After my MFA, I wanted to say that I was done with school, but here I am. I would say somewhat reluctantly, but that’s a facade. I’m excited to be back in school. I am excited to learn new things and engage with other like-minded people.

I signed up for this class out of the convenience of the one-week format, but also out of an interest to expand my own understanding of how to be better in the classroom. I’m not technology averse, and what I’ve found, so far, in my reading suggests that Digital Humanities is well-aligned with my ideals of de-mystifying literature and writing, or at the very least, making it more accessible.

Digital humanities creates opportunities, especially at a college like mine, where so many of our first-generation students are not at the institution because they love learning, reading or discussing, but because they want to become nurses or radiography technicians or prison guards. To some extent, many of my students view their college experience as a means to an end, which is challenging for me because I’ve always loved learning new things and being compelled to think. Handing them a copy of “A Rose for Emily” or trying to explain the value of quality writing as it relates to professionalism and effective communication can sometimes be frustrating.

I think the opportunities to share, create a community and work collaboratively are assets of the Digital Humanities; however, I recognize that it is not a one-size-fits-all proposition because so many of my students are non-traditional and therefore, not digital natives.

While technology certainly has its advantages, some of my own resistance or hesitance comes from being unsure how to mitigate its potential for distractions without imposing childish restrictions like no cell phones or asking students to not take notes on their laptops, especially when I have found more than a few ducking in and out of the Internet’s rabbit holes–the most disheartening is when I am in a one-on-one setting with a student, only to realize that he or she is on the device and therefore missing out on a viable learning opportunity.

I must say that I come into this class conflicted and hope that our further studies will enable me to establish more effective protocols than I’ve previously had in place so that I can make the most of my technological integrations.