Digital humanities meet-up explores Izi.Travel app usage

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

The upcoming Digital Humanities Meet-Up, focusing on “Audio Tours with Izi.Travel for World Languages and Cultures,” is poised to offer innovative insights into the integration of digital tools in language and culture education. Scheduled for Thursday, March 28, at the World Languages and Digital Humanities Studio, this event is set to feature presentations by Studio FLTA Alena Shestopalova and Professor Daniela D’Eugenio, who specializes in Italian. Their shared expertise with the Izi.Travel app underscores the evolving landscape of educational methodologies, highlighting the potential of technology to enrich learning experiences in the realm of world languages and cultures.

Izi.Travel, known for its capability to craft interactive maps enriched with images, audio files, and descriptive content, has been effectively incorporated into D’Eugenio’s Italian Conversation and Advanced Conversation courses. This collaboration, facilitated by Shestopalova and the studio team, exemplifies the practical application of digital tools in enhancing educational outcomes and engaging students in immersive learning scenarios.

The inception of D’Eugenio and Shestopalova’s project with izi.Travel can be traced back to their proposal at the DH Meet-Up: World Cultures & DH Futures Project Pitch on September 28, 2023, where their innovative approach garnered third place in a funding award competition. This recognition not only validates their work but also aligns with the Student Success Initiatives promoted by the University of Arkansas, advocating for the integration of digital humanities in academic curricula to foster student engagement and success.

The event, hosted in room 207 of the J.B. Hunt Center from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m., promises an informative session on the utility and implementation of Izi.Travel in educational settings. Attendees will have the opportunity to delve deeper into the application’s features during a hands-on workshop, where they will be guided through the process of creating their own Izi.Travel guide for Fayetteville or their hometown. This workshop not only serves as a practical application of the discussed concepts but also emphasizes the tangible benefits of digital tools in broadening the educational horizon for students studying world languages and cultures.

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