New computational tools and methods from digital mapping to 3D modelling to text analysis are being used in diverse disciplines across the Humanities. Technology is also transforming the way that we access and engage with cultural institutions and arts organisations. However, Digital Humanities is more than just using computers for research, it is a highly critical and scholarly field that consciously considers how humanities topics of research and research practices themselves are being transformed in the digital age. This course introduces students to key methodologies and critical theories in digital humanities. Students have the opportunity to learn, trial and evaluate a range of digital methodologies (ranging from digital mapping, data cleaning, 3D modelling, digitisation, metadata and database creation, digital publishing and audience engagement). Students study the ways that digital and computational methods are transforming research in humanities. There is a particular focus on how digital technologies and projects can be used to engage broader society with humanities and cultural sector research (including design for digital audiences, public history and public culture). The course also addresses complex ethical issues around ownership of data, digital repatriation, politics of archives, and the potential for digital activism. The course includes visits to major cultural institutions in Canberra and talks from experts in digital humanities research from across the ANU.

No specific technical or computational knowledge is assumed, all students will be supported to work with a range of digital methodologies and practices from whatever level they are at. Students will be given access to the Digital Humanities Lab and its specialist equipment and software. Students will be asked to critically evaluate tools and methods, as well as engaging with key readings, issues and debates, and critical theories. Projects and essays developed for this course may form part of Masters Advanced and Honours thesis projects subject to approval from your supervisor and program convener.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. understand several digital humanities methodologies;
2. apply digital humanities methodologies;
3. understand the development of digital humanities from a theoretical and methodological standpoint;
4. speak with confidence about the methodologies of digital humanities to peers;
5. have the confidence and capacity to trial, learn and evaluate a range of digital tools and methods; and
6. understand how to develop a program of research and/or project for a research project that foregrounds digital methods.

Research-Led Teaching

This course introduces students to important issues and debates around the topics of Digital Humanities and Public Culture. Students will hear from experts across a range of disciplines about how their research uses digital tools, methods and publication paradigms. They will be supported to experiment with and upskill in new digital methods using a range of open source software. They will be asked to engage with the new push for humanities research (and research more broadly) to have engagement with communities beyond those in the academy.

Field Trips

We will make attempt to make visit to a collection, probably on the ANU campus, Covid regulations permitting. There will be an alternative activity for students studying online.

Additional Course Costs

NA

Examination Material or equipment

NA

Required Resources

Students may need to download and install specialist software for trialling digital methods. This software will be open source or provided free of charge. Online students may need to use video editing software to complete class presentations. Students based on campus can make use of the DH Lab.

Recommended Resources

NA

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction to Digital Humanities and Public Culture
2	All About Humanities Data - big, small, messy, open, closed
3	The Human in the Machine - Labour and Invisibility
4	Machines Looking at Culture - AI and Machine Learning in the Museum
5	Digital + Public + Activism - Shadow Libraries, Grass Roots Archiving and Community Research
6	Play, Experimentation and Collaboration
7	Methods - Metadata, a Love Letter to the Future
8	Methods - 3D Modelling for Cultural Collections
9	Methods - Digital Mapping and Spatial Humanities
10	Methods - Wrangling Digital Texts
11	Final project presentations week	Class presentation
12	Debating Digital Humanities and Public Culture - The Good, the Bad and the Messy!

Tutorial Registration

There is one weekly seminar as per the timetable. You do not need to register for this.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Critical evaluation of a digital project or issue	20 %	*	1,5
Critical evaluation of a digital tool and/or method	20 %	*	1,3,4,6
Class presentation	10 %	16/05/2022	2,3,4
Research Project	40 %	03/06/2022	1,2,3,5,6
Class participation	10 %	*	1,2,3,4,5,6

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Students are expected to participate in weekly discussions and activities, whether in person or online.

Examination(s)

NA

Assessment Task 1

Critical evaluation of a digital project or issue

This evaluation will be due in class as a presentation with a short report uploaded to the public MetoDHology website. Students will choose a topic from one of the themes from weeks 2-6 and present in the relevant week with the report due on the Friday of that week.

Assessment Task 2

Critical evaluation of a digital tool and/or method

This evaluation will be due in class as a presentation with a short report uploaded to the public MetoDHology website. Students will choose a topic from one of the Methods from Week 7-10 and present in the relevant week with the report due on the Friday of that week.

Assessment Task 3

Class presentation

Each student will present a short talk (6-7 minutes) in week 11 on their chosen research topic for the final Research Project. Talks should follow the Pecha Kucha style.

Assessment Task 4

Research Project

The main research project is based on a topic that is developed by each student. This topic should engage with one or more of the key themes and methods explored in the course. Students have the option of either completing a long-form piece of writing (3000 word essay) or a project build and an exegesis (2000 words equivalent for project and 1000 words exegesis). Students currently working towards a thesis for Honours or Masters can use this for topic development with the approval of their supervisor and convener.

Assessment Task 5

Class participation

Students will receive a mark worth up to 10% reflecting their engagement with the weekly discussions, including contributions to the online forum on Teams. This participation is in addition to the class presentations and reports.

This includes being present for seminar times, any more than two weeks of absences should be discussed with the lecturer. You are also expected to engage with the lecturer and fellow students during these sessions by asking questions, providing overviews of readings, explaining how you have used digital tools and methods, etc.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Assessment will be returned with comments within 2 weeks of due date if submitted on time.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Students who fail may discuss an alternative assessment option with the course convener.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students