Quick Reflection--The Postwar Experience in Orange TV's New History of International Drive

This is new documentary about the history of International Drive made by Orange TV. I, like a lot of academics who study urban development, have mixed feelings about the impact of the type of development represented by International Drive. That issue is different from the question of the history of people and organizations that strove to make a community work in a period that growth was not guaranteed. The experience building international drive speaks to the post-war consumer mindset in the United States. The men (and there is an omission of women and minorities in this narrative) who promoted International Drive sold the possibility of the future where people could consume the environment. Cheap and plentiful land, infrastructure to support tourist travel by car and tax structure built on those visitors remains the key to understanding the development questions in Florida today. As we struggle with the implication of future where resources will not be as freely available, the enterprising perspective on display in this documentary will be needed again. The difference is that opportunity must be found in creating new industry not as depended on tourism, better resource management, and greater recognition of the region's diversity will be necessary if International Drive will support another next fifty years of economic activity.

Digital History, The Winter Park Fire Department, and Student Action

Despite what people might believe, this is a blog about the digital project for HIS 143. The problem is that students work on their own schedule. Without a concentrated effort that forces them to think about the project or events directly linked to the project--no project posts. They are required to post however, so we get some very interesting post on the weekly readings. As always, this a failure of the professor (it always the professor's fault) and I will get my usually negative feedback in student evaluations and deep feeling of shame that come from not realizing the full dream associated with the original ideas behind the project. Digital history is the future, there is great stuff all over the web. Nonetheless, the humble projects associated with my classes are works in progress. The idea is solid. Use students to create an online digital archive based on the City of Winter Park Fire Department's scrapbook. We are working with the Winter Park Public Library and our project will fit nicely with other online content they offer the community. Indeed, our goals are modest and the students can complete the project as designed. It is just a question of timing.

I'm working with them on the project. The Winter Park Sinkhole remains one of the most memorable events linked to the city. It is also something the Fire Department documented closely( it a truth of urban life--if it not a crime--odds are they will send the fire department to do it). The images you see were taken by members of the Fire Department in 1981 when the sinkhole suddenly appeared in Winter Park. The Fire Department monitored the sinkhole. These are great images and as I work with the scanner at our college to make sure they are formatted as great digital images, I get a sense of the problems and triumphs by students face. I'm sure the students will blog about the digital project. I and anyone who reads this blog will be impressed. I'm sure....willing to bet money...not my money, but somebody's money.

The Question Of Community Based Research and Digital History

The end of the semester gives academics the chance to decompressed before they set off to do summer research. For those of us involved in community based service learning, it is also an important time to review and plan for new projects. Class evaluations make it clear that students benefit from the project by the end of the semester (during the semester they do not love the process). Recently, I completed a faculty development workshop that provided me with information on how to make the service learning research more fulfilling for students and community partners. I consider myself fortunate because Rollins College has several faculty members involved in community based research that really affect community and stimulate student learning. I have learned a lot from Rachel Newcomb and Rachel Simmons, both of whom use blogs to promote student reflection and stimulate community interest. Newcomb's efforts to help the Forgotten Farmworkers of Apopka and Simmons' community art projects are both really sterling example of community engagement. They are not alone on campus, so that give me many great people I can "borrow" ideas from. As I review this semester's effort, I realize I have the foundation for great content that will supplement the Winter Park Historical Association. Working with a local historical society is natural fit for a history department and I think we are provide needed support for community organization that is overlooked too often. Look for more information on community projects and reflection for everyone involved--the adventures in digital history never stop:o)