New: Module 09 – Social Media and Digital Memory

• New module: /learn/social-media/ examines how social media platforms shape contested heritage narratives
• YouTube case study: Detailed analysis of specific videos representing nostalgic documentation, revisionist content, and heritage/decay genres
• Nostalgic counter-memory: Documents how Japanese revisionist groups have adapted memory activism techniques for denialist purposes
• Platform governance analysis: Examines Eurocentric development of content moderation policies and gaps in protection for Asian historical atrocities
• Connection to Module 08: Extends "archive of obstruction" concept into digital soft gatekeeping on social media platforms

New: Teaching Guide for Module 09

• Teaching guide: /teach/social-media-guide/ provides instructor resources, activities, and assessment options
• Four structured activities: Platform Comparison (30 min), Testimony Analysis (45 min), YouTube Ecosystem Mapping (30 min), Content Policy Workshop (40 min)
• Four assessment options: Digital Audit, Counter-Narrative Project, Comparative Essay, Policy Proposal
• Video links: Direct links to analysable YouTube content with durations and channel information

Site Structure Updates

• Module count updated: "Nine modules" changed to "ten modules" across the site
• Navigation updated: Module 08 now links to Module 09; Module 09 completes sequence
• Learn overview: Module 09 card added to module grid
• Teach overview: Social Media Module Guide card added with red accent

New: Module 00 – The HashimaXR Project

• New introductory module: /learn/module-00/ introduces the HashimaXR project before explaining why it was never released
• Project overview: Documents the collaboration between historians, game designers, and architects using IVR technology
• Eight episodes detailed: Complete descriptions of "Building 30," "The 1905 Typhoon," "Why Battleship Island?", "Folk Songs of Hashima," "A Self-Contained Community," "Descent into No. 2 Mine," "The Mountain Gods Festival," and "Nakamura-sensei's Tours"
• 19 character profiles: Documents the MetaHuman avatar system and NPC designs from the Game Design Book
• Addresses narrative inversion: Users now learn what HashimaXR was before encountering the obstruction narrative in Module 08

Module Structure Cleanup

• Directory alignment: All module directories (00–08) now correctly match their content titles
• Navigation updated: All internal module links point to correct directories
• Module count updated: "Eight modules" references changed to "nine modules" across the site
• Pagination corrected: All modules now display "Module X of 08" indicators

Teach Section Updates

• All pathways updated: Single Sitting, Extended Exploration, Full Sequence, and Professional Practice now include Module 00
• Learner survey updated: Module 00 checkbox added to evaluation form
• Weekly schedules revised: Full Sequence pathway reorganised to accommodate nine modules

British Spelling Consistency

• Standardised spelling: "Labour," "Authorised," "analyse," "organise" throughout updated pages

New: Production Board

• Interactive Kanban recreation: /experience/production-board/ recreates the Nuclino project management board used during HashimaXR development
• 7 columns, 38 cards: Overview, Trailer, Episode 1, Episode 2, Game Assets, Future Episodes, Project Files
• Card detail modals: Click any card to see detailed descriptions of production materials
• Evidence of production-ready state: Board demonstrates organizational sophistication at the point of institutional obstruction
• "Future Episodes" column: Documents nine planned episodes that remain undeveloped due to project non-release

New: Future Episodes

• Dedicated page: /experience/future-episodes/ expands on the Production Board column with full episode documentation
• Nine episodes documented: Including "The Life of a Man and His Family" (based on oral history), "Sanjinsai" festival, "Life Inside Building 65", "Building Gunkanjima", and "In the Depths of the Abyss" (mine exploration)
• Learning objectives: Each episode includes educational goals that would have been addressed
• Historical sources: Links to oral history interviews, archival photographs, and documentary films

New: Characters of Hashima

• Dedicated page: /experience/characters/ documents NPCs planned for the XR experience
• Two historical eras: 1970 (Late Showa) and pre-1930 (Early Showa/Taisho) character sets
• 17+ characters: Including miners, housewives, children, elders, day laborers, teachers, and marketplace workers
• NPC categories: Lists planned character types from "makkuro papa" to boat crew
• Player design notes: Documents how the player character was conceived

New: Buildings of Hashima

• Dedicated page: /experience/buildings/ provides architectural reference from the Game Design Book
• Key structures: Building 30 (Japan's first RC apartment, 1916), Building 65 (317 units), Shōwakan Cinema, Hashima Shrine
• Construction specifications: Dates, floor areas, unit counts, and building materials
• Historical notes: Engineering innovations, wartime construction, and 1953 Building 30 renovation
• Zone categorization: Landmarks, residential, community, and industrial buildings

Experience Hub Updates

• Four new cards: Production Board, Future Episodes, Characters, and Buildings added to Production Materials section
• Updated "How These Connect" text: Explains relationship between Production Board and other materials

Sources Section Enhancements

• New: Consolidated Bibliography: /sources/bibliography/ provides a clean, citable reference list in Chicago author-date format
• Open Access indicators: Bibliography entries marked with access status (Open Access / Institutional)
• Sources hub updated: New Bibliography card added to Sources overview page

Citation Consistency

• Module 08 citation box: Added missing citation box to final module
• Bibliography links: All module citation boxes now link to consolidated bibliography

Audit Verification

• Pathway naming audit: Verified consistent naming across all four pathways (Single Sitting, Extended Exploration, Full Sequence, Professional Practice)
• Module progress indicators: Verified all modules display "Module X of 08" indicators

Interactive Map: Songs from the Coalfields

• Google Maps integration: Interactive map now fully functional showing Japan’s coalfield geography
• Five location markers: Hashima Island (gold), Jōban Coalfield (salmon), Chikuhō Coalfield (orange), Kagoshima (green), Iwai/Tottori (blue)
• Migration flow lines: Dashed geodesic lines connecting each source region to Hashima, visualising worker migration patterns
• Dark theme styling: Custom map styles matching the HashimaXR visual aesthetic
• Interactive info panels: Click markers to reveal regional context with links to corresponding song sections
• Fallback behaviour: Graceful degradation if Google Maps API fails to load

Evaluation Surveys: Data Use Transparency

• Data use statements: Added “How this data will be used” info boxes to all three survey pages (Learner, Educator, Practitioner)
• Survey versioning: Added visible version identifiers (e.g., “Learner Survey v2.0, January 2026”) below data use statements
• REF 2029 transparency: Explicit mention that aggregated findings may be included in research impact documentation

Experience Hub: Removed Placeholder

• “Coming Soon” card removed: Experience hub now shows only the two completed companion experiences
• Cleaner presentation: Removes impression of incomplete work; future experiences can be added when ready

REF 2029 Readiness

• New: Metrics page: /about/metrics/ documents analytics baseline, methodology, and evidence provenance
• New: Quick Adoption Report: /teach/evaluation/adoption/ provides lightweight mechanism for institutional use reporting
• Evaluation hub updated: Links to new adoption report with clear distinction from full surveys

Technical Improvements

• Google Maps API key: Configured in Netlify environment variables
• Marker highlighting: Visual feedback when markers are selected
• Responsive design: Map container works across desktop and mobile viewports

New: Experience Section

• Dedicated Experience hub: New /experience/ directory with index page for all Companion Experiences
• Experience cards: Visual cards for each companion experience with type badges, descriptions, and time estimates
• "Coming Soon" placeholder: Framework for adding future experiences
• Navigation updated: "Experience" link now points to the dedicated hub rather than directly to Songs from the Coalfields

Navigation Enhancement: Experience Link

• New navigation item: "Experience" link added to main navigation (between Teach and About) across all pages
• Direct access: Links to Companion Experiences hub from any page on the site

Companion Experiences Integration

• Learn index updated: The Company Town now listed alongside Songs from the Coalfields in Companion Experiences section
• Strategic module links: Contextual links to Companion Experiences added in Modules 02, 05, and 08
• Module 02: Links to The Company Town (after "company town" discussion) and Songs from the Coalfields (after postwar community discussion)
• Module 05: Combined link to both experiences after silence/absence discussion
• Module 08: Link before final reflection, connecting archive of obstruction to undocumented intangible heritage

Learn Page Restructured

• Before You Begin card removed: Key concepts primer now accessed via Start page "First Time Here?" callout
• Module grid begins with Module 01: Cleaner entry point for returning learners

New Companion Module: The Company Town

• Ambient audio experience: New module exploring what happened when regional cultures converged on Hashima Island
• Toggle-able soundscape: CC0 ambient audio (ocean waves, wind, industrial atmosphere) evokes the island environment
• Company town analysis: Six aspects of Mitsubishi control — Housing, Provisioning, Entertainment, Communal Spaces, Spiritual Life, Mass Media
• Convergence visualization: Interactive display of regional source populations meeting on the island
• "The Silence" section: Analysis of why no folk songs survive from Hashima, moved from Songs from the Coalfields for conceptual clarity
• The Evacuation (1974): New section on how traditions dispersed when the island closed
• Discussion questions: Five prompts on corporate control, cultural convergence, and intangible heritage

Songs from the Coalfields: Audio Enhancement

• Embedded audio players: Four Folkways tracks (Jōban, Chikuhō, Kagoshima, Iwai) now play directly on page with dark-themed native controls
• Enhanced headphones notice: Updated guidance for optimal audio experience
• Content restructured: Module now focuses on source cultures; "Convergence on the Island" and "The Silence" moved to The Company Town

Technical Additions

• New /assets/audio/soundscapes/ directory for CC0 ambient audio
• Floating audio toggle controls with volume slider
• Audio auto-pauses when browser tab is hidden, resumes on return
• HTML5 audio player styling with dark theme

New Companion Module: Songs from the Coalfields

• Audio-based learning experience: New module exploring Japanese folk songs as historical evidence of community life
• Smithsonian Folkways integration: Four licensed tracks (License #7331) from Traditional Folk Songs of Japan (FW04534, 1961)
• Four regional song analyses: Jōban (Fukushima), Chikuhō (Fukuoka), Kagoshima, and Iwai (Tottori)
• Interactive Google Maps: Dark-themed map showing coalfield geography with migration flow visualisation
• Recording timeline: Visual timeline from 1959 peak population through 1974 closure
• "The Silence" section: Analysis of the absence of documented Hashima folk songs as historical evidence

Key Themes

• Salvage ethnography and the 1961 recording moment
• Commodification of folk tradition: 1932 Victor recordings of Tankō Bushi
• Convergence on the island: regional traditions meeting in company-controlled space
• Intangible heritage and UNESCO's focus on industrial structures
• Listening as historical methodology

Educational Resources

• Learning outcomes: Five specific outcomes including sound-as-evidence methodology
• Discussion questions: Five questions for classroom/seminar use
• Four reflective prompts: Embedded throughout for critical engagement
• Teaching notes: Comprehensive guide for heritage studies, Japanese history, and digital humanities contexts

Technical Additions

• Google Maps API specification with dark theme styling
• Creative Commons soundscape asset guide for future ambient audio
• Graceful API key fallback for environments without Maps configuration

Comprehensive Glossary

• New glossary page: 51 key terms organized by module with Japanese, Korean, and Chinese equivalents
• Term categories: Key Terms, Concepts, Historical, Places, Institutions, Persons, Sources — color-coded for visual clarity
• CJK translations: 40+ terms include characters and romanization (Hepburn, Revised Romanization, Pinyin)
• Module organization: Terms grouped by the module where they appear most prominently
• Alphabetical index: Complete A–Z listing with CJK characters for quick reference
• Navigation integrated: Sources section updated with Glossary as first card

Key Terms Added

• Heritage concepts: Authorized Heritage Discourse, Collective Memory, Historical Consciousness, Strategic Forgetting, Negative Heritage
• Labor history: NAYA System, Three mobilization phases (募集→官斡旋→徴用), Debt Bondage, Convict Labor
• Meiji slogans: Fukoku Kyōhei (富国強兵), Shokusan Kōgyō (殖産興業)
• Digital heritage: Material/Social/Experiential Authenticity, Thick Presence/Thin Narration, Haikyo (廃墟)
• Project concepts: Archive of Obstruction, Soft Gatekeeping, Temporal Drag

Location & Accessibility

• Google Maps link added: Start page now includes link to Hashima's location ("15 kilometres off the coast of Nagasaki")
• Module 02 Maps link: Opening paragraph links "small enough to be grasped in a single glance" to satellite view
• Accessibility audit completed: Full WCAG 2.1 AA review documented

Visual Timeline & Reflective Prompts

• Module 02 visual timeline: Added interactive timeline with six eras (Industrial Foundation through Heritage Politics)
• Reflective prompts: 18 prompts embedded across all 8 modules with dedicated CSS component
• "How This Resource Works" section: Start page clarifications on OER design, testimony, and regional perspectives

Evaluation Instrument Upgrade

• Learner Survey v2.0: Complete restructuring to strengthen evidential quality beyond self-report
• New participant code system with localStorage auto-generation for anonymous longitudinal tracking
• Simplified demographics: learner context, broad region (8 options), optional discipline field
• Aligned pre/post learning outcomes with identical items, consistent order, and N/A option
• Three new applied comprehension items: Applied Critique (scenario + justification), Evidence vs Interpretation (MCQ), Soft Gatekeeping (multi-select)
• Streamlined impact/intention section with consistent Likert + N/A scale
• Improved survey header with clear purpose, time, anonymity, and withdrawal information

Educator Feedback (MVF)

• Streamlined to 5–7 minutes to reduce burden and increase completion
• Teaching setting and group size dropdowns
• Usage context checkboxes (pre-class, in-class, post-class, assessment, discussion)
• Three observed outcomes with Likert + N/A scale
• Optional concrete example with privacy reminder
• Follow-up case study opt-in

Practitioner Survey (MVF)

• Streamlined to 5–7 minutes for heritage sector professionals
• Sector and role seniority dropdowns
• Use context checkboxes (staff training, exhibition, interpretation, policy, community engagement)
• Three professional value statements with Likert + N/A scale
• Optional practice change prompt
• Follow-up contact opt-in

Infrastructure

• All survey forms updated with v2.0 form names for Netlify
• Evaluation hub footer updated with Privacy link
• Consistent withdrawal information across all instruments

Module Restructuring

• Module 05 redesigned: "Labor, Empire, and Evidence" restructured with improved visual organization
• New visual timeline showing exploitation from 1873 convict labor through 1945 mobilization
• NAYA System (納屋制度) presented in prominent callout box with three-column feature grid
• Three Phases of Mobilization as distinct visual cards (Recruitment → Official Mediation → Conscription)
• Escape Rate visualization with ~50% statistic prominently displayed with bar chart
• Spectrum of Coercion diagram showing economic, legal, physical, and racialized forms
• Silence Mechanisms as five-column grid (Non-Documentation, Destruction, Classification, Marginalization, Institutional Resistance)
• Module 08 redesigned: "Why the Project Stayed Unreleased" restructured with visual timeline and improved organization
• Project timeline (2020–2025) with color-coded phases showing progression to non-release
• Soft Gatekeeping and Temporal Drag as side-by-side concept cards
• Archive of Obstruction as centered highlight box with four-column contents grid
• Decision comparison showing rejected vs. chosen options visually
• Streamlined Further Reading with button-style links to Past Meets Pixel essays

Sources Section Expansion

• New page: Scholarly Perspectives (/sources/scholarship/) — split from Institutional Positions
• Heritage and Memory section with "Selective Memory" essay and "Battleship Island" article
• Critical Heritage Studies Frameworks: Authorized Heritage Discourse, Silencing the Past, The Heritage Crusade
• Project Reflections section with links to Past Meets Pixel essays
• Sources index updated with new "Scholarly Perspectives" card

Institutional Positions Updates

• South Korean Government Position expanded with verified URLs (MOFA, Korea.net, Korea Herald)
• New section: Ongoing UNESCO Engagement documenting July 2025 WHC vote
• Foundation for Victims of Forced Mobilization properly named with Korean (일제강제동원피해자지원재단)
• Academic content moved to new Scholarly Perspectives page with callout link
• "What These Positions Reveal" updated with UNESCO funding asymmetries

Project Archive Sources Added

• Past Meets Pixel essays integrated: Added references to publicly available project essays including "Why the Island Is Silent," "Against Authenticity," and "Simulating the Past"
• Japanese Modernity essay: Added "Selective Memory and Strategic Forgetting: Japan's Industrial Heritage as a Tourism Commodity" to sources/positions
• sources/downloads updated: New "Project Essays" section with annotated links to Substack platforms
• Module 08 enhanced: Added source box with project team reflections on the archive of obstruction
• Related resources: Links to thehashimaxrproject.org and Showa Digital Asset Archive prototype

Source Quality

• All added sources are publicly accessible open-access essays
• Full bibliographic citations with direct URLs
• Proper attribution to authors (Gerteis, Mihalopoulos)

Project Scholarship Integration

• New section: "Project Scholarship: Open-Access Essays" — integrated publicly available essays from the HashimaXR Project's Substack platforms into sources/downloads
• Added Why the Island Is Silent (Gerteis & Mihalopoulos, May 2025) — foundational essay introducing "archive of obstruction" concept
• Added Against Authenticity (Gerteis, January 2025) — critical analysis of authenticity discourse in historical games
• Added Simulating the Past (Gerteis, March 2025) — on procedural rhetoric and the historian as game designer
• Added Selective Memory and Strategic Forgetting (Gerteis, September 2024) — on Japan's industrial heritage tourism
• Added Jie-Hyun Lim's Global Easts (2022) to bibliography — essential framework for understanding memory politics
• Added Ian Bogost's Persuasive Games (2007) to bibliography — foundational text on procedural rhetoric

Bibliography Improvements

• Reorganized further reading with clearer thematic sections
• Enhanced "How to Use This Bibliography" guidance
• Added links to Past Meets Pixel and Japanese Modernity platforms

Content Audit & Privacy Compliance

• Removed all references to "correspondence archive" — project emails and internal correspondence are not publicly available
• Removed all Zenodo archive claims — no public archive of project correspondence exists
• Rewrote sources/positions page — now cites only publicly documented institutional positions (UNESCO documents, official statements, published reports)
• Revised learning modules 07 and 08 — removed references to email archives; retained "archive of obstruction" as analytical concept describing patterns of institutional behavior
• Updated teach/pathways/professional — removed correspondence archive reference
• Updated sources/downloads — removed Zenodo project archive section
• Updated sources/primary — removed Zenodo reference
• Updated about/cite — removed Zenodo DOI claims
• Updated about/index — removed Zenodo mention

Consistency Check

• Verified privacy notice references only surveys, testimonials, and analytics
• Confirmed no public claims about availability of project emails or internal documents
• Retained legitimate uses of "archive" (e.g., "in-game archive," "photogrammetric archives," general institutional archives)

Brand Consistency & Accessibility

• Footer standardization with Privacy link on all pages
• Landing page accessibility improvements (skip-link, semantic HTML, ARIA)
• Thank-you page footer updated
• Button focus states added

Layout Improvements

• Wider content columns (800px → 900px)
• Survey pages now use full-width layout (1200px)
• Improved form element spacing

Added

• Module-level survey prompts on all 8 learning modules
• Start page survey prompt
• Survey prompt CSS component

Added

• Informed consent landing page at root URL
• Random code generator for learner survey
• Age/consent confirmation checkboxes
• Educators guidance for secondary school use
• Detailed minors section in Privacy Notice

Changed

• Learner survey: random codes instead of personal-data-derived codes
• Privacy Notice: SOAS as institutional data controller
• Minors consent architecture with clear requirements

Added

• Evaluation hub with five dedicated survey pages
• Privacy Notice (GDPR/UK GDPR compliant)
• How to Cite page
• Version History page
• Netlify Forms integration