The English Department’s Digital Media and Pedagogy initiative (often called "the Digital Media Lab" or "DML") facilitates departmental experimentation, connection, and collaboration with digital tools and methods. Experimentation in this context includes developing digital resources, piloting digitally-centered teaching techniques, or adapting existing technologies (such as 3D printing or book scanning) in ways that are considered innovative to the humanities.
The Director of the DML provides support for teaching digital tools and methods and can assist instructors in constructing assignments and research projects. They also organize events promoting the innovative work students and teachers are doing in English, such as the annual Digital Media & Design Showcase--to see past student projects, please visit the page linked in the menu above, and watch for calls for projects for upcoming showcases.
The Digital Media Lab classroom (Cathedral 435) has space for 20 individuals and 5 more if they use laptops. See the "Lab Details" page on this site for room and lab equipment details. Several courses are held in the space each semester, and it can also be reserved for a classroom session. Email Director Jessica FitzPatrick at JLF115@pitt.edu to reserve the lab or for information on instructional support and/or digital media equipment, or use the Director Consultations link on the side menu to schedule a conversation. We are here to support you, whether you are just starting to think about digital options or if you are and advanced digital designer and developer.
We seek to develop capacity among faculty and graduate students in digital research and pedagogy, and to foster collaborative digital projects in and beyond the department. In recognition of the fact that these goals may require substantive time commitments, effort, and expenditures on the part of our department members, we hope that in the future we can once again offer monetary awards under the Digital Pedagogy and Scholarship Grants program. (This program is currently not available.)