APA Committee
on Computer Activities
1996 Annual Report
In 1996, the committee
concentrated its efforts in the following directions:
(1) Classics, Teaching, and
Technology Subcommittee. Last year's panel session on
"Classics and the Internet" spawned a series of
conversations, beginning with the public discussion
following the papers and continuing to this day. Several
members of the audience were struck by the ways in which
the technology of the Internet might be used to help with
the problems of teaching Classics in small programs. A
direct consequence was the creation of the Classics,
Teaching, and Technology Subcommittee, a group of people
working actively to promote progress in this area. Among
the activities of the subcommittee has been:
(i) CLSTECH, an unmoderated
discussion list established by Suzanne Bonefas for the
sharing of ideas, problems, and collaborative proposals
relating to teaching and technology. For further
information, including how to subscribe, see
(ii) A web page that lists
teaching initiatives on the world wide web:
(iii) A more general and
comprehensive data base of Classics-related courses with
any sort of on-line component. This browseable,
searchable facility invites teachers to add their own
courses to the data base. See:
(iv) Several members of the
subcommittee working with others made a successful
proposal to the NEH for a two-year, $190,000 project
(called VROMA) to explore technology-assisted
collaboration between and among undergraduate and
secondary school Classics programs, concentrating on the
"virtual re-creation of lost contexts." On VROMA
see:
The committee wishes to express
its gratitude to all those who have helped with the
activities of the subcommittee, but especially Michael
Arnush (outgoing subcommittee chair), Suzanne Bonefas
(incoming subcommittee chair), and Barbara
McManus.
(2) Other efforts at
coordination. In addition to the above, the committee
continued its efforts to coordinate computer initiatives
in the field, with special attention this year to
coordination with the AIA.
(3) Thematic panels.
Continuing its series of thematic panels focusing on the
intellectual challenges and opportunities made possible
by technological developments, the committee sponsored in
1996 a panel on "Classics, Computers, and Pedagogy."
(4) For 1997 the committee
welcomes new member Suzanne Bonefas and new chair Michael
Arnush.
William A. Johnson, Chair
Committee on Computer Activities
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