Scott Coleman, MA.Jul 28, 2025
Who is using Obsidian.md as a pedagogical tool in their classroom or online, and how are you implementing it? I am using it for my async digital history course, where students will establish a vault as a repository for their research and publish via Mixa plugin. My objective is to get students to focus on process as Digital Public History, something I promote in my dissertation at https://publish.obsidian.md/roguenotes/00+Welcome/01+Rogue+History+Notes
Tell me how you are using Obsidian.md for your research and teaching goals.
01 Rogue History Notes - Rogue History Notes - Obsidian Publish

What is Rogue History Notes? Nodes.jpeg ImportantThe open-access notebook (OAN), encompassing all pages, notes, and ideas within the site, is in a state of constant negotiation and dialogue. This isn…

Rogue History Notes
Show threadJoe RoeJul 28, 2025

@ScottColeman79 A couple of years ago I made the assignment for a class a notebook of the key concepts we covered (which were highlighted in the course material). I didn't make Obsidian mandatory, but I recommend it or at least some sort of 'Zettelkasten'-type system, and most students did so.

This was inspired by @electricarchaeo's posts here, actually.

It was just pass/fail but I think it worked well and several students specifically mentioned finding Obsidian useful in the course feedback.

Show threadScott Coleman, MA.Jul 28, 2025
@joeroe Thank you very much for your reply. For those students who used it, did they utilize the repository on GitHub maintained by @electricarchaeo (my Ph.D. supervisor, with whom I've discussed this topic extensively) to create a vault? Or did they "wing it" and use varied approaches? Did you recommend the use of any plugins, and if so, what were the results of their use?
Show threadJoe Roe
@ScottColeman79 @electricarchaeo No they just used vanilla Obsidian (those that used Obsidian). I didn't give them any further instruction or recommendations on how to use it, mostly because Obsidian was new to me at that time. The course was also a way for me to try it out and ultimately I decided it wasn't for me. I do like the idea of assigning a notebook as the exam for introductory courses though, and will probably do that again.
Jul 29, 2025 at 9:06amWeb
Show threadScott Coleman, MA.Jul 29, 2025
@joeroe Thank you very much for your thoughts.