Teaching: Inventing Language
Department of Cognitive Science, Johns Hopkins University
Course description: What is language? This course explores this question by examining invented languages, from Esperanto to Klingon as well as case studies of new language formation and change. This introductory course is for anyone curious about language. Students learn the basics of linguistics, highlighting important commonalities and differences across languages. We then apply this knowledge to several invented languages, discuss whether or not they conform to established standards for natural human language, and hypothesize about potential ramifications.
This course was taught as part of the 2015 Johns Hopkins University Intersession Course Schedule.
comic from xkcd.com
Consulting: Evaluation and optimization of catalog structure and interface
User Experience at Johns Hopkins University Libraries
Project overview: This project was designed to evaluate and optimize the facet search features in the Johns Hopkins Library Blacklight-powered catalog. Results faceting is designed to allow users to narrow searches on a number of categorical dimensions including item format, language, and resource location. The catalog is designed to serve the needs of both novice and advanced searchers in diverse areas of study (music, archival primary research, humanities, medicine). We therefore needed to negotiate changes in ways that would benefit most of our users without punishing any particular group and their research methods. We used both qualitative and quantitative methods to systematically observe and categorize user behaviors with facets. Our methodology centered on developing use cases from user interviews that represented a diverse range of research areas. We then took these use cases and compared them against large samples of quantitative analytics data to gain an understanding of frequent patterns of use and underlying causes of frustration amongst our users. This detailed information delimited the scope of possible solutions, informing a set of highly actionable plans for modifications to catalog structure and user interface.
View the final site here: www.library.jhu.edu
This project was carried out in collaboration with Sean Hannan (Sheridan Libraries, Johns Hopkins) and Steven Heslip (User Experience, Johns Hopkins Libraries and Museums)
Department of Cognitive Science, Johns Hopkins University
Course description: What is language? This course explores this question by examining invented languages, from Esperanto to Klingon as well as case studies of new language formation and change. This introductory course is for anyone curious about language. Students learn the basics of linguistics, highlighting important commonalities and differences across languages. We then apply this knowledge to several invented languages, discuss whether or not they conform to established standards for natural human language, and hypothesize about potential ramifications.
This course was taught as part of the 2015 Johns Hopkins University Intersession Course Schedule.
comic from xkcd.com
Consulting: Evaluation and optimization of catalog structure and interface
User Experience at Johns Hopkins University Libraries
Project overview: This project was designed to evaluate and optimize the facet search features in the Johns Hopkins Library Blacklight-powered catalog. Results faceting is designed to allow users to narrow searches on a number of categorical dimensions including item format, language, and resource location. The catalog is designed to serve the needs of both novice and advanced searchers in diverse areas of study (music, archival primary research, humanities, medicine). We therefore needed to negotiate changes in ways that would benefit most of our users without punishing any particular group and their research methods. We used both qualitative and quantitative methods to systematically observe and categorize user behaviors with facets. Our methodology centered on developing use cases from user interviews that represented a diverse range of research areas. We then took these use cases and compared them against large samples of quantitative analytics data to gain an understanding of frequent patterns of use and underlying causes of frustration amongst our users. This detailed information delimited the scope of possible solutions, informing a set of highly actionable plans for modifications to catalog structure and user interface.
View the final site here: www.library.jhu.edu
This project was carried out in collaboration with Sean Hannan (Sheridan Libraries, Johns Hopkins) and Steven Heslip (User Experience, Johns Hopkins Libraries and Museums)