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Collaborating with Strangers (CoLAB) on Intersections:

Animating Conversations with the Humanities @ UF

Participants, Facilitated Process and Results

January 5th, 2018

Presenters and Facilitators

Bess de Farber, CoLAB Planning Series® Creator/Facilitator,

Libraries Grants Manager

April Hines, Journalism & Mass Communications Librarian

Barbara Hood, Director of Communications

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Outcome Report

Collaborating with Strangers (CoLAB) on Intersections Workshop

Date of Café: January 5, 2018

Report Prepared March 13, 2018

By Danielle Barrientos, Intersections Program Coordinator

The materials included in this document reflect the results of conversations that materialized during

the first Collaborating with Strangers (CoLAB) Workshop on Intersections, photos of the event, and

participants’ responses to a follow-up evaluation survey. The Workshop was attended by 36 participants,

21 of whom were from the humanities.

The CoLAB Workshop was used to bring strangers together for the

purpose of finding intersecting research interests and potential collaborators

for the Intersections Research-into-Teaching Grant. Participants of the

CoLAB Workshops were asked to complete a “profile sign” that they

affixed to their torso area or held during a series of speed meetings. During

each speed meeting, a duration of three minutes, participants were asked to

pair up, read each other’s profile signs and then converse about any topic.

After each brief meeting the pair was asked to decouple quickly and find

another participant for a new speed meeting. Following ten rounds of speed

meetings, participants were asked to answer three questions on Post-It

notes: what synergies did they observe, what did they learn, and what are

there next steps? Participants of the workshop were then asked to complete

a survey evaluating their experience at the CoLAB workshop. After the workshop, participants’ headshots, profile signs, and Post-It notes were

transcribed and made available in a password-protected website to facilitate

follow-up communications and the CoLAB Idea Table Cafés that followed

in subsequent weeks. All of the participants who completed the survey found the CoLAB experience to be “excellent” or

“good”. 100% of humanities participants and over 94% of all participants said they would attend another

CoLAB and recommend it to others. Over 90% of the surveyed participants said the CoLAB experience

helped them to realize the value of speaking to “strangers” about skills, assets, and passions, and many

shared that engaging with others in this capacity was the most useful part of the CoLAB experience. At

least 50% of participants shared that they now feel more confident approaching strangers in different

disciplines, professions, and academic positions. The majority also reported that the CoLAB facilitated

access to new resources and demonstrated how collaborating with others could advance their research.

Approximately one-third of participants shared the ways that their work intersected with “big”

topics in the humanities, identifying themes related to culture, health, gender, power, and education. As one

historian noted, “I'm going to reach to the folks from the Health Science Center Library to see if they might

interested collaborating on a project on the history of medicine & labor…this may have some bearing on a

grand challenge question: what is the future of labor in America?” Similarly, after meeting potential

humanities collaborators, a Health Science Center librarian observed, “My work is in health information –

[I am now] thinking more about how health disparities fit into bigger questions about justice in society.”

Although not all participants imagined new collaborations, many felt they could make themselves

“available as a librarian” or noted that their work could “support and extend” the efforts of collaborative

work. Interestingly, participants from the humanities reported higher overall satisfaction with the CoLAB

than those outside the humanities; this may be related to their discovery of new resources beyond their units

that can support their work, particularly in the libraries.

Example of a Profile Sign

http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/communications/colab/home.html

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CoLAB Workshop Evaluation Report

35 Total Participants Humanities – 14 (40%) Non-Humanities – 21 (60%)

22(63%) Faculty members 7 (50%) 15 (71%)

6(17%) Staff Members 1 (7%) 5 (24%)

5(14%) Graduate Students 5 (36%) 2 (6%) Undergraduate Students 1 (7%) 1 (5%)

33 Completed Surveys Humanities – 13 (39%) Non-Humanities – 20(61%)

22(63%) Faculty members 6 (46%) 14 (70%)

6(17%) Staff Members 1 (8%) 5 (25%)

5(14%) Graduate Students 5 (38%) 2 (6%) Undergraduate Students 1 (8%) 1 (5%)

1. How would you evaluate the overall CoLAB experience?

Total Humanities Non-Humanities

Excellent 20 (60%) 10 (77%) 10 (50%)

Good 12 (33%) 3 (23%) 9 (45%)

Good/Fair 1 (3%) 1 (5%)

2. Would you attend another CoLAB? Total Humanities Non-Humanities

Yes 30 (94%) 13 (100%) 18 (90%)

No 1 (3%) 1 (5%)

Maybe 1 (3% 1 (5%)

3. Would you recommend CoLAB to others? Total Humanities Non-Humanities

Yes 32 (97%) 13 (100%) 19 (95%)

No 1 (3%) 1 (5%)

4. Has this experience helped you to realize the value of speaking to people you do not know about their skills, assets, and passions?

Total Humanities Non-Humanities

Yes 29 (88%) 13 (100%) 16 (80%)

No 2(6%) 2 (10%)

Unsure 2 (6%) 2 (10%)

5. I have a better sense of how I could advance my research interests by working in collaboration with others.

Total Humanities Non-Humanities

Strongly Agree 11 (33%) 5 (38%) 6 (30%)

Agree 18 (55%) 7 (54%) 11 (55%)

Neutral 2 (6%) 1 (8%) 1 (5%)

Disagree 2 (6%) 2 (10%)

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6. I feel more confident in my ability to approach people I do not know.

Total Humanities Non-Humanities

Strongly Agree 14 (42%) 7 (54%) 7 (35%)

Agree 9 (27%) 4 (31%) 5 (25%)

Neutral 8 (24%) 2 (15%) 6 (30%)

Disagree 2 (6%) 2 (10%)

7. I am more comfortable talking to “strangers” in different disciplines.

Total Humanities Non-Humanities

Strongly Agree 14 (42%) 6 (46%) 8 (40%)

Agree 11 (33%) 5 (38%) 6 (30%)

Neutral 6 (18%) 2 (15%) 4 (20%)

Disagree 2 (6%) 2 (10%)

8. I am more comfortable talking to “strangers” in different positions in their academic or professional careers.

Total Humanities Non-Humanities

Strongly Agree 12 (36%) 7 (54%) 5 (25%)

Agree 12 (36%) 4 (31%) 8 (40%)

Neutral 7 (21%) 2 (15%) 5 (25%)

Disagree 2 (6%) 2 (10%)

9. Did the CoLAB help you to access new skills/resources?

20 (57%) of participants answered “Yes” and/or provided additional information about skills and resources they were able to access such as various libraries, future collaborative projects,

and scholarships.

8 (23%) were less explicit and included answers such as “some ideas” or that they found “future collaborators, but not really anyone I could connect to the Intersections project.”

5 (14%) did not answer this question.

10. What was the most useful part of the CoLAB and why?

20 (57%) listed the opportunity to engage with others as the most useful part of the CoLAB. Their answers included specific information such as “sharing,” “Meeting new people across

disciplines,” and “Discovering what others do, not just for connections but because it's

fascinating.”

6 (18%) provided various answers related to their personal interests such as “getting a sense of who is interested in applying to Intersections grants.”

4 (12%) pointed to the CoLAB process itself noting that “the signs saved time” and directly enhanced conversations and “1 to 1 interactions.”

3 (9%) did not answer this question.

11. What surprised you about the speed-meeting process?

10 (30%) of the participants specifically noted that time was a significant factor in the speed-

meeting process. The responders fell on one of two sides of the time (3 minutes) noting that it

either passed too slowly, with a participant saying “3 minutes can be a lot of time!” while others

claimed it was too quick noting “how fast three minutes went by.”

3 (9%) responders shared that they were not new to this process so they did not find it

surprising, while the remaining 15 (45%) others noted that it “wasn’t as intimidating” as they

expected and that it was “fun.”

5 (15%) survey responders did not answer this question.

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12. What connections do you see between your work and “big” topics in the humanities?

11(33%) participants directly engaged the question and identified several themes that connected their speed-meetings to their work. Their responses are shared verbatim here:

o Thinking more about how health disparities fit into bigger questions about justice in society

o Intersection of culture/education w/ conservation/biodiversity o Questions involving power & social justice/disenfranchisement & health o Relation to perceptions of health in society, culture, gender o Research and information literacy are the foundation of everything o water & humanities are intricately related o Labor, people, justice- we're all in this together! o Children’s lit can aid in learning about society & how it's run o The overlap between economics & culture- what is the future of labor? o Looking at the university system and other institutions (esp. health) o How technology and communication practices shape human behaviors and education

6 (18%), highlighted collaborative efforts or ways they could support others with their work. The willingness to participate in collaborative projects, even as supplemental support, can be

seen in their quotes below:

o My work can help disseminate & preserve research into the big questions. o I have a lot of community connections that benefit the work staff is doing. o I'm not sure that I do but I was able to make myself available as a librarian. o Similar questions exist across all disciplines o My work can support and extend these efforts. o The incorporating of different disciplines

3 (9%), did not clearly define particular themes but identified next steps after participating in the CoLAB such as:

o We need to get undergrads interested in these questions. o Math is ubiquitous in the humanities- I just need to help people see it o Still processing… I need to think more about how to explain humanities to others.

2 (6%) other survey responders shared their uncertainty writing “I'm not sure yet” and “?”.

2 (6%) responders noted that the CoLAB did not really help with Intersections in particular.

8 (23%) participants did not provide a response to this question.

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IDEA BOARD RESPONSES – INTERSECTIONS COLAB JANUARY 5TH, 2018

Following the workshop, participants were invited to share on post-it notes the synergies they observed

and their next steps. The numbers in the following pages refer to individual CoLAB participants for

anonymization purposes. Transcriptions are verbatim.

What SYNERGIES or connections did you discover?

50 I found a connection with the Community Engagement Librarian (#74) through several conversations.

I met #69 who I think would be beneficial in conversations around the restructuring and future of my

office. I met #59 who have students that are looking for service opps.

51 I discovered some fascinating connections between my project (focused on the history of American

capitalism) with the medical humanities and the history of medicine - "the medicalization of labor"

52 a resource for incorporating images/art into teaching (#67) and for integrating community services

with teaching (#50) the Library Publishing Program (#75) Someone who's parent attended Uf during the

time period I'm studying (#54)

53 Connections with library staff with interest in curriculum

55 Synergy - environmental humanities, AR (augmented reality) community education/outreach data

management mobile tech

56 I discovered the amount of individuals at the University that I have not worked with who could be

helpful to my career and interest. Being the networker who I am, that is a pretty big deal!

57 Met some people face-to-face for the first time after working with them electronically on past projects

58 Interest in community outreach with #50 Interest in finding new creative ways to reach out to students

with #74

58 the relation to my interest in fields I'd never consider

61 people working with consumer health from different angles (i.e. Food or history of labor)

62 UNIVERSAL INTEREST & CONCERN FOR SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT

65 There is a desire for multiple units to be more collaborative on campus. Many units don't know what

resources exist & would like to make an effort to rectify this issue.

66 That #69 is willing to be a resource/reference to other faculty that I work with about his experiences

w/ flipped classrooms.

67 While I didn't always connect on my own research I discovered people I could help as a Librarian.

68 Connection/interest in Health/Nutrition in Low-Income Families

69 Many possible Honors courses, Religion and Science most interesting to me individually

70 My Interests were orthogonal to Most Of The Group But I Had Lots Of Interesting Conversations

71 environmental education/culture in community decision making

Environmental humanities/nature + human relations w/ nature

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72 I learned about a need for premed honors students to understand + become exposed to/familiar with

the large variety of health/allied health professions

73 Community ALACHUA COUNTY LABOR COALITION

74 A few people are doing research with community groups, research which overlaps with my interests

75 Connection to the science fiction research working group

76 Natural Environment enhancing community ties, (or env. issues proving challenges) health, wellbeing

77 Common interest in ethics work #66 The creative older artists at the Harn

78 Eric Segal told me about Gain4all #60 Murals painting interested in civic discussion #73 Laurie Taylor:

discussed upcoming seminar @ SCMS on academic labor crisis

79 Image archives at Art + Architecture library

Producing different projects in undergrad courses - using OMEKA

80 -lots of library programs I did not know about incl. OMEKA, grad student support, + institutional

repository '-lots of sci-humanities connections '-people in Math + engineering + libraries working on

collaborations '-Brown center '-connections to community groups

81 Public ethics + religion how to engage with the community

82 Archives are a hot topic in this room + people have great approaches

Lots of inter-D connections around ed-tech + digital-tech

83 Awesome folks in IFAS with community collaborations who believe that service requires listening to

communities.

What did you LEARN?

50 I learned that our libraries here at UF have an abundance of opportunities to connect and share

knowledge with the greater Gainesville community. I will keep them in my mind as resources to connect

students and community partners who are looking for resources to alleviate community issues.

51 I learned about particular projects in the medical humanities that could shape resources for a potential

course. e.g., "graphic medicine" -graphic novels used in a medical context. This could be for primary

sources, but also a unique way to tell historical narrative.

52 Mainly about resources at UF that I hadn't known about before (+programs, org, etc.) -uncommon

reads (#61, #76) - UFIT CITT (#65, #66)

53 I learned about a new search base at the libraries.

55 Lots of people are interested in using developing technology resources for community partnerships

and education -lots of medical people :) -lots of art and technology

56 I learned a lot about several projects and undertakings currently being worked on at the University of

Florida. This feat makes me truly proud of my school.

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57 a lot of people were interested also in display + archive of innovative digital projects -- it is a worthwhile

interest to pursue

58 I learned to take even more initiative in asking what people are involved in/studying

58 I learned a lot about what people all across UF are doing. Lots of interest in .film studies .animal studies

59 Follow up with #50 about community partnership opportunities for students. I learned more about

the work CITT does and how the libraries can better partner with them. I learned about the Brown Center

for leadership- didn't know this existed on campus!

60 Another project utilized materials from blg to create art installation.

Consider -specs?- utilizing informal oral histories (i.e. Captured at a family reunion).

Graphic medicine assists w/ empathy.

Need pre-quizzes when designing flipped classrooms

There is a NH Trust for Historic Preservation grant called "THIS PLACE MATTERS"

61 Need to get better at explaining my areas of research to others outside of my field

62 THAT UF LIBRARIES HAVE PHENOMENAL RESOURCES & STAFF.

63 learned about an event coming up -Digital Scholarship @UF- which will have info on AR/VR

65 The value of building connections & the broader impact that can have on the university level.

66 That the HSC has someone working on graphic medicine & VR (#61).

67 As a librarian I made connections w/ people I could help w/ research + Instruction.

68 Many More Resources at UF Libraries than I Imagined.

69 There are a lot of librarians here -Center for Leadership and Service is being overhauled

70 I Learned About Some New Graphic Novels I Should Read.

71 2nd year quest classes focus in science + related disciplines

Learned that IR will take class projects + similar items

Learned what environmental humanities is

72 I learned about interesting work with IFAS + the CYFS department in the areas of community

engagement especially with regards to gardening, nutrition, etc.

73 So MANNY COMMUNITIES FOR Collaboration! CORE CONTACT ALACHUA COUNTY LABOR COALITION

74 I learnt about many new departments + faculty/students research interests.

75 everyone likes talking about dogs:) interest in the intersection of science/tech/art/humanities is high

76 Number of people from different fields who arrive at an interest in the env-well being

77 Many librarians are interested in these workshops.

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78 I learned so much: How librarians get tenure. Why it is good to work at a branch library. What is the

connection between mathematics + origami? When was the Nat. Association of Environmental Education

founded?

79 There are workshops offered for TA's specifically about utilizing canvas + diversifying the classroom

80 I learned about programs on campus I didn't know existed -I learned about areas of research I didn't

know existed

81 A lot of us are trying to work w/ larger community

82 Cats as way into addressing community issues (+vice versa)

83 there are a lot of folks interested in SciFi and ways of narrating science at UF!

What are your next STEPS?

50 I plan to follow-up with #59, #67, #81, #74, #69, and #73 on opportunities to either connect with them

or connect them (or their students) with community partners.

51 I'm going to reach to the folks from the Health Science Library to see if they might interested

collaborating on a project on the history of medicine & labor. This may have some bearing on a grand

challenge question: what is the future of labor in America? What new "medical" (and old) programs may

impact work?

52 Following up with people -enroll CITT engaging online learners course -consider how I can incorporate

images/art into my teaching

53 Connect with individual and share instructional materials for possible presentation

-Labs

56 To contact the individuals who I made contact with today and get the ball rolling on some cool Ideas!

57 Follow up with 81,74,71,65 about potential meetings/presentation with their departments

Send additional info to 56 on theses + dissertations and to 55 about the OJS system + journals in the IR

to see how our libraries could work together on creative projects for outreach to students.

59 Follow up with #65 about finding a librarian to help train faculty on library resources for CITT.

Follow up with #80 about the frank conference.

60 See if we can incorporate a contest from past participants of "Take Charge of Your Diabetes" or "the

NH. Diabetes Prevention Program" to create a graphic novel to tell their story.

Talk to Co & Douglass Ctr alumni to obtain materials from bldg. Contest/RFP/? To get artists to work w/

community to create sculpture.

Look on website for more info on "THIS PLACE MATTERS GRANT"

Bring community members to Harn even Feb 13 (and perhaps to tour Lincoln High School in Gville)

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When meeting w/ ppts. in weight mgmt. consider including a site visit.

Write a newspaper column about encouraging capturing oral history @ family reunions. (Ask for recipes.)

Let team members know about online course "BEST PRACTICES FOR TEACHING ONLINE"

61 contacting people!

62 CONDUCT SOME KIND OF WORKSHOP TO CONNECT UF WATER FACULTY WITH EACH OTHER.

63 Learn more about the Brown Center for Leadership + service to see if they can help develop community

partnerships

65 To reach out to people that can help further my understanding of the resources that exist on campus.

66 Will search for more info on the new Quest courses to see if there's a way for me + my team to

contribute.

-will think about a way to best capture the teaching experiences of #69 + schedule a meeting.

67 Reach out to finish conversation + build relationships

68 Explore How I & Colleges can better utilize UF Library Resources

Use the CoLAB process in my class & in Community Programs.

69 Get contact and follow up on several possible courses

70 I was invited to give a Guest Lecture in A Religion Class and This Will be Fun.

71 Follow up w/ contact provided by #69

Follow up w/ contacts provided #83

Follow up w/ #53

Follow up w/ contact provided by #54

72 Next steps are to contact faculty/staff to initiate follow-up conversations

73 Contact/SHARE contacts WITH ALACHUA COUNTY LABOR COALITION + JUST HEALTHCARE

74 To contact people that I have overlapping research interests with

75 Think about who is doing work that fits my publishing criteria/mission & ask if they are interested in

creating a publication Think about getting involved in some research projects or taking classes

76 Think further about broader ways of integrating fields around env.-well-being questions

77 Thinking a/b teaching a 1-hr honors class related to UF mindfulness

78 Next step: Let faculty members at IFAS extension know about artist who did installation in defunct +

abandoned school

79 Work on diversifying undergrad projects-redefining the tern paper

Contact art + architecture library about archival resources

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80 Contact #69 + #70 about religion + science questions -find out about Frank conference in journalism +

social media research (#59) -contact Brown center about classes + community connections -contact #82

about Gainesville for All

81 Email some of my new connections!

82 Follow up with #77 on Geriatures Peggy M.#80 on GNV4ALL#68 on Rotary#59 on Journalism etc.

83 Email #53 re-his k-12 environmental community collaboration curriculum. Introduce #71 to CAS

Introduce #60 to Jeff Pufahl Introduce LS to UFSFWG

unnumbered - emailing the interesting people that I met today

GALLERY: Participants at the CoLAB Workshop

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