March 27, 2023

Course in Digital Humanities

I’ve been asked to develop an undergraduate course in Digital Humanities. I taught a course in DH back in 2014—maybe the last time I taught HUMN 3999. I have advocated for a DH course to be put on the books for over a decade, but at the time it was misunderstood as a discipline or too avant garde. Well, it seems now is the time, so I have answered the call. I wonder if I’ll even get the opportunity to teach it?

Description

Digital Humanities is an interdisciplinary course that explores the intersection of technology and humanistic inquiry. The course introduces students to the various digital tools and methods used in the analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of cultural artifacts, such as literature, music, and art. Through case studies, hands-on projects, and critical analysis, students will learn how to apply computational techniques to the study of humanistic questions, including text analysis, data visualization, and digital storytelling. The course also considers the ethical, social, and cultural implications of digital technologies on humanistic scholarship and public engagement. Students will gain practical skills and theoretical knowledge that can be applied to a range of fields within the humanities and beyond.

Short Description

Digital Humanities is an interdisciplinary course that explores the intersection of technology and humanistic inquiry. Students learn how to apply computational techniques to the study of cultural artifacts and gain practical skills in text analysis, data visualization, and digital storytelling. The course also considers the ethical, social, and cultural implications of digital technologies on humanistic scholarship and public engagement.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the theories, methodologies, and practices in Digital Humanities.
2. Develop skills in using digital tools and methods for analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of cultural artifacts.
3. Apply computational techniques to humanistic inquiry, such as text analysis, data visualization, and digital storytelling.
4. Analyze the ethical, social, and cultural implications of digital technologies on humanistic scholarship and public engagement.
5. Conduct independent and collaborative research projects that incorporate digital tools and methods.

Course Topics

Week 1: Introduction to Digital Humanities

• Defining Digital Humanities
• History of Digital Humanities
• Digital Humanities methods and tools

Week 2: Digital Archives and Collections

• Types of digital archives and collections
• Metadata and organization
• Ethical issues in digitization

Week 3: Data Visualization

• Types of data visualizations
• Tools for creating data visualizations
• Examples of data visualization in humanities research

Week 4: Text Analysis

• Methods for analyzing text
• Tools for text analysis
• Examples of text analysis in humanities research

Week 5: Spatial Humanities

• Mapping and geospatial analysis
• Tools for spatial humanities research
• Examples of spatial humanities research

Week 6: Digital Storytelling

• Multimedia storytelling
• Tools for creating digital stories
• Examples of digital storytelling in humanities research

Week 7: Digital Humanities and Social Justice

• Critical approaches to DH
• Ethical considerations in DH research
• Examples of digital humanities research related to social justice issues

Week 8: Collaborative Digital Humanities Projects

• Collaborative project design and management
• Tools for collaborative DH projects
• Examples of collaborative digital humanities projects

Week 9: Digital Humanities Pedagogy

• Digital humanities in the classroom
• Tools for teaching DH
• Examples of digital humanities pedagogy

Week 10: Digital Humanities and Public Engagement

• Public humanities and digital media
• Tools for public engagement in digital humanities
• Examples of public engagement in digital humanities research

Week 11: Digital Humanities and Cultural Heritage

• Digital cultural heritage preservation
• Tools for digital cultural heritage research
• Examples of digital cultural heritage research

Week 12: Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Humanities

• Applications of artificial intelligence in humanities research
• Ethical considerations in AI and DH
• Examples of AI in digital humanities research

Week 13: Digital Humanities and the Future

• Emerging trends in DH
• Speculative futures of DH
• Final project proposals

Weeks 14-15: Project Work and Presentations

• Students will work on their final projects with instructor consultations as needed.
• Students will present their final projects to the class and receive feedback.

Potential Textbooks

• Gardiner, Eileen; Musto, Ronald G., eds. The Digital Humanities: A Primer for Students and Scholars. Cambridge UP: 2015.
• Jones, Steven E. The Emergence of the Digital Humanities. Routledge: 2014.
• Schreibman, Susan; Siemens, Ray; Unsworth, John, eds. A New Companion to Digital Humanities. Wiley/Blackwell: 2016.

Assessments

• Reading assignments on DH theories, methodologies, and practices.
• Writing assignments that require students to apply digital tools and methods to analyze and interpret cultural artifacts or to reflect on the ethical and social implications of using digital technologies in humanistic inquiry.
• Participation in group discussions and activities that allow students to collaboratively analyze and evaluate the impact of digital technologies on humanistic research.
• Peer reviews of digital projects that allow students to provide feedback on each other's work and practice effective communication and collaboration skills.
• Creation of an individual or collaborative project that applies computational techniques to a humanistic research question or cultural artifact, which could include text analysis, data visualization, or digital storytelling.
• Oral presentations.
• Examinations.