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HIS-20131 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

HIS-20131 - Digital Curation and History
Coordinator: Kristen Brill Tel: +44 1782 7 33201
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

Are you interested in learning how to display artefacts online and archive them digitally in order to capture and reveal their historical significance? Taught by historians, digital media specialists, and curators, this module develops your skills in historical interpretation and presentation for public and professional audiences. You’ll acquire techniques for collecting, organising, and preserving information; you’ll experiment with the best formats for storing and retrieving data; and you’ll address the ethics of access and representation in digital archives and websites.

Aims
This modules aims to develop students' understandings and applications of digital curation to the historical context, and in doing so, to appreciate how digital curation can amplify the impact of history to a wide range of audiences.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Collect and organize historical sources for public and professional audiences: 1,2
Interpret and interrogate material and visual culture for their historical significance: 1,2
Apply ethical considerations to the preservation and curation of information: 1,2

Study hours

Active learning hours (24):
2 hours per week of lecture, seminars and/or workshops = 24 hours
Independent learning hours (126):
Seminar Preparation: 70
Final team project preparation: 42
Individual reflective diary preparation: 14

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Group Assessment weighted 60%
Team Project
Working in small groups (i.e. 3-4 students), students will complete a digital curation project assigned by the tutor. Please see below for an indicative brief: *Curate a digital exhibition of at least ten objects with descriptions for the V&A Wedgwood Collection website on the transatlantic slave trade. Each description should be at least 200 words and include information on historical context and significance. You also need to justify your inclusion of the object in this collection and any limitations of this object. Students will be marked as individuals based on their prepared materials.

2: Reflective Diary weighted 40%
Individual Reflective Diary
Students will complete a 1,000-word reflective diary. Students will consider the below questions: 1. Which sessions were the most valuable for your student journey? Why? 2. How did the module develop your transferable skills? 3. How has the module changed your approach to planning for a career after graduation and/or your level 6 independent research project?

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026