Creating an Interdisciplinary Minor in Digital Humanities

FAIN: AB-269212-20

Grambling State University (Grambling, LA 71245-2715)
James M. Clawson (Project Director: July 2019 to January 2024)
Edward Lawrence Holt (Co Project Director: October 2019 to January 2024)

A three-year curriculum development project that would create a new interdisciplinary minor in digital humanities.

Grambling State University's departments of English and History will design and implement a new interdisciplinary minor in Digital Humanities. Grant funding will go toward bringing outside expertise onto campus to train humanities faculty in interdisciplinary techniques and in pedagogy appropriate to the Digital Humanities during planning stages for the minor.

Associated Products

Grambling State University Inaugural Digital Humanities Workshop (Conference/Institute/Seminar)
Title: Grambling State University Inaugural Digital Humanities Workshop
Abstract: This five-day workshop, held from August 3rd-7th, 2020, will serve as an intensive introduction to Digital Humanities and an opportunity to develop learning activities for new and existing classes. Faculty from Grambling and all regional universities are encouraged to apply to participate.
Date Range: August 3rd-7th, 2020
Location: Grambling State University (Virtual)

Medicine and the Medici: Digital Humanities Tools and the Study of Thermal Water in Early Modern Tuscany (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Medicine and the Medici: Digital Humanities Tools and the Study of Thermal Water in Early Modern Tuscany
Abstract: Natural thermal springs dot the Tuscan landscape. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, the Medici grand dukes of Tuscany encouraged the use of these thermal waters as medical treatments and supported physicians who prescribed water cures and studied the mineral composition of the waters. This talk will explore the impact of Medici patronage on the development of chemistry and medical care in early modern Tuscany. By using patient stories gleaned from archival and medical documents, this talk will also discuss the challenges of conducting historical research and the effect digitization has had on methodology.
Author: Beth Petitjean
Date: 03/11/2021
Location: Grambling State University (Virtual)

Six Guiding Principles for Online Courses (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Six Guiding Principles for Online Courses
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many teachers into online classes for the first time. Although conditions are likely to improve, many faculty and students will continue to seek online learning opportunities. In this talk, Shawna Ross reports on the results of her recent research with Claire Battershill, which focuses on best practices in online teaching. Six general principles for transformative online teaching are shared, along with paired tables that recommend particular technologies or platforms for enacting these practices
Author: Shawna Ross
Date: 03/19/2021
Location: Grambling State University (Virtual)

History 375: Digital Methods for the Geospatial Analysis of the Past (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: History 375: Digital Methods for the Geospatial Analysis of the Past
Author: Edward Holt
Abstract: Upper-division course in Digital Humanities for History Department, Data Analytics Certificate, and Future DH Minor Digital Methods for the Geospatial Analysis of the Past develops a fundamental understanding of geospatial information management and analysis methods. The course will expose students to a variety of exemplary projects, applied methods, and tools for spatial history through which students will be able to define spatial problems and design solutions across a variety of disciplines.
Year: 2020
Audience: Undergraduate

English 375: Digital Methods for Literary Text Mining (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: English 375: Digital Methods for Literary Text Mining
Author: James Clawson
Abstract: Upper-division course in Digital Humanities for English Department, Data Analytics Certificate, and Future DH Minor For newspapers, social media, product reviews, and poetry, text is the medium of meaning. But its unstructured format demands unique strategies for bringing order to chaos: discovering general information, identifying distinctive details, recognizing topics or themes, and evaluating sentiment. In this project-based course, students will use tools and methods of data analysis to ask questions about texts and communicate the answers. Students will learn progressively complex applications of text data mining to understand the information that can be found within sets of documents. With special emphasis on literary texts, the course will also discuss and provide opportunities to study the relevance of text mining to fields like public health, business, science, and security.
Year: 2020
Audience: Undergraduate

Library Acquisition (Acquisitions/Materials Collection)
Name: Library Acquisition
Abstract: Purchased set of 5 digital humanities works for library and summer workshop participants. The works included: Archer, Jodie and Matthew Jockers. The Bestseller Code: The Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel (Macmillan, 2016). Brügger, Niels. The Archived Web: Doing History in the Digital Age (MIT Press, 2018). Crompton, Constance, Richard Lane, and Ray Siemans. Doing Digital Humanities: Practice, Training, Research (Routledge, 2016). Jackson, Sarah, Moya Bailey, and Brooke Foucalt Welles. #Hashtag Activism: Networks of Race and Gender Justice (MIT Press, 2020). Ross Shawna and Claire Battershill. Using Digital Humanities in the Classroom (Bloomsbury, 2017).
Director: Edward Holt
Director: James Clawson
Year: 2020

Grambling State University Digital Humanities Workshop (Conference/Institute/Seminar)
Title: Grambling State University Digital Humanities Workshop
Abstract: This four-day workshop, held from August 2rd-6th, 2021, will introduce instructors and librarians to techniques of digital spatial analysis in the Digital Humanities and to provide an opportunity to develop learning activities for new and existing classes. Over the coming week, we look forward to hearing from speakers who are working on groundbreaking digital projects, discussing daily topics through selected readings, and creating activities that can be implemented in the classroom. Faculty from Grambling and all regional universities are encouraged to apply to participate.
Date Range: August 2-August 6, 2021
Location: Grambling State University (Virtual)

Constellations: Limits and Inspirations of Mapping Queer Cities of Survival & Desire (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Constellations: Limits and Inspirations of Mapping Queer Cities of Survival & Desire
Abstract: Join us for the upcoming GSU’s Digital Humanities Seminar. Continuing on our fall focus topic of geospatial analytics, Dr. Jack Gieseking will present a talk on his research and a tutorial on the open-source QGIS mapping tool.
Author: Jack Gieseking
Date: 03/09/2022
Location: Grambling State University (Virtual)

Library Acquisition (Acquisitions/Materials Collection)
Name: Library Acquisition
Abstract: Purchased set of 3 digital humanities works for library and summer workshop participants. The works included: Engberg-Pedersen, Anders, ed. Literature and Cartography: Theories, Histories, Genres (MIT, 2017) Bodenhamer, David, John Corrigan, and Trevor Harris. Deep Maps and Spatial Narratives (Indiana University Press, 2015) Monmonier, Mark. How to Lie with Maps (University of Chicago Press, 1991)
Director: James Clawson
Director: Edward Holt
Year: 2021

Sound Bytes: Music History in the Digital Humanities (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Sound Bytes: Music History in the Digital Humanities
Abstract: Presentation on Music History, in particular cajun music, and various DH projects which explore it.
Author: Jessica Dauterive
Date: 10/22/2022
Location: Grambling Hall Auditorium

ENG 380: Electronic Literature (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: ENG 380: Electronic Literature
Author: James Clawson
Abstract: ENG 380: Electronic Literature introduces electronic literature in the context of existing and emergent literary canons. Covering the field from its beginning to the present day, the course will consider themes or methods such as hypertext, interactive fiction and poetry, narrative games, and network creations. In addition to studying existing works to understand their implications and impact, students in the course may also engage in creation of their own works of electronic literature.
Year: 2022
Audience: Undergraduate

HUM 275: Introduction to Digital Humanities (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: HUM 275: Introduction to Digital Humanities
Author: James Clawson
Author: Edward Holt
Abstract: HUM 275: Introduction to Digital Humanities introduces students to the study of the humanities using digital methods. The course includes consideration for contemporary digital culture, but emphasis is also placed on computer-aided study of long-established humanities materials
Year: 2022
Audience: Undergraduate

ENG 413: Online Writing (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: ENG 413: Online Writing
Author: Mica Gould
Abstract: ENG 413: Online Writing offers a practically oriented, conceptually based approach by which students can become more effective in written and multimodal publishing via digital and social media. Students develop an understanding of a broad range of topics concerning composing and publishing in digital spaces, internet writing genres, and composing on social media.
Year: 2022
Audience: Undergraduate

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