NERCOMP 2007 Conference

Pedagogical Use of XML/TEI Technologies

in the Classroom

Nicole Vaget, Professor of French Shaoping Moss, Info Tech ConsultantMount Holyoke CollegeMarch 20, 2007

Today’s Main Topics XML/TEI technologies at MHC in:

1. 20th century Haitian poetry: Jean Métellus: Au Pipirite chantant

2. 18th century French studies: an unpublished manuscript -- Mémoires de la contesse de L…

Content analysis The XML/TEI technology component Pedagogical relevance Benefits

Background Information

Collaborative program between Wheaton and MHCExploring Applications of the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI)

for Small Liberal Arts Colleges, Dec. 2003

3-day Summer Workshop at Wheaton, June 2004

1-day Seminar at Wheaton, January 2005

Integrating XML/TEI Technologies in Teaching and Research

Au Pipirite chantant, a Haitian poem by Jean Métellus A TEI pioneer project at MHC, 2005, used in an

intermediate French language course, spring 2007

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/lits/csit/lrc/projects/nvaget/haiti/

Integrating XML/TEI Technologies in Teaching and Research

Mémoires de la contesse de L…, an unpublished 18th century manuscript from the National Library in Paris (Bibliothèque Nationale)

A research project for an advanced literature seminar, fall 2005

Summary of the manuscript

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/lits/csit/lrc/projects/nvaget/French331_fall05/

Summary of the Manuscript This memoir details the life of a lady of the aristocracy in 18th century France.

She recounts her childhood, her convent education, her introduction to French high society in Paris, and her various romantic exploits. When her hopes for a love match are destroyed, she enters a loveless marriage with a much older man, the Count of L... Soon after their wedding, he begins an affair with an older relative, who arrives to help run the household. The countess of L… is then relegated to an inferior position. Her grief is such that she becomes insane. Although she has children, her maternity is no consolation and her life is miserable. Her only outlet is to dream about her impossible first love, a fine young man without means, whom she had been forbidden to marry.

Content Analysis

Students were assigned the following tasks:

1. Analyzing themes

2. Locating appropriate images

3. Incorporating cultural notes

4. Identifying people and places

Integrating XML/TEI Technologies -- Step by Step

Course syllabus:http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/nvaget/331fall05/

1. Overview of XML/TEI technologies and hands-on exercise with themes, people and places (source file)

2. Demo 1: Encoding images (source file)3. Demo 2: Encoding cultural notes (source file)4. Tech mentor assistance by individual appointment5. Presentation of student group projects

Encoding Example Summary of section 8 of the manuscript:

In section 8, an old and wealthy prince kidnaps the countess. He takes her to his castle, where he offers her gifts, money, and a husband, in exchange for sexual favors. She refuses, and he lets her go home, but asks her to lie to her father, and pretend that she willingly came to visit him, accompanied by a lady friend.

Themes, people, places and illustrations

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/lits/csit/lrc/projects/nvaget/French331_fall05/group8/section8.html

Intellectual Interpretation

The fabric of a society in 18th century France

The sexual double standard for men and women

Similar situations in other works of fiction

Intellectual Interpretation This memoir is remarkable for the documentary it provides on 18th-

century French aristocrats. Through the eyes of a naïve country woman we gain insight into the forces that shaped the fabric of a society that ended with the revolution of 1789.

Students learn about the sexual double standard for men and women, and the role convents played in the education, and control of women in 18th century France.

Similar situations are encountered in famous works of fiction from the time period such as The Princess of Clèves by madame de Lafayette, The Nun by Diderot, and Dangerous Liaisons by Choderlos de Laclos. These books were read in conjunction with the manuscript and added a deeper layer of understanding to the text.

Pedagogical Relevance Seen Through Students’ Comments

Intellectual depth

Technology skills

Pedagogical Relevance Seen Through Students’ Comments

“Encoding forced us to research the time period and get into text and context.”

“It made us understand the themes and ideas in the text, and realize the connections with other books read in class.”

“It was very useful because looking for illustrations brought faces to names and places mentioned in the text.”

“It helped with reading and figuring out who was whom. It allowed for the text to come alive.’

‘The text became easier to understand once all names and places were defined with words and images.”

Other MHC Student Projects Letter from Emma P. Carr to Professor Victor Henri [ca

July 5, 1924]A student group project in Chem250: History of Chemistry, fall 2004

A series of letters between Mildred Allen and Hiram HadleyA student group project in Chem250: History of Chemistry, spring 2006

A Chart about History of Chemistry during Ancient and Medieval AgesA student project in Chem250: History of Chemistry, spring 2006

Additional MHC Archives Projects Letter from John G. Whittier to Lucy Larcom (1884 - 1892)

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/lits/library/arch/col/msrg/mancol/whittier/letter.html

Betty Wells Correspondencehttp://www.mtholyoke.edu/lits/library/arch/col/msrg/mancol/wells/wells_xml_tei.html

 

Benefits for StudentsWe believe this method has direct impact on teaching and learning.

It has helped students: Improve their literary skills. Develop their critical thinking and problem-solving

skill. Use multimedia as an interdisciplinary method to

connect literature, art, and history. Learn cutting-edge technologies.

Benefits for Educators

Through these projects we have: Learned about valuable resources and tools available

within the TEI community. Gained hands-on experience with the text-encoding

process. Developed pedagogical applications with XML/TEI

technologies on a small scale. Created instructional materials for free distribution. Developed a support system with peer institutions.

Sample Source Files

XML/TEI source file for section 8

XSLT source file

XML and XSL Tools <oXygen/> XML Editor 8.x

Company: Syncro Soft; Academic price: $48http://www.oxygenxml.com/

XML Pro (open source)Company: Vervet Logic; Businesses may license XML Pro

for a small fee.http://www.vervet.com/

jEdit (open source)http://www.jedit.org/ -- The core of jEdit is primarily

developed by Slava Pestov, and jEdit plugins are being written by a diverse team of programmers from around the world.

Questions & Answers

Pedagogical Use of

XML/TEI Technologies

in the Classroom

Copyright Statement

This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.

Professor Nicole Vaget & Shaoping Moss, 2007

Contact Info

Nicole VAGETReverend Joseph Paradis

Professor of FrenchChair of Romance Languages

and LiteratureMount Holyoke College

Email: nvaget@mtholyoke.edu

Shaoping MOSSInformation Technology ConsultantResearch and Instructional Support

Mount Holyoke CollegeEmail: smoss@mtholyoke.edu