This page has two parts (1) the breakdown used for assessment in this course and (2) course policies.

Students will have the opportunity at midterm to renegotiate this breakdown collectively and with the instructor.

  • COURSE REQUIREMENTS / ASSESSMENT:
  • Blog Roll (30%) There will be writing assignments approximately every two to three weeks (6 total,e. 5% per post, the worst grade will be dropped, 300-500 words each). The format for this will be a blog roll. They will be either reflective pieces on a conceptual issue that has arisen in class or a report or review about a project or experiment carried out. The purpose of these to learn to communicate ideas in the open and to develop a voice for researching blogging.  Students will learn how to install WordPress.org, to choose an appropriate themes and plugins, and to embed their digital work within a public blog. I encourage you to write one of these blog postings in a language other than English, if you feel comfortable doing so, and reflect on how it impacts your use of platforms.
  • Participation (10%) I expect participation from all enrolled in the course. This course will require students to experiment with new digital environments and to be willing to try and perhaps fail at first. Between the course meetings, students may have to investigate a problem to learn how to do it themselves— taking initiative will be rewarded. In addition, helping out fellow students and fostering a collaborative spirit in the classroom will be rewarded. A laptop will be essential for almost every session.  Participation will be assessed by the extent to which the students have prepared for in-class discussion and are ready to address the readings.  See the Values of Digital Humanities page for the general ethos.
  • Open Content Creation (10%) Students will create visual data for publication in Wikimedia Commons. 
  • Mini-Project 1—collective: (20%) Students will co-curate a web-based narrative based on Lorimer’s Gazetteer, focusing on one particular thematic element of the text.
  • Mini-Project 2—individual: (30%) Each student will curate a web-based exhibit about a topic of their own choice remixing open online cultural data. This can be thought of as a kind of “web-based research paper.”

COURSE POLICIES:

Attendance and participation: Attendance and participation in class will be an essential part of the final grade. If you do not attend regularly you should also expect a low participation grade. The same is true if you do not bring your books/devices or if you regularly arrive late.

Attendance Policy: The course is based on regular, progressive exercises. It is required for students to attend. A maximum of three absences in the semester is allowed, but not suggested. After this point, the instructor reserves the right to remove the students from the class.

Device policy: Devices are allowed, even encouraged, in the course since they provide multiple points of access to information in our age. In general, this does not mean a phone. It is very desirable to come with a tablet or laptop. Sometimes a tablet will not provide us with the functionality we need and the instructor will tell you to bring a laptop. You should not text, chat or post in class. You should close applications that are not class related. In the case of some exercises and/or assessment you will be asked to close or put away your devices. Device abuse may require the instructor to revise this policy.

Integrity: Academic integrity and honesty are central components of a student’s education. Ethical conduct maintained in an academic context will be taken eventually into a student’s professional career. Academic honesty is essential to a community of teachers and learners. Anything less than total commitment to honesty undermines the efforts of the entire academic community.  NYU Abu Dhabi expects its students to adhere to the highest possible standards of scholarship and academic conduct. Students should be aware that engaging in behaviors that violate the standards of academic integrity will be subject to review and may face the imposition of penalties in accordance with the procedures set out in the NYUAD policy.