Applications for BootCamp are now open. Please remember to rank your choices for the tracks. As mentioned previously, we’ll largely be admitting people on a first-come, first-served basis.

One of the things that’s been most exciting to us while planning THATCamp Southeast has been our BootCamp. Early on we decided that we wanted to hold BootCamp on a different day than the rest of the Camp so that people got both hands-on training in digital skills and got the opportunity to experience the unconference excitement of THATCamp. (In this, we’re following the lead of our good friends at THATCamp Virginia.)

Working out the schedule has taken a while, but we’re pleased to announce it here. We will have three tracks at BootCamp SE: a Digital Humanities Project track, in which participants will learn digital skills by beginning a real DH project; an Introduction to Programming track, in which Campers will learn some of the basics of programming using the Python programming language and the Django framework; and a Pedagogy track, in which participants will consider the use of digital technologies in conjunction with their teaching. The Digital Humanities track will last all day. The Programming and Pedagogy tracks will follow different schedules in the morning but convene in the afternoon. (Yes, we’re aware that this means that these two tracks are in some ways only half tracks. So it goes.)

Unfortunately, the number of BootCampers that we can accommodate in each track is limited. We plan to accept Campers on a first-come, first-served basis via a webform that we’ll post at noon EST on Friday, February 18. This of course means that we won’t be able to guarantee that you’ll get your first choice of tracks–or even (unfortunately) that you’ll get in. We will make exceptions for those who have been awarded BootCamp fellowships and for those traveling long distances.

We know that we may have more people interested in attending BootCamp than we will be able to accommodate. However, we will be opening the afternoon sessions of the Programming and Pedagogy tracks to everyone. In other words, even if there isn’t room for you in the regular tracks at BootCamp, you should feel free to attend the “Intro to CMSes” and “Creating a Web Presence” sessions.

In case you haven’t already been planning to do so, you’ll certainly want to bring a laptop with you. Laptops are required for the Digital Humanities Project and Programming tracks, and you will have to install some free software ahead of time.

Digital Humanities Project Track (30 people, laptops required)

Session Descriptions

Visualizing Time and Space with Simile Widgets and Google: In this session, you’ll learn to build dynamic, interactive geospatial timelines using some simple tools: basic HTML, Google Docs, and the Simile Widgets. No previous coding experience is necessary!

The Civil War Papers Project: Learn about digital scholarship by encoding, geolocating, and then presenting a page from a Civil War-era letter or diary on a site you create together. Participants will be credited on the website.

1. Intro to Encoding Texts: Encoding texts allows you to do amazing things by making them accessible and searchable. You will learn how to mark up text using the TEI encoding scheme.
2. Intro to GIS: Maps can reveal spatial and temporal relationships that transform your scholarship. In this workshop you’ll learn how to use Google Earth to tie artifacts to their associated locations.
3. Presenting Research on the Web: You’ll learn how to put all your work together by presenting text, maps, and images on one interactive website.

Programming Track (15 people, laptops required)

Session Descriptions

Introduction to Programming I, using Python: In this session, you’ll learn the basics of programming using Python. Using the interactive shell or a simple text editor you will move from the very simple “hello world” script up through simple parsing and manipulation of XML files.

Introduction to the Django Framework using Python:In this session, you will learn the basics of using the Django Framework to rapidly develop simple web applications. The session will cover the basic design of Models, rapid access to the application through the Administration Module and creation of various views for a simple Poetry Portal.

Introduction to Content Management Systems: What are the advantages and disadvantages to different content management systems? Is there something that one can do and the others can’t? What tasks are particular CMSes designed for? You’ll learn about the ins and outs of WordPress, Drupal, and Omeka.

Creating a Web Presence for Yourself or Your Projects: You know you’re supposed to take control of your online presence, but how? This workshop will cover basics like professionalizing your Facebook profile, using RSS feeds, and why anyone would bother with Twitter. We’ll also touch on creating your own professional-looking website.

Pedagogy Track (16 people)

Session Descriptions

Teaching with the Cloud: In this session, you’ll learn about collaboration and presentation work tools that live online “in the cloud” and their use in teaching. We’ll cover include PBWorks, Blogger, and GoogleDocs.

Visualizing Course Content: There are many tools you can use to build a visual component to course content. This session includes hands-on learning with Google Gadgets, Prezi, and Simile-powered timelines.

Engaging Students through Digital Storytelling: Discover how Digital Storytelling can be used to engage students differently. We’ll discuss key elements of a successful digital story and explore using Camtasia and iMovie to create digital stories.

Introduction to Content Management Systems: What are the advantages and disadvantages to different content management systems? Is there something that one can do and the others can’t? What tasks are particular CMSes designed for? You’ll learn about the ins and outs of WordPress, Drupal, and Omeka.

Creating a Web Presence for Yourself or Your Projects: You know you’re supposed to take control of your online presence, but how? This workshop will cover basics like professionalizing your Facebook profile, using RSS feeds, and why anyone would bother with Twitter. We’ll also touch on creating your own professional-looking website.

We’ve recently heard that we could have been a bit more clear about who exactly is organizing TCSE. Who are these people behind the veil of secrecy that is thatcamp.southeast [at] gmail [dut] com? In the interest of transparency, then, we’ve decided to come clean. You can read all about the chief shenanigan-ers on our updated About page.

Believe it or not, we’ve been discovering that an unconference takes a lot of organizing. We mention this as a sort of mea culpa to acknowledge that we have not been as fast as getting information out to our Campers as we would like to be. So look for a flurry of posts in the next few days with as many details as we can get out to you.

First things first: the schedule for BootCamp and THATCamp Southeast!

BootCamp

Friday, March 4
8:30-9:00 breakfast
9:00-1:00 Sessions 1 and 2
1:00-2:00 Lunch
2:00-5:00 Sessions 3 and 4

THATCamp

Saturday, March 5
8:30-9:30 breakfast, session organizing
9:30-10:15 Welcome, Logistics, etc.
10:30-11:45 Session 1
12:00-1:00 Lunch/dork shorts
1:00-2:15 Session 2 
2:30-3:45 Session 3
4:00-5:15 Session 4

Sunday, March 6
8:30-9:00 Breakfast
9:15-10:30 Session 5
10:45-12:00 Session 6
12:15-12:30 Goodbyes

Look for more details very shortly.

We’re pleased to announce that we have all but finished the scheduling for BootCamp SE. Barring any unforeseen difficulties, we plan to offer the following sessions on Friday, 4 March:

• Intro to Content Management Systems (CMS): WP, Drupal, Omeka
• Intro to Programming I with Python
• Intro to Programming II, using Python with Django
• Intro to Text Encoding
• Intro to GIS
• Building a Collection (and its Metadata!) in Omeka
• Creating a Web Presence for Yourself or Your Projects
• Visualizing Time and Space with Simile Widgets and Google

Early next week we will provide the schedule of the sessions as well as full descriptions.

We just wanted to remind everyone that our special rate on hotel rooms is set to expire tomorrow, February 10. We’ve been hearing chatter on Twitter and elsewhere that people would like a forum to find roommates for TCSE (given that whole price-of-the-hotel-rooms-going-up-on-10-February thing). Since we’ve added all the Campers to the site, you can now log in and begin posting content, including calls for roommates. If you’re new to WordPress, just look for “Posts” on the left-hand column, click “Add new,” write your post, and then click the big blue “publish” button on the right.

Of course, you don’t need to use the website for organizing roommates, but it’s there for you if you’d like–this is your THATCamp, after all. Twitter works too, of course; but don’t forget the #thatcamp hashtag!

There are big things afoot here in the land of THATCamp Southeast planning, including the recent announcement of campers. Today brings news about the two THATCamp Southeast hotels.

We have reserved a limited number of rooms at a conference rate of $76.00 plus tax/night for single/double occupancy at the Emory Inn (not the Conference Center; scroll down to read about the Inn). Accepted campers will need to make hotel reservations no later than 10 February to guarantee they will get the conference rate. Additionally, we have secured a courtesy room rate of $139.00 plus tax/night for single/double occupancy at the Emory Conference Center.

You can make reservations at either hotel by calling (800) 933-6679 and mentioning that you are with “THATCamp.” Be sure to specify which property you want to reserve a room at.

Both properties are at 1615 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329.

We fully encourage Campers to connect with each other via this space or Twitter to find potential roommates to save on costs!

Make sure you watch the Location and Logistics page for more updates!

We just wanted to mention again that there was some snow in Atlanta recently. It shut down the city for five days, and threw us planners off our game as far letting people hear back from us by January 15. We’re pleased to report that we have now gone through over half of the applications and will be getting to the others in short order. You have our promise that we’ll let you hear from us as soon as possible about being accepted.

Thanks for your patience!

In case you haven’t heard, the South is struggling with its most feared enemy: frozen water. As such, while the applications to THATCamp Southeast have in fact closed, we the organizers have yet to be able to meet to discuss the applications. We are hoping that someone finds some salt and gets the roads in Atlanta open before the end of the week. If so, we’ll do our best to reach our original goal of notifying select attendees by Friday, 15 January. If we don’t, know that it’s not because we don’t love you; it’s because nature doesn’t.

We here at TCSE HQ are big fans of Twitter. Perhaps you’re following us already? But just like THATCamps are for anyone with interests in the humanities and technology (that’s why we’re hosting a BootCamp, after all!) we’re not going to limit ourselves to one social media network. That’s why we’ve created a new Facebook page for the Camp. We hope that this makes it easier for you to share THATCamp with your friends and colleagues without resorting to our incredible THATCamp SE poster (PDF).

And while you’re admiring the charmingly hand-hewn nature of our Wall, may we invite you to please “Like” us as well? We’re out to become the most-Liked THATCamp on Facebook! (We’ll admit this is not a terribly lofty summit to climb at the moment, but there you have it.)