Module: HIS5125-20 Digital Humanities

Level: 5

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor:  Stephen Gregg

Module Tutor Contact Details: s.gregg@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

Every professional activity involves the use of some form of digital technology, such as creating or curating data or images or a requirement to disseminate knowledge to the public. In parallel, humanities students and scholars - in the field known as ‘digital humanities’ - are employing digital tools and practices to create new resources, as well as understand and ask questions about their subjects in excitingly new ways.

This module enables you to reflect on how digital technology has transformed and is transforming the study of humanities subjects in the twenty-first century.  It aims to form a bridge between your own subject-specific knowledge in humanities, these developments in digital humanities, and future employability. by enabling you to develop a portfolio of work on a topic of your own choice.

You will learn about a variety of digital tools and methods (e.g. web publishing platforms, data management, visualisation, digitisation). The module will enable you to apply these tools and methods to a selection of primary sources from digital and/or physical archives (e.g. objects, text, printed material, images, records, data about events and people) in order to, for example, to create a digital edition, a data-based analysis, or a digital exhibition. In addition, you will be able to develop a critical understanding of such methods in relation to your chosen topic.The

2.Outline syllabus:

Weeks 1-3: Introduction to digital humanities. Introducing selected digital tools and archives and a visit to a physical archive

Weeks 4-6: Beginning your portfolio: choosing primary materials; learning how to use a variety of digital tools and platforms.

Weeks 7-10: Developing your knowledge of primary materials and secondary sources; refining digital skills; critical understanding of digital methods.

Weeks 11-13: Refining your portfolio: revising digital skills and methods; portfolio supervision.

You will also write a reflective learning journal as you go along: this will form some of the scaffolding for your work in the Portfolio assessment.

3.Teaching and learning activities:

Seminars (all- and small-group working), lectures, workshops, journal writing.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Portfolio 

(This represents the combination of tasks selected by the student in consultation with staff on the module. For example, a spreadsheet of data, graphic visualizations, and a critical essay; or a website of curated images, accompanied by an introductory essay and a reflective piece of writing)Portfolio 

• % Weighting: 100%