Portland State University
HST 409/509: History & the World Wide Web

Description: In this public history seminar students will explore the various ways in which history professionals including academic historians, public historians, history teachers, and historians at cultural institutions utilize Internet technology in research, teaching, and the dissemination of historical material. Students will engage in an intellectual study of the intersections of history work and the world wide web, and will produce their own web-related products.

Course Goals:
To think critically about the Internet and its applications.
To gain an appreciation for how historians and cultural workers have used Internet technology in all aspects of their work.
To develop useful web-related products.

Course Objectives:
Students will become familiar with technical and design aspects of the Internet.
Students will hone skills that allow them to critically use historical materials on the web.
Students will become familiar with the kinds of history-related resources available to them on-line.
Students will enter into an academic conversation regarding the uses of technology in historical research, teaching, and dissemination.

On-Line History Resources:
Public History Resource Center
History Matters: The U.S. Survey on the Web
H-Net: Humanities and Social Sciences On-Line
The Journal for Multimedia History
Center for History and New Media
Center for Columbia River History

Technical Resources:
U.S. Copyright Office
Web Style Guide
HTML Tutorials

 

Assignments

Reading Summaries - Summarize each reading in one or two paragraphs. These summaries are due in class the day we are discussing the articles. You should also write up several discussion questions based upon your readings. (worth a total of 20%)

Individual Presentation and Review - Each student will review one historical website that we haven't reviewed as a class and present the site with a critique to the rest of the class. Reviews should be modeled on the criteria found on the Public History Resource Center site visited and discussed in class. Reviews should be between 3-5 pages in length.

Presentations are limited to twenty minutes and should briefly introduce the class to the site reviewed and its strengths and weaknesses. (20%)

Group Projects - Students will receive a group grade based upon the success of the final project and group presentations. This grade will be based upon the successful completion of work on deadline, the incorporation of revisions, and the professionalism of group presentations. (25%)

Final Paper - 10 double-spaced, typed pages. In this paper you are expected to review your participation in the group project, discuss the dynamics of the process, and explore the strengths and weaknesses of the final product. Conclude by analyzing what you learned from the reading materials, guest lectures and class discussions. (25%)

Participation - Students are expected to attend all classes on time and remaining for the entire class. In addition, students will be evaluated on their participation in class discussions. (10%)

To earn an A in this course:

Contribute to and take responsibility for leading class discussions with thoughtful comments and questions that are related to the materials or issues at hand.
Participate in group work in ways that are helpful to other class members and fulfill the goals of the project. Reliably produce thoughtful work.
Present information to the group that is well considered, analytical and thought-provoking. Participate by responding to the presentations made by others.
Papers exceed minimum requirements and are carefully written, proofread, and demonstrate analytical thought on the topic. The final paper must incorporate readings, class discussion, and any guest lectures.
Attend all classes.

For a B:

Contribute to class discussion be responding to questions regarding materials or issues at hand.
Participate in group work to fulfill the goals of the project. Consistently produce thoughtful work.
Presentations are thoughtful and well-prepared.
Papers fulfill the minimum requirements, are carefully written, proofread, and demonstrate analytical thought on the topic. The final paper must incorporate readings, class discussion, and any guest lectures.
Attend all but one class.

For a C:

Contribute to most class discussions.
Participate in group work to fulfill the goals of the project.
Presentations are thoughtful and well-prepared.
Papers fulfill the minimum requirements, are carefully written, proofread, and demonstrate analytical thought on the topic. The final paper incorporates some of the readings, class discussion, and any guest lectures.
Attend all but two classes.