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Peter K. Bol

As primary sources of information are more frequently digitized and available online than ever before, how can we use those sources to ask new questions? How did Chinese families organize themselves and their landscapes in China’s past? How did African slaves from different cultures form communities in the Americas? What influences informed the creation and evolution of Broadway musicals? How can I understand or interpret 1,000 books all at once? How can I create a visualization that my students can interact with? The answers to these questions can be explored using a wide variety of digital tools, methods, and sources.

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As primary sources of information are more frequently digitized and available online than ever before, how can we use those sources to ask new questions? How did Chinese families organize themselves and their landscapes in China’s past? How did African slaves from different cultures form communities in the Americas? What influences informed the creation and evolution of Broadway musicals? How can I understand or interpret 1,000 books all at once? How can I create a visualization that my students can interact with? The answers to these questions can be explored using a wide variety of digital tools, methods, and sources.

As museums, libraries, archives and other institutions have digitized collections and artifacts, new tools and standards have been developed that turn those materials into machine-readable data. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI), for example, have enabled humanities researchers to processvastamounts of textual data. However, these advances are not limited just to text. Sound, images, and video have all been subject to these new forms of research.

This course will show you how to manage the many aspects of digital humanities research and scholarship. Whether you are a student or scholar, librarian or archivist, museum curator or public historian — or just plain curious — this course will help you bring your area of study or interest to new life using digital tools.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • What the term “digital humanities” means in different disciplines.
  • How common digital tools work and examples of projects using them.
  • How various file types can be used to create, gather, and organize data.
  • How to use command-line functions to analyze text.
  • How to use free tools to create visual text analysis.

Syllabus

Lesson 1: Digital Humanities and Data
Explain the term "digital humanities," and how it is understood across humanities disciplines.
Describe the research journey as a partnership between researcher and library collections and staff.
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List examples of the limits of classification.
Describe the implicit and explicit hierarchies that are created when gathering and analyzing data.
Distinguish between what counts as data and what does not.
Identify different data formats and how they fit into a research workflow.
Lesson 2: Digital Humanities Projects and Tools
List tools of data analysis that can be applied to text in any language, space, networks, images, and statistical analysis.
Evaluate existing digital platforms based on features that can be used for data analysis within different fields such as literature, history, art, and music.
Lesson 3: Acquiring, Cleaning, and Creating Data
Identify the differences between unstructured, semi-structured, and structured data.
Distinguish between different file types, their definitions, and applications.
Apply intellectual property rights to the downloading and sharing of data.
Practice different ways of downloading or creating data.
Lesson 4: The Command Line
Understand how command line functions work.
Apply command line functions to text files.
Create smaller text files from larger files using command line prompts.
Lesson 5: Working with Tools - Voyant
Create data from multiple text files using Voyant.
Compare data results across text files using visualizationin Voyant.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Suitable for humanities scholars and students seeking a comprehensive introduction to digital humanities methods and tools
Provides practical skills in data analysis, text processing, and data visualization, making it relevant for researchers in various fields
Engages learners in hands-on projects and interactive exercises, fostering a deeper understanding of digital humanities practices
Led by experienced instructors Peter K. Bol, known for their contributions to digital humanities
Offers opportunities to apply digital humanities techniques to explore diverse topics, promoting interdisciplinary perspectives
May require prior exposure to basic programming concepts and command-line experience for some learners

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Reviews summary

Digital humanities for humanities scholars

Learners say that this vibrant course bridges analytical and digital tools that can be helpful for people in the Humanities and social sciences. Reviewers say you should be prepared to accept new challenges and be Google savvy. The course is recommended for scholars in the Humanities and social sciences.
Course is helpful for scholars in the Humanities and social sciences.
"It just needs you to be google savvy and ready to accept and try new challenges."
"Especially for people with Humanities and social science this course bridges analytical and digital tools that can be really handy."
"I will reckoned this course to all social scientists and Humanities scholars."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Digital Humanities with these activities:
Practice using the Voyant Tools text analysis tool
This tool will help you analyze text data, which is a key skill in digital humanities research.
Browse courses on Text Analysis
Show steps
  • Go to the Voyant Tools website.
  • Upload a text file to the website.
  • Use the Voyant Tools to analyze the text.
Show all one activities

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Digital Humanities will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Archivist
Archivists are responsible for the care, preservation, and accessibility of historical records. The course covers topics such as the management of digital humanities research and scholarship, as well as how to use digital tools to create, gather, and organize data, which may be useful for an Archivist.
Digital Humanities Specialist
Digital Humanities Specialists work to bring together digital tools and the humanities to help uncover new knowledge and insights. You will apply your knowledge of the digital humanities field to design and implement digital tools for research and scholarship. This course may be useful in helping you gain exposure to the latest tools and trends in the field, as well as how to use them to conduct your own research.
Museum curator
Museum Curators are responsible for planning and staging exhibitions, as well as caring for and interpreting museum collections. You will apply your knowledge of the digital humanities field to bring together digital tools and the humanities to help uncover new knowledge and insights. This course may be useful in helping you to gain exposure to the latest tools and trends in the field, as well as how to use them to conduct your own research.
Librarian
Librarians help people find and use information. They may work in a variety of settings, including public libraries, academic libraries, and special libraries.
Public Historian
Public Historians work to bring history to the public through a variety of media, including museums, archives, and public programs. You will apply your knowledge of the digital humanities field to use digital tools to create, gather, and organize data, which may be useful for a Public Historian.
Historian
Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past.
Data Analyst
Data Analysts collect, clean, and analyze data to identify trends and patterns. They use their findings to make recommendations for businesses and organizations.
Information Scientist
Information Scientists design and implement systems for organizing, storing, and retrieving information. They may work in a variety of settings, including libraries, museums, and businesses.
Software Engineer
Software Engineers design, develop, and test software applications. They may work in a variety of industries, including technology, finance, and healthcare.
Web Developer
Web Developers design and develop websites. They may work in a variety of industries, including technology, marketing, and education.
Instructional Designer
Instructional Designers develop and deliver educational materials. They may work in a variety of settings, including schools, businesses, and non-profit organizations.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers create documentation and other materials to explain complex technical concepts. They may work in a variety of industries, including technology, engineering, and manufacturing.
Project Manager
Project Managers plan, organize, and execute projects. They may work in a variety of industries, including technology, construction, and healthcare.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts identify and solve business problems. They may work in a variety of industries, including technology, finance, and healthcare.
Sales Manager
Sales Managers lead and motivate sales teams. They may work in a variety of industries, including technology, retail, and manufacturing.

Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to Digital Humanities.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of digital humanities, covering topics such as the history of digital humanities, digital tools and methods, and the impact of digital technologies on the humanities.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of digital humanities, including its history, methods, and tools. Useful as background reading for those new to the field.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of digital humanities, covering topics such as the history of digital humanities, digital tools and methods, and the impact of digital technologies on the humanities.
A collection of essays from leading scholars in the field, covering a wide range of topics in digital humanities.
Provides a guide to using digital tools and methods for historical research, covering topics such as data acquisition, cleaning, and analysis.
Provides an overview of the tools and methods used in digital humanities, covering topics such as data visualization, text analysis, and digital mapping.

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