COURSE DESCRIPTION AND APPLICATION INFORMATION

Course Name Code Semester T+A+L (hour/week) Type (C / O) Local Credit ECTS
Exploring the Past: Archives, Documents, and Digital History KHAS 1360 Fall 03+00+00 Elective 3 5
Academic Unit: Department of Common Courses – Core Program
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Prerequisites: None
Language of Instruction: English
Level of Course Unit: Undergraduate
Course Coordinator: - -
Course Objectives: Throughout the semester, we will explore fundamental concepts and methodologies employed by historians. Moreover, we will engage in critical analysis exercises of diverse historical sources, encompassing written texts, visual materials, oral testimonies, artifacts, and cultural sites. Additionally, we aim to cultivate proficiency in digital tools and techniques for historical inquiry, including data analysis and visualization methods. The course will also entail the practical application of digital tools and techniques for examining historical documents.
Course Contents: This course provides an introductory overview of the field of historical studies, focusing on key concepts such as the nature of history, the importance of archives and documents, and the methodologies for reading, analyzing, and interpreting historical sources. Additionally, from data analysis to data visualization techniques, students will learn how technology is revolutionizing the study of history, and they will have the opportunity to apply these techniques to the corpus of sources they will work with throughout the semester.
Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit (LO):
  • 1- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the nature and scope of historical studies, including key concepts and methodologies used by historians.
  • 2- Recognize the significance of archives and documents in historical research, and effectively locate, access, and utilize a variety of historical sources.
  • 3- Apply techniques for reading, analyzing, and interpreting historical documents, including written documents, visual materials, oral histories, artifacts, and cultural sites.
  • 4- Utilize digital methodologies in historical research, including data analysis and visualization techniques, and demonstrate proficiency in utilizing digital tools for historical analysis.
Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods: Lectures and discussions; Workshops on utilizing various sources and methods for historical analysis: Group activities and presentations; Digital tools, and software training; individual research projects.


WEEKLY SUBJECTS AND RELATED PREPARATIONS

WeekSubjectsRelated Preperation
1 Welcome and introduction
2 How to start thinking about history, archives and documents? Reading the relevant articles, completing the assigned tasks
3 Analyzing Historical Sources Reading the relevant articles, assigned historical documents for analysis
4 Visual Sources Reading the relevant articles, working on assigned sources
5 Oral Sources Reading the relevant articles, working on assigned sources
6 Everyday artifacts Reading the relevant articles, working on assigned sources
7 Cultural and heritage sites Reading the relevant articles, working on assigned sources
8 Urban space Reading the relevant articles, working on assigned sources
9 Digital methodologies in historical research: An overview Reading the relevant articles, completing the assigned tasks
10 Data Analysis Techniques Reading the relevant articles, completing the assigned tasks
11 Data Visualization Techniques Reading the relevant articles, completing the assigned tasks
12 Text Mining and Digital Text Analysis Reading the relevant articles, completing the assigned tasks
13 Final Project Presentation Finalizing presentation for the final project
14 Final Project Presentation Finalizing presentation for the final project


REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED READING

Each week, students will be provided with assigned articles and readings for the lectures.
In addition, there will be historical sources available for students to utilize during the classes.


OTHER COURSE RESOURCES

The students will receive digital tools and codes to complete the hands-on exercises.


ASSESSMENT METHODS AND CRITERIA

Semester RequirementsNumberPercentage of Grade (%)
Attendance / Participation 10 20
Project 1 35
Final Exam 1 45
Total: 12 100


WORKLOAD

EventsCountDuration (Hours)Total Workload (hour)
Course Hours14342
Project11414
Other Practices (seminar,studio critics,workshop, etc.)6212
Extra-Class Activities (reading,individiual work, etc.)14342
Final Exam11515
Total Workload (hour):125


THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (LO) AND PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS (PQ)

# PQ1 PQ2 PQ3 PQ4 PQ5 PQ6 PQ7 PQ8 PQ9 PQ10 PQ11
LO1                      
LO2                      
LO3                      
LO4