The Red River Innovation Lab for the Humanities at Texas A&M-Texarkana is a step toward bridging the gap between the old and new school approaches to scholarship applications.

“It was designed to essentially show our campus community how you can use new hardware and software tools to … creatively reimagine what their scholarship and engagement in the humanities look like,” said Dr. Drew Morton.

Morton, along with Dr. Kevin Ells, is an associate professor of mass communication at TAMUT.

Equipped with a variety of communications tools for video, photography, sound engineering and computer applications, students are able to produce video essays, podcasts, short films and word clouds, among others.

“We are in a social media era. So instead of, or in addition to, standing up in front of a class delivering a standard talk or presentation, it’s interesting to look at how somebody would use the new and all technology to make informative or persuasive … speeches in any of these apps available today,” Ells said.

Morton said the RRILH helps meet a goal of the university to increase digital citizenship and digital literacy.

“I saw the lab as being kind of a offshoot and ancillary support resource to this new initiative,” he added.

Michelle Walraven, a non-traditional student with a major in organized leadership, said the transition to a more digital presence at the university has been a hindrance for her.

“When it comes to technology, I am an idiot. I’m not a technology major but I’m having to utilize all of it just to turn in an assignment,” Walraven said. 

“I actually just had to drop a whole class because I don’t have the technical capabilities at home to complete. Knowing about and utilizing the lab in the library will be helpful.”

While non-traditional students may get more of an education in the practical application of using certain technologies, Morton said the lab will have something for all students.

To achieve this, the space is also available for tutorials, workshops, film screenings and other events with a humanities focus.

The RRILH is now open and available for use in the John Moss Library (UC305).

A list of the available equipment for student rental and in-lab use is available on the university website under the Student Resources tab.

For more information on events, contact Morton at dmorton@tamut.edu.