Heritage and Cultural Informatics examines the application of information and communication technologies in the heritage sector. In this course we will explore the work of organisations which act to conserve, preserve, and improve access to our cultural and natural heritage.

1x1hr lecture; 1x1hr practical session per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in Information Studies and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus

INFOSTUD4009 Heritage and Cultural Informatics

INFOSTUD5016 Heritage and Cultural Informatics

None

Essay (3,500 words) - 60%

Report (1,500 words) - 40%.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course aims to:

■ explore the content held by heritage institutions and the special problems and opportunities which it poses to the application of Information and Communications Technology (ICT);

■ debate the current and future uses of ICT in libraries, archives, and museums;

■ develop a familiarity with the technologies, and the information and technical standards (eg EAD, Spectrum, Dublin Core) used in heritage institutions;

■ investigate the impact of ICT on the focus and objectives of heritage institutions;

■ appreciate the role and impact of ICT on heritage users (e.g. researchers, general public, students at all levels from primary school onwards).

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ explain the general issues related to the implementation of Information and Communications Technology within arts and heritage-based institutions;

■ select appropriate standards and applications to meet needs in libraries, museums, and archives for resource management, public outreach, and collection development;

■ evaluate heritage information systems at front-end, formative, and summative stages;

■ summarize the issues of rights management and project management;

■ explain the relationship between digital content, heritage holdings, and the needs of users.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.