spires and James C. Lester
The purpose of this paper is to describe how the authors created a community of inquiry for game design with Crystal Island, report research results from a school pilot and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe how the authors created a community of inquiry for game design with Crystal Island, report research results from a school pilot and analyze lessons learned. Using a community of inquiry approach, the authors created participatory structures for design and communication among the university team (i.e. computer science, literacy and science education, educational psychology and art design), elementary teachers and elementary students who were involved with Crystal Island.
Design/methodology/approach
As part of the design process and in the attempt to create a community of inquiry, the authors conducted ongoing sessions with the teachers and students (N = 800), or what the authors refer to as design charettes. The design charettes included forming a lead teacher cadre and conducting game-based learning teacher institutes. These sessions led to a mixed methods school pilot study.
Findings
Results of the classroom pilot study suggested that game-based learning environments not only increase student engagement but also positively impact content knowledge on science topics and problem-solving skills. A key finding was that these gains were not unique to any specific group of learners, as there were no differences by race or gender.
Originality/value
Applying a community of inquiry contributed greatly to the success of the authors’ results. Distributing knowledge and authority throughout the community (university and elementary schools combined) promoted rich social interactions that encouraged meaningful contributions from all participants. Future efforts will focus on sustaining our community of inquiry as the authors attempt to scale gameplay with CRYSTAL ISLAND.
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After the closing of four of the five historically Black college and university (HBCU)–based library and information science (LIS) graduate programs (leaving only that of North…
Abstract
Purpose
After the closing of four of the five historically Black college and university (HBCU)–based library and information science (LIS) graduate programs (leaving only that of North Carolina Central University), there is a need to revitalize HBCU-LIS degree program pathways to increase racial diversity in LIS education.
Design/methodology/approach
This mixed-methods study entails survey and interview research with HBCU librarians. The researchers explored participants’ professional experiences and perspectives on creating partnerships between HBCU institutions and LIS graduate programs.
Findings
Participants demonstrated substantial experience, expressed high levels of job satisfaction, viewed pipeline programs favorably and believed that LIS can be strengthened through the inclusion of HBCU educational practices and students.
Practical implications
This study provides recommendations and a model for forging culturally competent and reciprocal HBCU–LIS degree program partnerships.
Social implications
Community-led knowledge of HBCUs can disrupt rescue and deficiency narratives of these institutions. Such prejudices are detrimental to HBCU-LIS degree program partnerships.
Originality/value
Past HBCU-LIS degree program pipeline partnerships did not culminate in research or published best practices. This paper presents literature-derived and community-sourced guidelines along with a model for future initiatives.