I choose a novel called
‘A short history of Rhode Island’ from Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org) for this task. I
created a word cloud for this assignment using Wordle. I modified this image
using color and layout icons and posted in PLS. I also created a visualization
of the same corpus using Voyant visualization tools. It was not difficult to
use this tool to reveal this corpus. It took some times to reveal the whole
novel. This tool helped me to find some keywords that played a very important
role in the novel. We can list the frequency (how many times each word is used
in this story) of words using this tool. One of the most important characteristics
of this tool is the ability to show shifting word frequencies of multiple
terms. We can graph for different words using this tool. For example, I graphed
words like ‘Williams’, ‘colony,’ and ‘plymouth’ for this
task using this tool. We can also compare patterns of graph using this tool, which
would be very helpful for our students. Students can analyze different kinds of
keywords using Voyant tools. I am
teaching an electrical engineering course (MAE 213) in which students need to solve problems (e.g. identify problems, present topics, analyze
problems, attempt problem solutions, respond to problems, think carefully, or evaluate
alternatives). As a requirement of this course students need to do some
projects using simulation/visualization tools such as Multisim, Matlalab, and
Pspice to build their carrier in a professional way. For these purposes students
need to write one or two page reflections of what they learned from their
project so they can deposit their project in E-portfolio. Some students are also
interested in working in research related to the electrical engineering area. I
think this tool is very useful for students who are interested in writing a project
report in class, publishing their research in journal or presenting their research
in national and international conferences.
I would imagine the visualization tools you use with your students in engineering are quite different from these text analysis tools (Wordle, Voyant). Or in some ways are they similar?
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DeleteDear Provost Paul Arcario:
DeleteI truly appreciate your comments. You are absolutely right about your assessment. Yes, my visualization tools are quite different from these text analysis tools (Wordle, Voyant). My approach is to use Multisim (Virtual Lab) simulation software and Matlab software tools as a DH tools (visualization /simulation) in an electrical circuit course. The advantage of this is that Multisim will help students visualize and simulate their electrical circuits problem schematically whereas Matlab helps students solve problems by simulating the working of the circuit itself. This strategy will increase their understanding of electrical theories and concepts.
Eventually, we can use these text analysis tools (Wordle, Voyant) in engineering classes for writing project reports, publishing the results of research in a journal, and, finally, presenting the research in national/international conferences. Furthermore, students in this course (i.e MAE 213) are required to deposit their project in E-portfolio. In this circumstance, students need to write a one or two page reflection about their project. Also, some students are eager to work and do some relevant research in the engineering field. I think these tools would provide the students with an advantage to completing and rounding off their learning experience.
Nice work -- this may be a way to visualize history with and the focus of a work depicting the history of a state. I like the word frequency terms here -- that could help a class navigate when R.I. became a state, the history of American colonies, etc. I think there would be ways to get a conversation going in class constrasting a visualization vs. a 'traditional' source for recording history.
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