In terms of the debate about books versus journals, I think that like most divides both have their pros and cons inherent in the very nature in which they present their materials. While I generally try to use an equal balance of both in terms of my own research and work, I find that do to certain limitations in terms of availability or technical malfunction in the case of journals, I am often left to work with whatever is more readily available and relevant. I do not think that either is superior of the other and both serve the historian well in the quest for knowledge, references etc. Moreover I think that both serve essentially the same purpose in conveying ideas, arguments etc and are therefore invaluable to the study of history.
That being said, I have worked with a number of both and generally prefer the old fashioned method of analysing books in the tradition of historians of the past. While books may seem more impractical as well as generally longer and perhaps less concise, the idea of examining a computer screen all day somewhat bothers me. As well, the length of the book oftentimes leads to greater historiographies as well as more ideas presented in one medium. Therefore the focus is much larger, much more multi-dimensional and usually involves the use of more sources. Pragmatically as well, books are easier on the eyes after a long day of reading..
However as mentioned journal articles have their merits as well. While not as big as books, they tend to offer a more concise argument and are much more focused which leaves for less sifting through a book to find one particular idea. As well journals usually provide a detailed glimpse of the historical concepts in which they are writing in that they highlight the debate and framework of their analyses at the beginning or introduction of their works. Articles are however problematic in that tracking down an article that explicitly deals with an area of interest is difficult because of their narrow focus. Moreover availability is oftentimes an issue, relative to the school’s access to the article.
Overall both have many merits as well as a few follies, but it cannot be forgotten that without them, historians would essentially be starting from scratch—although some would argue this is a good thing!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Books, Articles and Historical Research
To an unqualified observer, the differences between books and articles may appear to be non-existent, aside from the obvious differences of length. To a historian however, the differences between books and articles is substantial. While neither books nor articles can claim to be superior in value, both books and articles have valuable characteristics that depending on the situation or type of information required will cause the historian to turn to either a book or article. Books and articles are have their own purpose and value in the discipline of history.
Both types of literature adhere to the same scholarly principles of language, structure and a clear purpose. Books are the result of lengthy study, often years of dedication and investigation on the part of a historian. The wealth of information exhibited presented in book form is the result of careful methodological considerations to the authors broader argument and deep contemplation of the sources, their significance, meaning and how they fit into existing or non-existing historiographies. Books cover a wide range of issues and debates within their pages used to validate an authors general argument. While books provide a great deal of information on a general perspective, often large portions of the literature is irrelevant to a student or researching historian. However, information presented in books is valuable to student historians and practicing historians because it illustrates the interconnectedness of certain issues or debates within a specific subject. Books take advantage of both primary and secondary materials. The use of secondary materials is often extensive in books demonstrating the cumulative nature of historical knowledge and the historical disciplines ability verify, revise or contradict the works of other historians.
Articles, while sharing many of the characteristics with books, have subtle but important differences. Articles typically provide clear and concise details on a specific aspect of an issue or debate. Articles can either argue a very specific aspect of an issue or debate or can provide new questions or methodologies that have not been explored on a subject. Articles are useful when attempting to gain a general sense of the issues and debates that exist on a given topic, or a specific aspect of a general topic. Articles are beneficial in preliminary research as they introduce the student historian or professional historian to the complex issues and debates surrounding a specific topic. In certain cases, articles are mediums that act as an expose for primary source materials that have not been available for study in the past. Articles of this nature often do not attempt to formulate an argument or come to conclusions on the significance or meaning of the sources but rather introduce them to fellow historians in the subject area and how and why it may be necessary to re-visit past studies in light of the new information available.
Both types of literature adhere to the same scholarly principles of language, structure and a clear purpose. Books are the result of lengthy study, often years of dedication and investigation on the part of a historian. The wealth of information exhibited presented in book form is the result of careful methodological considerations to the authors broader argument and deep contemplation of the sources, their significance, meaning and how they fit into existing or non-existing historiographies. Books cover a wide range of issues and debates within their pages used to validate an authors general argument. While books provide a great deal of information on a general perspective, often large portions of the literature is irrelevant to a student or researching historian. However, information presented in books is valuable to student historians and practicing historians because it illustrates the interconnectedness of certain issues or debates within a specific subject. Books take advantage of both primary and secondary materials. The use of secondary materials is often extensive in books demonstrating the cumulative nature of historical knowledge and the historical disciplines ability verify, revise or contradict the works of other historians.
Articles, while sharing many of the characteristics with books, have subtle but important differences. Articles typically provide clear and concise details on a specific aspect of an issue or debate. Articles can either argue a very specific aspect of an issue or debate or can provide new questions or methodologies that have not been explored on a subject. Articles are useful when attempting to gain a general sense of the issues and debates that exist on a given topic, or a specific aspect of a general topic. Articles are beneficial in preliminary research as they introduce the student historian or professional historian to the complex issues and debates surrounding a specific topic. In certain cases, articles are mediums that act as an expose for primary source materials that have not been available for study in the past. Articles of this nature often do not attempt to formulate an argument or come to conclusions on the significance or meaning of the sources but rather introduce them to fellow historians in the subject area and how and why it may be necessary to re-visit past studies in light of the new information available.
Books vs Journals
When it comes to using books within my historical reasearch, it is difficult to find the exact book I am looking for. Books tend to be broadly focussed and can hold a variety of information. This can be both extremely useful, but also problematic. Of course books can offer that exact piece of information or argument one may be looking for. However, they are a much larger source that invovles sifting through the "useless" information for something valuable. Books are a good source of information to start a study from. By reading a book you may find something that sparks your interest in which you would like to pursue. This is where journals come into play.
Journals have aided me quite frequently throughout my study. Journals are much more narrowly focussed on specific topics. You can take your topic of interest discovered in a book and attempt to track down more focussed concerns about that topic in journals. If you can find a journal that is related to your topic of interest, the entire piece of writing becomes a valuable source that does not need sifting. However, journals too can be tricky to track down. With the vast amount of online sources and journals available today, it can sometimes be difficult to locate exactly what you are looking for. Furthermore, if you do not have access to online journals through such academic or public facilities like our library, it can become quite expensive.
Overall, books and journals are extremely helpful sources to use. Although different in their own way, they can provide the reader with tremendous amounts of information and knowledge.
Journals have aided me quite frequently throughout my study. Journals are much more narrowly focussed on specific topics. You can take your topic of interest discovered in a book and attempt to track down more focussed concerns about that topic in journals. If you can find a journal that is related to your topic of interest, the entire piece of writing becomes a valuable source that does not need sifting. However, journals too can be tricky to track down. With the vast amount of online sources and journals available today, it can sometimes be difficult to locate exactly what you are looking for. Furthermore, if you do not have access to online journals through such academic or public facilities like our library, it can become quite expensive.
Overall, books and journals are extremely helpful sources to use. Although different in their own way, they can provide the reader with tremendous amounts of information and knowledge.
BOOKS AND ARTICLES
The amount of information today's student of history has access to is unprecedented. The establishment of online journals and the continued development of e-books encourage the spread of free, valuable, and reputable information. Access to online resources, although not replacing print material, has become an integral part of conducting research. Despite how a resource is accessed, it must still be assessed for it value. In general, journal article and books offer differ things to the historian. Journal articles are examinations of specific topics and questions. This give the reader a great deal of insight into a particular issue. Journal articles are also valuable tools for addressing trends in historiography. Journals represent the most recent research relevant to when it was published. They are also allows opportunity for scholars to express new ideas and receive advice and criticism upon them. On the other hand, books are the product of large scopes of study. In general they give broader overviews than journal articles. Often, books will develop out of several journal articles a scholar has produced. Both resources are useful in establishing both broad and specific foundations up which further research can laid.
Books and Journal Articles in Historical Writing
The use of a book or online book provides the reader with a more general perspective. Most books contain a lot of detail that may not be particular to the research being conducted. However, the wealth of information is useful when attempting to understand a broader concept. A book is also useful when looking at the way in which your topic may relate to other subject areas. For example, the topic of interest could be women in the workforce. One may find a book that deals with women in the twentieth century. Although it does not deal specifically with women in the workforce, the book may provide useful insight to women during this time period. Books can also be useful to a student who is looking for a topic in which to conduct further research. History textbooks provide a general overview of any given topic and can be a great place for one to begin research.
On the contrary, an online journal has the ability to provide concise information to a reader. Journals provide a great deal of knowledge in the academic world. There are journals designated to every discipline and sub-discipline of academia. Therefore, a student may wish to examine certain aspects of their topic through the use of an online or hard copy journal. Since journals are written in far less words than a book, research can be facilitated when particular information replaces the more general overview of a given topic. Using the above mentioned example of women in the workforce, the use of a journal can greatly advance one’s knowledge on this topic. A journal database would have the capability to pull up other articles written about the same subject area. In this manner, a student could learn more about a given topic while expanding upon their own argument by supporting or arguing against the work that has come before their own. Journal articles are also useful when attempting to understand a topic quickly. The ability to search for information within seconds allows a student to learn efficiently about more than one topic at any given time.
Books and journal articles are both extremely useful when it comes to research. Each resource has its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is important that both resources are used when researching a given topic in order to gain a better understanding. While books provide a more general and inclusive interpretation of a topic, journal articles have the ability to be more concise and effective in communicating their point of view. The history student that takes advantage of both source materials will have the greatest degree of success in their studies!
Books and Articles
Books and articles are unique and valuable in their own way to the historian. One should not be prized over the other as they both a central to the historian’s craft and the discipline as a whole. As a historian-in-training I have come to appreciate what each source has to offer and how to obtain the most from each.
Books are a result of lengthy studies conducted over years of research. Therefore, by their very nature they offer a deep argument on a topic that has been carefully constructed and presented in the book. With fewer restraints on length books can offer the historian far more detail than articles. Having said that, this freedom of books can be both beneficial and disadvantageous to the historian. Books can provide historians with excellent detail that enriches their understanding of a topic but at the same time can overwhelm the historian with a over abundance of detail that as result drowns the book’s main argument.
Articles on other hand, are typically restricted in length and therefore are valuable for their brevity. Articles generally are based off of a historians greater work or research interest and as a result provide their reader’s with a condense, well-informed argument on a topic. However, this too can be overwhelming as explanations may be cut short due to length restrictions and so the reader may not be as informed on a topic. Nonetheless, articles are an excellent starting point for historians because they ascertain the historian’s main argument and decide if they wish to examine the argument on a larger scale in which case they can look to the historians other works.
As a historian-in-training I start my research with journal articles so that I can get a sense of the arguments that exist on a topic and who the main historians of the field are. From the articles and their bibliographies I pursue other journal articles and books that appeal to my interest and research. I never value one form of monograph over another but reap the benefits each has to offer in my personal research.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Some news about Kindle in Canada
Here's why we can;t get Kindle in Canada:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/why-you-cant-get-the-kindle-in-canada/article1316081/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/why-you-cant-get-the-kindle-in-canada/article1316081/
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Books, Articles, and the Historian
When thinking about the uses of books and articles, the similarities between them often overshadow their differences in terms of how they are used in research. The more important similarities and differences emerge after putting aside the obvious differences of length, accessibility through electronic databases or compilations, and the fact that often the article would have been written - and it can sometimes show in the writting - under tight time restraints. Structually, often, books and articles have many of the same characteristics; introduction, historiography, statement of principle argument(s), body, and conclusion. The length of the articles, however, makes them an ideal starting point for any research.
Scholarly reviews help determine the value of books, or lack thereof, by critically evaluating the principle arguments and the evidence presented. Introductions in books also, often evaluate other scholarly works, but with less intensity. Pertinent information about the author of a book may also be included in a review if this information could potentially affect the level of objectivity.
It is important to note that the authors of articles (and reviews) usually have books published on the same subject. In the case of dissertations, the author may have expanded their idead into the form of a published book. A good example would be Dr. Morrell's 1991 dissertation "Britain Confronts the Stalin Revolution" which he would later restructure and publish as a book by the same name in 1995.
Books are not written with the constraints of time and length associated with articles and reviews. While containing all of the structural elements of the article, the book evidences far more research on wider subject matters. Simplified, the book contains greater knowlege, while an article contains more in depth analysis of specific issues often contained within the books.
What is gained by books and articles are critical evaluations of other publications - more so with articles - and by extension a long list of sources to add to the research "to do" list. This is acconplished either by taking key authors out of the historiography sections, or from the footnotes and the bibliographies.
Scholarly reviews help determine the value of books, or lack thereof, by critically evaluating the principle arguments and the evidence presented. Introductions in books also, often evaluate other scholarly works, but with less intensity. Pertinent information about the author of a book may also be included in a review if this information could potentially affect the level of objectivity.
It is important to note that the authors of articles (and reviews) usually have books published on the same subject. In the case of dissertations, the author may have expanded their idead into the form of a published book. A good example would be Dr. Morrell's 1991 dissertation "Britain Confronts the Stalin Revolution" which he would later restructure and publish as a book by the same name in 1995.
Books are not written with the constraints of time and length associated with articles and reviews. While containing all of the structural elements of the article, the book evidences far more research on wider subject matters. Simplified, the book contains greater knowlege, while an article contains more in depth analysis of specific issues often contained within the books.
What is gained by books and articles are critical evaluations of other publications - more so with articles - and by extension a long list of sources to add to the research "to do" list. This is acconplished either by taking key authors out of the historiography sections, or from the footnotes and the bibliographies.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
History, the Historian and Technology
While I am sure my experience with technology is similar to most peoples in that I either admire how seemingly easy it makes some things look or disdain it when it fails, I would posit overall that technology has been a saving grace in my university education and continues to be. Despite the times when I have cursed the dreaded ‘get it’ button on the e-resources page of the library website for the perfect text only to find that the text was unavailable, I have always managed to subsequently find an article that served my purpose just as well. In this sense, I was just enhancing my research skills.
As identified in the other posts technology has allowed, and continues to allow access to unprecedented amounts of sources that previously would have either been impossible or impractical to get and examine. In addition it allows me to find the sources in what seems like a tenth of the time it would take to flip through a book.
However I do think that there can be dangers in using technology for the historian. Unreliable sources as well websites that could potentially be harmful, both to computer and to ones outlook are a very realistic and common occurrence in the ever evolving world of technology. Moreover an over-reliance on electronic sources and neglect for the conventional published sources could be problematic in terms of coming to a nuanced and non-biased approach.
Overall then, I do think that technology is fantastic for the historian in that it allows one to get unprecedented access to information while making the search for information and ability to cite sources a lot easier. However one should keep in mind the notion that ‘with great power comes great responsibility’; in this sense harness the power of technology but be sure to be careful.
As identified in the other posts technology has allowed, and continues to allow access to unprecedented amounts of sources that previously would have either been impossible or impractical to get and examine. In addition it allows me to find the sources in what seems like a tenth of the time it would take to flip through a book.
However I do think that there can be dangers in using technology for the historian. Unreliable sources as well websites that could potentially be harmful, both to computer and to ones outlook are a very realistic and common occurrence in the ever evolving world of technology. Moreover an over-reliance on electronic sources and neglect for the conventional published sources could be problematic in terms of coming to a nuanced and non-biased approach.
Overall then, I do think that technology is fantastic for the historian in that it allows one to get unprecedented access to information while making the search for information and ability to cite sources a lot easier. However one should keep in mind the notion that ‘with great power comes great responsibility’; in this sense harness the power of technology but be sure to be careful.
History, the Historian and Technology
While I am sure my experience with technology is similar to most peoples in that I either admire how seemingly easy it makes some things look or disdain it when it fails, I would posit overall that technology has been a saving grace in my university education and continues to be. Despite the times when I have cursed the dreaded ‘get it’ button on the e-resources page of the library website for the perfect text only to find that the text was unavailable, I have always managed to subsequently find an article that served my purpose just as well. In this sense, I was just enhancing my research skills.
As identified in the other posts technology has allowed, and continues to allow access to unprecedented amounts of sources that previously would have either been impossible or impractical to get and examine. In addition it allows me to find the sources in what seems like a tenth of the time it would take to flip through a book.
However I do think that there can be dangers in using technology for the historian. Unreliable sources as well websites that could potentially be harmful, both to computer and to ones outlook are a very realistic and common occurrence in the ever evolving world of technology. Moreover an over-reliance on electronic sources and neglect for the conventional published sources could be problematic in terms of coming to a nuanced and non-biased approach.
Overall then, I do think that technology is fantastic for the historian in that it allows one to get unprecedented access to information while making the search for information and ability to cite sources a lot easier. However one should keep in mind the notion that ‘with great power comes great responsibility’; in this sense harness the power of technology but be sure to be careful.
As identified in the other posts technology has allowed, and continues to allow access to unprecedented amounts of sources that previously would have either been impossible or impractical to get and examine. In addition it allows me to find the sources in what seems like a tenth of the time it would take to flip through a book.
However I do think that there can be dangers in using technology for the historian. Unreliable sources as well websites that could potentially be harmful, both to computer and to ones outlook are a very realistic and common occurrence in the ever evolving world of technology. Moreover an over-reliance on electronic sources and neglect for the conventional published sources could be problematic in terms of coming to a nuanced and non-biased approach.
Overall then, I do think that technology is fantastic for the historian in that it allows one to get unprecedented access to information while making the search for information and ability to cite sources a lot easier. However one should keep in mind the notion that ‘with great power comes great responsibility’; in this sense harness the power of technology but be sure to be careful.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Technology and the Historian
As a history student technology has been a saving grace in historical research. I have been lucky enough to be able to download dozens of scholarly articles, explore online archives, surf historical websites, and order interlibrary loans in the matter of one evening, all from the comfort of my own living room, thanks to the wonderful invention of the internet. The internet has allowed for so much vital information to be readily available to all historians and students.
Over the summer, working as a research assistant, I realized just how vital an asset the internet has become. Since Nipissing's library is quite limited in some respects much of the data I needed was not available in our collection. This meant ordering reel upon reel of microfilm from the National Archive (and often waiting weeks and weeks for it to arrive). However, early in my research a helpful member of the library staff pointed me towards a new and evolving online archive site that contained the majority of the information I needed. No longer did I need to go cross-eyed staring at microfilm reels- I could now conveniently download PDF files onto my laptop and peruse them at my leisure. Thanks to this technological evolution I was able to complete research that may have taken months (simply waiting for sources!) in a much shorter time-frame.
While there are some obvious drawbacks to technology (like sorting through the legitimacy of online sites, and a decreasing use of physical sources like books), I believe that the benefits far outweigh the cons. With technology historical research is sped up, new avenues of research have become more readily available, and forums for historical discussion, such as this blog, have been created. Overall technology has been a great benefit, not only to historians, but to the discipline of history itself.
Over the summer, working as a research assistant, I realized just how vital an asset the internet has become. Since Nipissing's library is quite limited in some respects much of the data I needed was not available in our collection. This meant ordering reel upon reel of microfilm from the National Archive (and often waiting weeks and weeks for it to arrive). However, early in my research a helpful member of the library staff pointed me towards a new and evolving online archive site that contained the majority of the information I needed. No longer did I need to go cross-eyed staring at microfilm reels- I could now conveniently download PDF files onto my laptop and peruse them at my leisure. Thanks to this technological evolution I was able to complete research that may have taken months (simply waiting for sources!) in a much shorter time-frame.
While there are some obvious drawbacks to technology (like sorting through the legitimacy of online sites, and a decreasing use of physical sources like books), I believe that the benefits far outweigh the cons. With technology historical research is sped up, new avenues of research have become more readily available, and forums for historical discussion, such as this blog, have been created. Overall technology has been a great benefit, not only to historians, but to the discipline of history itself.
Thoughts on technology and the historian
Last week I was working on annotations for a translation of a Latin text I am preparing to submit to a journal for publication. The text was printed in 1526, but luckily I had taken some digital photos of the pages from a photographic reproduction of the text that I found in a library in Toronto. One passage in the text had me a quite stumped, until some clues led to me think about another book that a contemporary wrote about my text. That book was printed in 1527. I deftly opened a new tab in Explorer and typed the title into Google. Within seconds I was electronically flipping through the book and found the solution to the passage that had puzzled me for weeks. I even downloaded a .pdf for future reference, and stored it on my gazillion gig hardrive. At last count, I had a small library of over 100 sixteenth-century digital books. And I don’t even think I am breaking any copyrights in doing so (experts might disagree). I guess the point is I can do the kind of research (in North Bay even!) in minutes that it would have taken months to do visiting libraries across Europe. That doesn’t mean that I won’t make strategic visits to actual libraries anymore, it just means that I can do a lot more, more quickly, in between visits. Lamentably, it will take several more decades to make a more complete electronic library – but in the interim I am happy to take advantage of what’s there.
The Internet and E-Resources Age and the Historian
When I first started to think about how technology affects historians today I immediately wanted to rage about how frustrating technology can be sometimes. But in the spirit of sharing positive thoughts with one another I have abstained from doing so.
Prior to my university career I really did not appreciate the vast amount of information that is accessible on the Internet. Over the four years of my undergrad I have been exposed to what is available out on the web, for better or for worse. Technology has opened the doors for historians to e-resources that have reached unprecedented levels. Thousands upon thousands of e-journals, discussions, reviews, e-books and archives are now all available at the historian’s fingertips. However, with all the good information comes the bad too and so it also has become the job of the historian to learn how to determine when using websites and other Internet based sources the respectability and validity of the sources. Unlike with books and material monographs historians can gather in libraries, anyone can publish information on the web. So the historian must proceed with caution when exploring the web.
Having said that, technology has allowed the discipline of history to grow in leaps and bounds. Historians can communicate with one another around the globe by simply turning on a computer. History students can find a multitude of ways to attain valuable research information online whether it is through online library catalogues, interlibrary loan services, e-journal archives and reputable websites. The advancement of technology has allowed for the advancement of history as discipline by making it more readily accessible to the greater population online.
How does technology affect you as a historian?
First and foremost a reliance on technology may cause one to neglect certain resources. Unfortunately in the world of technology not all sources are readily available online and for some this is the only method of research used. As a result, some may not have to opportunity to consult resources of great value that provide information that has yet to be published online. Another problem with technology is the fact that it can often be unreliable. Many take advantage of technology and allow it to do their job as a historian. However, one must be mindful that technology is not flawless nor is it infallible. Several risks are associated with keeping ones work on a computer. For many, the problem of a “crashed” system leads to the loss of major parts of their work if not in its entirety. A backup system is a necessity for the historian choosing to work with technology.
On the other side of the argument it must be noted that technology serves its purpose for the labouring historian. The ability to find resources online greatly facilitates the efforts of the historian. Being able to search through archives online is a great advantage over having to visit one, especially when they are archives from another country. Another useful feature of technology is the ability to conduct research quickly about a variety of topics. Books and other resources are not as versatile. Other resources such as websites can hold your references, create bibliographies or even provide examples of the work being demanded of you. In these instances technology is an advantage, but it is one that should not be abused.
Technology and the Historian
Michael Del Vecchio
September 21, 2009
When I think of how technology affects historians and their craft I am immediately reminded of a conversation I had with my father several years ago. Both of us graduated from Western, albeit several decades apart, with a degree in history. Even though we even had some of the same professors, our experiences as students of history were extremely different.
I was at home one weekend working on a paper. The paper was due on Monday, and when I arrived at home Friday afternoon I had not began research. My father was amazed, a little disappointed, but mostly confused. “How are you going to research your paper when the library is an hour a way?” he asked me. An hour later, I had a dozen journal articles on my topic printed off from the computer. In his day, he told me, such a task would have taken hours, if not days, of grinding in the basement of Weldon Library.
This story reveals a lot about how I view technology as a historian. Throughout my educational career, technology, and in particular the Internet, has acted as a facilitator. It has saved me countless hours of research time and gave me access to resources that I would have not otherwise even known existed. The story also reveals some of the potential harms the Internet can present. Far too many of my undergraduate papers were written based on resources I found based solely on availability instead of quality. This does not mean I never found quality resources online, but it does mean I overlooked potential resources because they were not available electronically. It is therefore of extreme importance that historians use the Internet to their benefit when they can, but not forget about more traditional resources that are still available.
September 21, 2009
When I think of how technology affects historians and their craft I am immediately reminded of a conversation I had with my father several years ago. Both of us graduated from Western, albeit several decades apart, with a degree in history. Even though we even had some of the same professors, our experiences as students of history were extremely different.
I was at home one weekend working on a paper. The paper was due on Monday, and when I arrived at home Friday afternoon I had not began research. My father was amazed, a little disappointed, but mostly confused. “How are you going to research your paper when the library is an hour a way?” he asked me. An hour later, I had a dozen journal articles on my topic printed off from the computer. In his day, he told me, such a task would have taken hours, if not days, of grinding in the basement of Weldon Library.
This story reveals a lot about how I view technology as a historian. Throughout my educational career, technology, and in particular the Internet, has acted as a facilitator. It has saved me countless hours of research time and gave me access to resources that I would have not otherwise even known existed. The story also reveals some of the potential harms the Internet can present. Far too many of my undergraduate papers were written based on resources I found based solely on availability instead of quality. This does not mean I never found quality resources online, but it does mean I overlooked potential resources because they were not available electronically. It is therefore of extreme importance that historians use the Internet to their benefit when they can, but not forget about more traditional resources that are still available.
Technology and the Modern Historian
In the computer age, technology has provided the modern academic with valuable new tools. For the historian, technology has proven a double-edged sword as the advent of the internet, search engines and online archives has made information more accessible than ever before. However, the ease of access to resources brought about by the computer age has meant that many traditional historical research methods have been abandoned. History students, especially at the undergrad level, often fall into the trap of taking the easy route utilizing resources most readily available neglecting resources that may take leg work to acquire. Rather than reading a hard copy of a piece of historical writing it is easier to find the online abstract and read book reviews. While book reviews and abstracts can be useful tools in preliminary research, relying on them for a foundation of a historical analysis is misplaced. Rather than interpreting secondary and primary materials for yourself it is very easy to simply regurgitate the ideas of others.
A common misconception associated with technology, especially in the discipline of history, is that technology is supposed to make the study of history “easier”. Nothing could be further from the truth. Technology is meant to provide the historian with further avenues of investigation, not provide shortcuts. Another under-utilized aspect of technology for the modern historian is the capability of communicating with colleagues around the world. The ability to network with historians in a particular field of study cannot be overemphasized. Technology has allowed for collaboration among historians as never before, sharing resources and ideas. Technology, with its minor shortcomings aside, is an invaluable tool for the modern historian as acquiring resources and the sharing of ideas has become more convenient with the advent of technology.
A common misconception associated with technology, especially in the discipline of history, is that technology is supposed to make the study of history “easier”. Nothing could be further from the truth. Technology is meant to provide the historian with further avenues of investigation, not provide shortcuts. Another under-utilized aspect of technology for the modern historian is the capability of communicating with colleagues around the world. The ability to network with historians in a particular field of study cannot be overemphasized. Technology has allowed for collaboration among historians as never before, sharing resources and ideas. Technology, with its minor shortcomings aside, is an invaluable tool for the modern historian as acquiring resources and the sharing of ideas has become more convenient with the advent of technology.
Historians and Modern Technology
In the academic world of today, technology plays an ever important role in the pursuit for knowledge. In my opinion, the most significant technological innovation that has assisted humankind on this quest is the computer and the use of the internet. As a historian, the internet has opened a door to new information previously unavailable. Online catalogs, libraries, collections, and more allow historians to access crucial documents and important information from all over the world. A process that once involved traveling and tedious searching through archives, can now be done within minutes through the use of a computer and an internet connection. This makes the job of a historian much easier.
The technology of the internet not only provides historians with access to unlimited amounts of information, but also allows them to share new ideas with one another, such as the very purpose of this blog. This stimulates new historical thought, arguments, and conversations that only further the study of history. The constant development of technology, such as the internet, has increased the speed in which historians process. Overall, the use of the internet and computers has allowed history to transform and adapt to ever-changing technological innovation.
The technology of the internet not only provides historians with access to unlimited amounts of information, but also allows them to share new ideas with one another, such as the very purpose of this blog. This stimulates new historical thought, arguments, and conversations that only further the study of history. The constant development of technology, such as the internet, has increased the speed in which historians process. Overall, the use of the internet and computers has allowed history to transform and adapt to ever-changing technological innovation.
Technology and Historians
Technology, foremost in my mind, has affected me the most by making information and sources so much more easily accessible. Especially in a small school like Nipissing, the amount of materials and resources available online now, both through the school and with the ability to borrow from other schools, makes research so much easier and rewarding. Also, many primary sources that otherwise I would either not have the opportunity to see, or I would have to buy a book with primary sources that costs lots of money just to use one source, are also available online to do research.
In general technology, in the form of the printed word and now with the growing availability of information online, has ensured to all historians the distribution of ideas and works. This allows for a greater sharing of ideas, resources, and therefore an expanding of historical knowledge as a whole. However, as Gore Vidal has said “Thanks to modern technology…history now comes equipped with a fast-forward button.” One can take this as a good thing, in that it is easier and faster to get to the information that is of interest. On the other hand though, one can miss so many things that are of importance, perhaps even to ones own study, that, unless you are aware of them, you won’t know to search for them. For instance, if one is reading a book online, often one can just look for those parts of it that talk about exactly what you are looking for. Yet, if you were to read the entire book there is probably so much more that you could learn and most of it probably valuable to the original research itself.
Overall, I would argue that technology has been more of a positive force to history. One need to just be aware of the problems that may arise when using technology and be prepared for those, as well as infuse old methods of research with the new.
In general technology, in the form of the printed word and now with the growing availability of information online, has ensured to all historians the distribution of ideas and works. This allows for a greater sharing of ideas, resources, and therefore an expanding of historical knowledge as a whole. However, as Gore Vidal has said “Thanks to modern technology…history now comes equipped with a fast-forward button.” One can take this as a good thing, in that it is easier and faster to get to the information that is of interest. On the other hand though, one can miss so many things that are of importance, perhaps even to ones own study, that, unless you are aware of them, you won’t know to search for them. For instance, if one is reading a book online, often one can just look for those parts of it that talk about exactly what you are looking for. Yet, if you were to read the entire book there is probably so much more that you could learn and most of it probably valuable to the original research itself.
Overall, I would argue that technology has been more of a positive force to history. One need to just be aware of the problems that may arise when using technology and be prepared for those, as well as infuse old methods of research with the new.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Technology and the Historian
Curtis Robinson
Technology for the historian serves as both a tool and an impediment in the study of history. In the modern age and in the future, historians will cling to their computers and have access to information, books, and other publications without having to leave the sanctuary of their homes or universities. Books, articles, and primary sources that have been scanned will be at the historians fingertips. John Gaddis lamented in We Now Know that he could not make a multi-archival survey at the time his book was written. In the near future, this will no longer be a problem since searching archives will be made easier with the increasing reliance upon electronic databases and catalogues. The process of creating full digital copies of the archives are, of course, years away, but are inevitably on the way.
Technology has already revolutionized the writting process; typewriters are obsolete, replaced by computer word processors with spell check, grammar check, as recently demonstrated, features such as automatic sourcing, bibliographic entries as well as page numbering and document dating.
On the other hand, while the internet enables access to sources and literature especially in the form of E-books and journals, technology often destroys sources of the primary nature. It is true that primary sources in existence are salvaged by being scanned into databases but let us not forget the proccesses which create these sources. For historians, for example, the invention of the telephone was a curse. Letters, memos, and telegrams began to decline, all of which historians depended on in order to survey the communications that took place between people and their organizations. In the modern age, email has been used as the primary mode of communication. These comminuques are rarely saved and are surprisingly easy to delete or loose, therefore historians will find written worl source even more rare.
Technology for the historian serves as both a tool and an impediment in the study of history. In the modern age and in the future, historians will cling to their computers and have access to information, books, and other publications without having to leave the sanctuary of their homes or universities. Books, articles, and primary sources that have been scanned will be at the historians fingertips. John Gaddis lamented in We Now Know that he could not make a multi-archival survey at the time his book was written. In the near future, this will no longer be a problem since searching archives will be made easier with the increasing reliance upon electronic databases and catalogues. The process of creating full digital copies of the archives are, of course, years away, but are inevitably on the way.
Technology has already revolutionized the writting process; typewriters are obsolete, replaced by computer word processors with spell check, grammar check, as recently demonstrated, features such as automatic sourcing, bibliographic entries as well as page numbering and document dating.
On the other hand, while the internet enables access to sources and literature especially in the form of E-books and journals, technology often destroys sources of the primary nature. It is true that primary sources in existence are salvaged by being scanned into databases but let us not forget the proccesses which create these sources. For historians, for example, the invention of the telephone was a curse. Letters, memos, and telegrams began to decline, all of which historians depended on in order to survey the communications that took place between people and their organizations. In the modern age, email has been used as the primary mode of communication. These comminuques are rarely saved and are surprisingly easy to delete or loose, therefore historians will find written worl source even more rare.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Revised Syllabus
OK, folks, I've revised the syllabus so that we can get started on the books we have. Please review the revised syllabus carefully and let's discuss any issues/problems with it on Tuesday night (or if you notice some before, post something on this blog).
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
TEXT BOOK WOES
I spoke with the Bookstore this morning and they say they will get in the copies of Davie's Empiricism and History in a week or so. They have already received the books that we would use in our second unit, so I am thinking that we might begin with the unit on Social theory and history, and move on to empiricism once that book comes in. I will put together a revised syllabus and post it on BlackBoard by Friday and we can discuss it more closely next Tuesday night in class.
I am most embarrassed about this situation, especially since I put a lot of time and effort into planning the course and have to restructure at such a late date; my apologies. We will figure it out.
In the meantime I invite you to spend some time thinking about your writing assignment (due next Monday) and to get the two books for our unit on social theory.
I am most embarrassed about this situation, especially since I put a lot of time and effort into planning the course and have to restructure at such a late date; my apologies. We will figure it out.
In the meantime I invite you to spend some time thinking about your writing assignment (due next Monday) and to get the two books for our unit on social theory.
Welcome!
It was great meeting everyone last night and to learn what areas you are all interested. Here is our blog for us to discuss and share as the year progresses. I will be adding you all as authors as I get emails from you and I will post the blog URL on Blackboard. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me! My email is charloti@nipissingu.ca and my office is next to the Information Desk in the Library.
Once I have set you up as authors on the blog, you can work on your first post on how technology affects you as a historian?
Once I have set you up as authors on the blog, you can work on your first post on how technology affects you as a historian?
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