Contact information

E-mail: cevans@nvcc.edu or charles.t.evans@gmail.com
Office phone: 703.948.7701
My college home page: www.ctevans.net/College.html
My history projects: www.ctevans.net/
NOVA Online telephone: 703.323.3347 (1.888.435.6822)

Introduction

In this course, we will examine some of the major developments in the practice of history in the past decade or so, and study the methods, theories and practices of digital history. There are current and emerging digital technologies that are changing the time-honored methods of doing history, and those are what we will be studying. Some topics and issues that will be look at include: (1) different kinds of digital expression used by historians, (2) the impact of social media and web 2.0 tools on the discipline of history, (3) some basic website creation and design issues, (4) teaching and learning issues regarding digital tools, and (5) conceptual issues regarding the use of historical artifacts. There are a number of assignments in the course, including a student project centered on the creation of a digital history resource using primary source materials. More formally, I might say that

This course will explore the development of the field of digital history and examine the impact of digital media on the research, writing, teaching and presentation of history. It also introduces students to issues in digital history such as copyright, intellectual property, information abundance, and how the web has changed the relationship between historians and their audience. Students will also learn how digital tools and resources are enabling new methods of historical analysis and presentation.

Textbook

Digital History: A Guide to Gathering, Preserving, and, Presenting the Past on the Web, by Dan Cohen and Roy Rosenzweig. Although this "text" was written quite a few years ago, Roy was one of the earliest pioneers in the field of digital history. Way back in 1994, his unique, hypertext history "textbook," Who Built America, appeared (coauthored by Stephen Brier and Joshua Brown). This was an innovative attempt to combine text, video, audio and images in a digital, hypertext format. Roy was also the founder of the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University. There are some alternative textbooks that we will take a look at in the course.

Course general purpose

This course will explore the development of the field of digital history and examine the impact of digital media on the research, writing, teaching and presentation of history. It also introduces students to issues in digital history such as copyright, intellectual property, information abundance, and how the web has changed the relationship between historians and their audience. Students will also learn how digital tools and resources are enabling new methods of historical analysis and presentation.

Course objectives

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to

• Explain the evolution, key concepts and practices of digital history.
• Evaluate and use digital tools, resources and social media to support emerging and traditional methods in the practice of history.
• Demonstrate knowledge of copyright and intellectual property issues and be able to properly apply intellectual property requirements to the creation and use of digital historical materials.
• Create a digital historical project using primary source materials that makes use of research skills appropriate and necessary in the digital age.
• Show computer competency in history-specific skills necessary for successful transfer or employment.
• Manipulate and interpret digital historical materials such as maps, databases and statistics.

Course prerequisites and expectations

• It is preferable but not mandatory that a student has successfully completed a history survey or elective course before enrolling in HIS 218.
• It is expected that students possess college-level reading and writing skills.
• You should also have relatively good technology and web-use skills.  Please check NOVA Online's SmarterMeasure to see if you are ready for distance learning.
• I would recommend that you reserve at least three (and probably more) hours a week of study time for this course.
• In addition to keeping up with the readings on a weekly basis, you must complete the required course assignments, exams and final project as required per the course schedule deadlines. It is especially important that you stay current with your blog postings.

Course drop, withdrawal and incomplete policies

• See the information in the Canvas course syllabus.
• Check your specific Critical Course Deadlines. These dates can be found on the NOVA Online home page, and they are also indicated on your course schedule. Please make a note of these important dates.
  • You must withdraw before the Last Refund Date to receive a full tuition refund. This is also the last day to change your grade status to audit.
  • In unit 1, you must submit your introduction paragraph by your First Assignment Due Date to avoid being administratively deleted from the course without a refund.
  • Your Last Withdrawal Date is the last date on which you can withdraw yourself from the course without grade penalty.
  • You must complete all course assignments by your official course End Date.
• For an Incomplete grade in the course, you must earn 500 points, pass the midterm exam and explain the extenuating circumstances for the incomplete request.
• Take appropriate action now if you will not be able to take your exams at a NVCC campus testing center. You will need to set up proctored examinations. You may also use ProctorU to take your exams on your home computer. See the information about exams on your Canvas syllabus.
• Please note that your enrollment in this course is subject to NOVA Online policies and procedures. You may wish to review these now.
• Students are responsible for knowing and following college policies in the Student Handbook.

Proviso about the course and permanence in the digital world

Things change fast in the digital world, and this syllabus can change pretty quickly too. I try and keep up with software and tools as they appear, but sometimes I miss things. Please send me any changes/additions that you think would be useful to the course topics and schedule.

Course videos

You can find the videos for the course units on YouTube and sometimes on ItunesU for NVCC (look for HIS 295). These can also change as I add more materials or alter assignments.

Course grading

Course grades are based on the following point scale:

• 1,000-900:  A
•    899-800:  B
•    799-700:  C
•    699-600:  D
•    599-000:  F

Make sure that you check the very IMPORTANT Explanation of Assignments and Grading, which has information about grading in the course. There are Special Course Grading Requirements that you must meet to successfully pass the course.

Links to course assignment schedules

a typical eight-week schedule

Each week of your schedule will list the course units and assignments that you are required to complete that week. Each course unit will list what you are required to read and submit for that unit. Each unit will also usually have some extra material that you may look at and some possible extra credit work that you can complete. Please make sure that you check out all the linked information for each course unit.

Please make sure that you double-check your official course registration to verify the specific section of the course that you signed up for.

You are expected to make regular and steady course progress by completing your assignments and exams on time. Please check your Canvas gradebook for your grades and feedback. You can always finish faster than your course schedule. Once you begin this course, it is your responsibility to withdraw. If you do not withdraw and if you do not finish your course assignments, then you will receive an "F."

Submitting assignments

You must submit all of your assignments and extra credit through Canvas. See the Submitting Assignments in Your NOVA Online History Course instructions. (No more than one item per calendar day will be accepted.) Feedback on your work will be posted to the Canvas gradebook, usually within 24-48 hours. You should follow the same directions if you are resubmitting an assignment.

When you have any questions about the course or your assignments or when you want to send a draft of an assignment for informal feedback, please contact your instructor by email using your student email account.

Using Canvas

Canvas is used to support the course.

Contacting your instructor

Find your instructor's name and contact information at the top of this page and also when you log into your course on Canvas. If you have any communication problems, please contact Professor Charles Evans, cevans@nvcc.edu, professor of history at the Loudoun campus.

Plagiarism, cheating and student conduct

NOVA does not tolerate academic dishonesty. See the information on the Canvas course syllabus (also known as the college's Academic Integrity Policy).

Please make sure that you read the course policy on plagiarism and cheating. You are expected to abide by the student conduct provisions of the college's student handbook, and it is expected that you will be courteous in all conversations and assignments in this course.

Writing in the course

Proper grammar, spelling and style are an inherent part of each assignment in this course, and please check Charlie's History Writing Center for more information about specific writing style expectations. (You can also watch the short YouTube video about the center.)