I would be interested in creating a course that combines tools and content, specifically for students of art history. I think we could do a better job of introducing digital tools and methods to undergraduate students, possibly by combining the content with the tool-set. I’d like to see a combination work/play session, where a group could come up with syllabus that could do this for maybe something as overarching an art history survey class or for maybe something as specific as a set of archival works. What digital tools would we introduce to the students and use within the class? How would be balance the technical learning with the reading materials? How much of the research methodology processes would need to be covered? This way students could be learning digital tools at the same time that they are learning about the content and theories that make up the discipline of art history.
Francesca, I’d love to be involved in this session and speak in advance if you’d like! I’m also a doctoral student, in Art History at Stanford, and I also work as a researcher for The Art Genome Project at Artsy.
Hi Francesca–I would love to participate in this session! The question of balancing content and tools is such an issue! I’m teaching a foundations course this year that introduces visual analysis/writing skills and art historical methodology that I think could benefit from the integrated approach you mention. I found many students lack basic technological skills and/or don’t recognize how digital tools can be used toward more critical and creative engagement with academic content.
Virgina, I’m so glad you are interested! I look forward to hearing more about how you have gone about putting your course together. I think we can all benefit from a discussion of the challenges and successes of these types of ventures in a classroom. Maybe we could even come up with a list of the various models that work for a syllabus that combines digital methods with art historical content?
Hi Ellen – I’d love to speak in advance! Please feel free to get in touch via email or twitter (@falbrezzi). Hope to hear form you soon.
Just a note: Francesca can’t make it to THATCamp CAA after all. Would anyone who’s commented here like to run this or a similar session? Sounds like people are very interested in talking about teaching with digital tools.