History 9808A: Digital (Public) History Sept. 14, 2015

Contact Info tcompeau@uwo.ca Office: LH 1202 Office Hours: 10-12:00 Mondays

Course Description This course introduces students to the theory and practice of digital techniques for public history. It explores methods of presenting, communicating, researching, and reconstructing history with digital technology in ways that deepen the public understanding of the past, and foster the inculcation of historical thinking skills. Digital history can preserve the past and make it more accessible, but its affordances can also challenge authoritative narratives and complicate our experiences with history in surprisingly subversive ways. Good companion class to Research Methods and Interactive Exhibit Design.

Digital Public History Digital Public History has been defined as “user-centered history” (Sharon Leon, 6floors.org) or as history produced “in the public sphere through interactive digital means“ (Serge Noiret). “…encountering…audiences through digital means, such as social media, blogs, exhibit sites, collections and archival sites, mobile applications, and digital simulations.”  ”…the best digital public history work requires a blend of applied technical skills, targeted engagement strategies, disciplinary ways of knowing, and deep content knowledge.” (Sharon Leon, 6floors.org)

Keys to Success Focus is on active learning Requires: Discover, discuss, learn, apply Requires: Engagement Self-directed learning Collaboration Pushing yourself into unfamiliar territory Time commitment Because students will begin the course with varied levels of experience, evaluation will be based on student willingness to engage with the technology and how much they learn, and not necessarily on technical proficiency and attainment.

Weekly Seminars Readings and other resource material will be linked from:  http://www.timcompeau.com/teaching/history-9808a-digital-history/ Readings and topics are not set in stone. We can adapt classes and topics based on what is going on with the Public History Group projects and to suit student interest. In class participation accounts for 20% of final mark.

Weekly Seminars Sept. 14: Introduction: What is Digital (Public) History? Visit to the Fabrication Lab. Sept. 21:Knowing your Digital Audience(s): Blogs, “Creepy Treehouses,” and Podcasts. Sept. 28: Digital Preservation and Sharing Oct. 5: Digital History Games Oct. 12 – Thanksgiving Holiday. No Class. Oct. 19: 3D Printing, Scanning, and Reproduction. Special Visit to the Sustainable Archaeology Facility. Proposals due. Oct. 26: Augmented Reality Nov. 2: Spatial History Nov. 9: Mapping the Past Nov. 16: Research and Data Mining (Guest Lecturer, Oliver Charbonneau) Nov. 23: Physical Computing (Guest Lecturer, Devon Elliot) Nov. 30: Presentations – Fine-tuning projects. Dec. 7: Assignments Due

Blogging 30% of final grade. Discussion between the blogs – comment on your classmate’s blogs. Try and blog every week. At least 6 substantial blogs of 500+ words. Blog on class content, but can also be on digital, public, or other history. Tweet about the class (Optional) Send me URLs for your blogs as soon as you can. Assignment 1: Blog by Friday and comment on another blog. Find a list of possible blog linked from today’s page. Remember: Choose a site that has a comment feature (not tumblr) and remember that this is public.

The Point of the Blog Participation Product. Project Log. Can spark discussion for class. An online presence to show future employers. A way to get comfortable with having your writing in public. Main audience is each other, but could be adapted later.

Podcast 15% of mark. What sort of podcast do you want to do? Documentary style, discussion, interview? Single podcasts or a central class podcast? Each student is responsible for a minimum of 15 minutes of podcast material. Any historical topic. Make it entertaining and as professional as you can. Start planning (and listen to other podcasts) and we will work on these next week. No specific due date.

Major Assignment 35% of mark. Part of the assignment is designing it. What history to you want to present? What technology or digital methods do you want to experiment with? Proposal due Oct. 19. (5%) In-progress presentation of your assignment on Nov. 30. Final Product and reflection paper due last day of class. (20% and 10%) Reflection Paper, 1500-2500 words.

Parameters Must present an historical topic for a public audience. Must use digital technology. Should be challenging and employ technology and methods that are new to you. Possible examples: Historical Website Augmented reality exhibit. 3D modelling/scanning/reproduction. Documentary style video using film editing software. GIS Mapping project Historical Visualizations Design a digital history game. An online project using animation software.

The Fab Lab Time to explore Digital Lab RA is Mary Beth Start: mstart@uwo.ca For borrowing items or other help – in on Thursdays.