A Virtual Learning Environment

I can't believe how long it is since I posted a blog on here. I really have to get better at archiving my thoughts - now there is something worth writing about.
Recently I have been thinking about starting up a theory reading group, one that focuses on certain topics each semester, for example, it could start with looking at how and what we archive in the modern world and what that does to us as humanities researchers. I am based at the University of Teesside, and at the moment my department does not have any regular research seminars or any discussion groups set up. It was something I was looking forward to being part of while I was a PhD student and I am slightly disappointed that these structures are not already in place.

Because of this, I am thinking about setting up a theory reading group and have been inspired by some fellow twitterers' to think about the possibility of a virtual as well as an actual reading group.

The idea is that a space, perhaps a wikispace, will be set up and anyone who wants to be part of the group could then have access to this space - it would become a virtual classroom where we could discuss texts week by week and develop any theories that we may have. The commitment level would be down to the individual although we would need a core group to regularly contribute to the site to make this work, and the only time commitment would be a weekly deadline in which you would make your comments on the particular chapter we were discussing.

I like the idea that people could write a blog post on the topic and then link their blog to the 'virtual space' which would provide us all with more opportunity to comment on thoughts and have more space for these thoughts. I also like the idea that unlike a discussion group where unless you take detailed notes thoughts can be forgotten, this would archive our ideas and discussions in a searchable and collaborative way. It allows us to open up the world of thought and idea (the sometimes very closed world of the academic) to others that we may previously not been able to have access to. It removes the time/space boundary for all concerned with people all over the world able to come together and talk about something they have a shared interest in.

This is, at the moment, still in an embryonic stage. I am still interested in having the 'real thing' based at the university, but envisage that the virtual environment will be more engaging and grow much more rapidly than anything I can run in a small department.

Texts, attendees, the virtual space and discussion themes are all still to be decided so any comments or ideas that anyone has would be welcomed, as well as anyone who thinks they might be interested in being part of the core group that could start this off. As a starter, and really because I am interested in reading these people and in some cases have never turned a page of their books I would suggest thinking about:

• Derrida: Archive Fever, Echographies of Television, Of Grammatology (to name a few!)

• Zizek

• Bauman: Liquid Times; Wasted Lives

• Foucault: Discipline and Punish; The Archaeology of Knowledge

• Hillis Miller - he has a couple of new books out this year that look very interesting

I am sure there are many more. These are just a starting point and ones that I think would make for interesting discussion if the topic remains focussed on the archive in the modern world. Please feel free to add more to this list or question some of the choices if you are interested.