Admission requirements
None.
Description
Digital stories in the humanities– from infographics to TikTok – have the ability to inspire us, promote political activism, and challenge dynamics of power. If we want others to listen to our rich but complex stories, it is important for us to clearly and compellingly communicate these.
Understanding the theory and knowing how to use the tools of digital forms storytelling can be of great help in this as well as any other professional endeavor you may undertake. This course will give you the necessary basics to get you on your way with digital storytelling.
There are as many ways to get information across digitally as there are potential pitfalls along the way, so a first important step is to learn to ‘read’ and critique digital formats and understand the concepts, choices, and ingredients that underly them as well as the cultural frameworks and perspectives that give rise to them. In this course we will therefore take a look at the design fundamentals of a wide range of digital storytelling tools, with a focus on visual formats. We will learn and discuss the range and purpose of digital storytelling, from activism to accessibility.
The reading on this course will provide a clear introduction into digital, visual designs, including hierarchical, network, timeline, and map-based visualizations. Design for Information by Isabel Mereilles will be our primary source for information and inspiration on digital design, and we will read and discuss chapters from Data Feminism by Catherine D’ Ignazio and Lauren F. Klein for a wider societal view.
An ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory, so you will also go hands-on with tools for creating visualizations that effectively convey complex knowledge. This will be done through self-learning tutorials with optional guidance in open labs. You will receive feedback on your visualizations from your peers and, in turn, you will learn how to analyze and constructively critique their visual stories through practice.
Class format: You will receive lectures and demos on a wide range of tools or techniques, from infographics and mapmaking with GIS to games and other interactive digital formats. You will independently create a range of visualisations and other digital stories, which will be peer-reviewed by your classmates, giving you a chance to revise and improve them for your portfolio submission. These will form the basis of your portfolio submission, where you will demonstrate the breadth of your digital skills and your ability to reflect critically on your own work.
Course objectives
At the end of this course you will be able to:
*Describe and implement the basic theories and practices of digital design
*Analyse and critique visualizations and be able to effectively receive feedback on your own visualizations.
*Recognise and recall key data visualisation techniques and terminology
*Create and reflect on original items of digital design
*Participate in class discussions related to datafication and society
### Timetable
The timetables are avalable through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Assessment method
Assessment
Multiple choice test on course literature and lectures
A peer-graded visual portfolio
A critique of a digital story of your choice
Weighing
Test (30 percent of grade)
Portfolio (40 percent of grade)
Participation in class discussion and peer review (10 percent)
Critique (20 percent of grade)
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. The grades for the test, portfolio and critique have to be at least a 5.5.
Resit
Students who have scored an overall insufficient grade for the course may take a resit the test, portfolio and/or critique.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
To be announced.
Registration
General information about registering for courses and exams can be found here.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Reuvensplaats.
Remarks
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