Hey all...I was scheduling my week for SAA2015 and found a way to make it a bit easier. I thought I'd make a quick video so others could do it if they please.
Now, this works on Apple iCalendar apps across the iPhone and Mac OS, but, I'm sure there is an Android way to do this using Gmail or some other app. I'm just not well versed in that system.
If you know how to do it on Android, leave a note in the comments.
Thanks for watching and I'll see you at the SAAs!
The March 2015 issue of the SAA Archaeological Record is out. First, it's a special issue covering archaeology and reality TV with a boader focus on communicating archaeology in the media. I just want to point out that there is ZERO mention of podcasts. Not even in passing. Go ahead, search the document. You won't find it. I guess I need to publish some articles about podcasting for there to be a mention of it.
The Blogging and Social Media session for the 2015 Society for American Archaeology meetings in San Francisco is live on the submission website! I've invited a number of people and a few others are considering it. You don't have to be invited to join in, though. Just make sure your submission is related to media, blogging, social media, video, podcasting, or any other media before you submit a paper.
When you go to the submission system, click on the link for an invited session and type in session 910.
I submitted my paper today. Here is the title and abstract:
Since the first podcasts were available on Apple’s iTunes in June of 2005, podcasting has become a powerful way for anyone to deliver information to the world from the comfort of their home. Podcasts can be informal conversations to expensive productions from major networks. Archaeology podcasting has seen shows come and go and has had a rocky past. The only podcast focused on issues related to CRM Archaeology has been recording since February of 2013 and has tackled everything from ethics on the job to issues specific to women in archaeology and in the workplace. We’ve found that podcasting is a great way to engage with thousands of professionals and the public alike. We don’t run conversations, we start them. Podcasting is a medium that is here to stay and the archaeological community should recognize it as a valuable and useful resource.
Get your submissions in today!
Thanks for reading and I'll see you in San Francisco!
Click my poorly drawn image to go to the SAA submission system.
The submission deadline for the 2015 SAAs in San Francisco is September 11! Check out the title and abstract of the Social Media symposium I've set up and feel free to submit a paper.
Since the time of Renfrew and Binford, archaeology as a profession has embraced both a scientific methodology and the new tools science offers. From radiocarbon dating and geophysics to 3D imaging, these tools have enhanced the way we understand and communicate the human past. Now, the internet and 21st century technology offers new, multivocal venues through which we can relay archaeological information to the profession, enthusiasts, and the general public. From blogging and podcasting to YouTube videos and television series, communicating archaeology has never been easier. Anyone can start a blog, shoot some video, or record a podcast. Technology has reduced the cost of access and can allow archaeologists to speak directly to the public and peers. This session seeks to ask the following questions: is the use of social media helping or hurting archaeology? Are there drawbacks? Have we created an easy resource of archaeological information for looters? How has social media, via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, to name a few, influenced archaeology in practice and the public’s view of archaeology? This session solicits input from bloggers, podcasters, and film producers, each with a unique perspective rooted in the medium they’ve chosen to represent archaeology.
We're now excepting papers on ANYTHING related to communicating Archaeology through various forms of media and social networking. Be creative! Below is one example of a paper we could use:
What would a paper on Instagram entail? I'd go through and show what sorts of pictures can be found using several popular hashtags. Two that come to mind are #archaeology and #crmarch. There are many others, though. You could also talk about Instagram best practices. For example, what type of metadata does Instagram strip out of photos and what stays in? What can you do with your photos to mitigate the chances of looters gaining access to whatever it is you're taking pictures of?
I'm doing a paper on podcasting in archaeology. As far as I know, it's never been done. I'm also working on a live recording of the CRM Archaeology Podcast for the SAAs. If some of my co-hosts can't make it I might be looking for some guest hosts. Keep your ears open for an update!
Thanks for reading and I'll see you in San Francisco!
Click on the image to go to the book's page where you can download and/or read!
I'm just back from the Society for American Archaeology meetings in Austin, Texas and there is a lot to cover.
Blogging Archaeology, Again
I chaired this year’s blogging archaeology session and I have to say, it was a great success. We had only six presenters—Terry Brock couldn't make it—and one discussant at the end, but, the room was full most of the time. At one point I counted about 60 people with a sizable crowd standing in the back.
After the session there was a lively round of questions and discussion between the presenters and the audience. I only wish we could get those kinds of comments on our blogs! When we were about to be kicked out of the room a fair number of us adjourned to lunch at the Easy Tiger where the conversation continued.
I thought about mentioning this earlier, but, decided to wait and see how the session, and my presentation, went. Here it goes: I've never presented at a conference—no posters either—and I've never chaired a session. I've seen enough to know what to do and what not to do. A number of people have congratulated me on a great session, but of course, all the credit goes to the presenters and their engaging content.
Blogging Archaeology eBook
A few months ago Doug Rocks-MacQueen and I decided to publish an eBook of the papers presented at the conference. When we asked the presenters if they'd be up for it, several declined because they were publishing elsewhere. Down to just a few papers, we opened it up to the blogosphere. We ended up with a total of 16 papers from bloggers around the world. The papers covered a wide variety of topics ranging from mortuary archaeology to social media to issues related to looting, among others.
Since we'd planned to release the book at the beginning of the Blogging Archaeology session there were a lot of last minute tasks that needed to be attended to. That meant some intense editing and formatting time for Doug and some really long nights in Austin for me. We got it done, though, and the book is available on my website as a free download. As more people download it, access will get even better.
Blogging Archaeology, The Brand
The day before the release of the eBook, Doug and I were alerted to a possible issue with the title. We simply called the book "Blogging Archaeology" and thought no more of it. There was some concern that the title would cause confusion with the previous Blogging Archaeology session in Sacramento, the associated bogging carnival, and a publication that is yet to be released. It was too late to make a change and we went with it as is. Does it need a change, however?
At most I would add a year to the title. The phrase, "Blogging Archaeology", however, has become synonymous with this blogging and social media blitz that we’re all in. I see it the way I see tissue paper. Most people in the U.S. call tissue paper Kleenex. It’s not Kleenex, however. Kleenex is a brand. It’s the most popular brand, but, still a brand. This is similar to how some people annoyingly call all soda “coke”. In some parts of the country you can ask for a coke at a restaurant and the wait staff will ask “What kind?”.
So, “Blogging Archaeology” it is.
Papers, or lack of
There were a lot of things I would have liked to see this year. That being said, there was a distinct lack of papers I would liked to have seen as well. I felt that I was running all over the place in Hawaii last year. This year, however, my schedule was a lot lighter. Between my book release, the booth I ran for my new company, Field Tech Designs, LLC, the eBook prep, and the Blogging Archaeology session prep, I didn’t have much time for papers. But, like I said, there just wasn’t a lot I wanted to see.
When I did make it to the Great Basin session on Sunday there were a grand total of about 10 people in the room. I could hardly believe it! It’s usually quite full! Of course, since the SAAs don’t have conference tracks, many people were at the associated poster session that took place at exactly the same time. Nice job.
Friends
This year’s conference was amazing for meeting online friends, making new friends, and reconnecting with old friends. I met, for the first time, two of the people that have been recording the CRM Archaeology Podcast with me for over a year: Bill White and Stephen Wagner. Initial impressions? Bill is freakishly tall and Stephan is as snappy a dresser as he alluded to on a previous episode of the podcast!
John Lowe organized a #blogarch tweetup at one of his favorite haunts, The Liberty, for Thursday evening. A lot of people were there and it was great meeting some of the names I’ve come to know online. I even met Mr. Shovelbums himself!
Future Sessions
As I’m writing this, the submission system for #SAA2015 in San Francisco is now open. I need to submit the next #blogarch abstract, but, I’m at a loss for a title. As some have noted, the session isn’t just about blogging anymore. It’s about the broad implications of blogging and social media. To me, blogging is a form of social media anyway. So, I want a title that includes blogging and social media.
I discussed this with some people in Austin and a few thought we could take blogging out of the title. I disagree. We’re still trying to reach an audience that is unfamiliar with blogging and with social media. Until blogging becomes mainstream in professional and academic archaeology, we need it in the title.
Suggestions? Comment HERE ON THE BLOG (!) with title suggestions and abstract suggestions.
Thanks for reading and I’ll see you at #SAA2015!
