Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Networks provide educators in the liberal arts tradition with an excellent opportunity to incorporate technology and technical ideas into the arts and humanities curriculum. How can we incorporate networks and network thinking to foster multidisciplinary learning at the undergraduate level? Tom Lombardi, assistant professor of computing and information studies at Washington & Jefferson College explores this question and demonstrates the exciting role networks can play in liberal education. Hosted by NITLE Shared Academics.
Citation preview
Networks and the Liberal Arts
Thomas Lombardi Assistant Professor, Computing and Information Studies, Washington & Jefferson College
Networks and the Liberal Arts
NITLE Shared Academics Seminar
October 15th, 2013 2:00 PMDr. Thomas LombardiAssistant Professor
Computing & Information Studies
Washington & Jefferson [email protected]
Vertices
Edges
From Graph Theory to Networks
People
Friendship
Alice
Bob
Chuck
Constructing Networks: Method
Christ
Mary
John
Giotto, Crucifixion, Tempera on wood, ca. 1290-1300. Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Network of Saints in Images of St. Francis
Network of Relationships in Florence
Padgett & Ansell, 1993
Network structure accounts for Medici rise to power in the 1430s
Brokerage
Constraints amongst old families of Florence made them ineffective
Clustering
The Rhyme Scheme of The Raven
Network of Characters in Hamlet
Franco Moretti. Network Theory, Plot Analysis. New Left Review. 2011.
Dangerous Liaisons: Networks & Liberal Education
Encourages multidisciplinary thinking Integrates critical-thinking skills:
Quantitative ReasoningVisual AcumenAnalytical ThinkingCommunication
Promotes the exploration of values:Diversity via HomophilyValues in Engineering
Image from Fragonard, Letter 44 of 1796 version of the Novel. Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LiaisonsDangereuses_XLIV.jpg
Dangerous Liaisons: Networks & Liberal Education
Letter 44:The Vicomte de Valmont to the Marquise de Merteuil
Vicomte de
Valmont
Marquise de
Merteuil
Dangerous Liaisons: Networks & Liberal Education
Skills Integration: Quantitative, Visual, Analytical
Gender and the novelMeasurement for homophily
p2 + 2pq +q2 = 1p: probability of male nodeq: probability of female nodeExamplep=5/11 (0.45) q=6/11 (0.54)2pq = 2(0.45)(0.54) = 0.48We expect roughly 4/8 links m/fWe actually have only 1/8.
Gender homophily in network of correspondence from Susannah Gunning’s Barford Abbey (1767).
Diversity via Gender Homophily
More links than expected between female and male correspondents
No evidence of gender homophily
Consistent with plot; seduction
Techniques apply to directed communications old and new; fictional and historical.
Absence of gender homophily in network of correspondence from Dangerous Liaisons.
Relevance of Networks in Liberal Education
Larry Abramson, NPR, How a Look at your Gmail Reveals the Power of Metadata
Cesar Hidalgo, MIT Media Lab
Without the content:important peopleimportant groupsidentifying
information
Relevance of Networks in Liberal Education
Networks and Civic LifeTerrorist NetworksNetwork analysis of votingNetwork economics
Networks in the SciencesFood WebsSystems BiologyComplex Systems
William Cronon, “Only Connect…” The Goals of a Liberal EducationThe liberal arts approach to networks
Group Discussion: Networks & Education
•How might your institution use networks and network thinking to create multidisciplinary learning opportunities for students?
• In what ways could network thinking enhance the value of liberal arts education for the 21st century student?
• In what areas might you experiment with it?
•Questions, Comments, Jokes, Recipes?
