The digital revolution has had a profound impact on the way history is recorded, preserved and shared. This course provides an overview of developments in the rapidly growing field of digital history over the past two decades, including advances in the interactive web environment that underpin social networking and information sharing sites such as MySpace, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr. The course encourages students to think critically about the implications of using new media for compiling, storing and displaying historical information. It begins by considering the influence of earlier media, such as photography and film, on historical studies, so that digital innovations can be understood in a broader context. Drawing on examples from around the world, the course focuses on new formats, genres and writing practices for the presentation and production of history, ranging from the personal and experimental to the institutional. These will be discussed in the context of the latest issues in areas such as multimedia documentary, interactive narrative, online communities and commemoration, digital identity and storytelling, historical GIS, e-research and cyberinfrastructure, virtual environments and the semantic web.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Think critically about the implications of using new media for compiling, storing, displaying and disseminating historical and biographical information.

2. Understand the influence of earlier media, such as photography and film, on historical and biographical studies so that digital innovations can be viewed in a broader context.

3. Appraise new formats, genres and writing practices for the presentation and production of history and biography, ranging from the personal and experimental to the institutional.

4. Understand key ways in which the concepts of identity and community are changing in the digital information age.

Participation in online discussion forums (10%)

Critical review essay (1500 words, 30%)

Written research paper (3000-3500 words, 60%)

Students are expected to spend approximately 120 hours on this course, working through the reading program, contributing to online discussions and completing the assessment tasks. Students will also attend a 3-day intensive held in June/July.

There is no prerequisite, other than meeting the standard required for entry into a Masters by coursework.

Recommended Courses: Other courses offered from the Master in Biographical Research and Writing program.

Readings will be provided at the beginning of the course.

This course makes extensive use of online technology (Wattle) for accessing resources and activities. It will be in students’ best interests to ensure they have an adequate computer and fast internet connection, preferably at home, to ensure easy access to all on-line information and activities.