Introduction to Digital Humanities from edX

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.

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.

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.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

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

Reviews summary

Introduction to digital humanities overview

According to learners, this course provides a positive and accessible introduction to digital humanities. Students appreciate the broad overview of concepts and methods, finding it a solid starting point for understanding the field. Many found the sections on data types and tools helpful for getting acquainted with DH research. While generally well-received for beginners, some students noted that the course offers more breadth than depth, particularly regarding specific tools or techniques. The coverage of the command line and Voyant are highlighted as practical introductions, though some felt they were quite basic.

Command line basics are covered simply.

"The command line part was explained simply, good for absolute beginners, but anyone with a little experience might find it too basic."

"Learned some very basic command line commands, but it only scratches the surface of what's possible with it."

"The section on command line was easy to follow, but definitely geared towards those with no prior exposure."

Covers many topics but lacks deep dives.

"While it introduces a lot of concepts, it doesn't go very deep into any specific method or tool. It's more of a survey course."

"I enjoyed the variety of topics, but I felt that some sections were too brief and could have benefited from more detailed explanations or examples."

"Good for getting an overview, but if you want to master a particular tool or technique, you'll need to look elsewhere after this course."

Concepts are explained in an accessible way.

"The instructors explained complex ideas about data and methods in a way that was easy to understand."

"Lectures were clear and well-structured, making the material very accessible even for someone new to the field."

"I appreciated the clear explanations and examples provided throughout the course."

Introduces practical tools like Voyant.

"The section on Voyant was very helpful. It gave me hands-on experience with a text analysis tool I can actually use."

"Learning about tools like Voyant and the basics of command line was practical and showed me how digital methods are applied."

"I liked seeing examples of how digital tools are used in real DH projects, especially the Voyant demo."

Provides a strong foundational overview of DH.

"This course provides a great introduction to the main topics and methods in Digital Humanities. It really helps you understand what DH is about."

"A solid foundation for anyone interested in exploring digital humanities. It covers the basics well and provides a good overview."

"I was completely new to DH, and this course gave me the necessary grounding. It covers the core concepts clearly."

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

Show steps

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for 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.

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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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum curator

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.

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Historian

Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past.

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Librarian

Librarians help people find and use information. They may work in a variety of settings, including public libraries, academic libraries, and special libraries.

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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.

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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.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and test software applications. They may work in a variety of industries, including technology, finance, and healthcare.

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Web Developer

Web Developers design and develop websites. They may work in a variety of industries, including technology, marketing, and education.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers develop and deliver educational materials. They may work in a variety of settings, including schools, businesses, and non-profit organizations.

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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.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, organize, and execute projects. They may work in a variety of industries, including technology, construction, and healthcare.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts identify and solve business problems. They may work in a variety of industries, including technology, finance, and healthcare.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers lead and motivate sales teams. They may work in a variety of industries, including technology, retail, and manufacturing.

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