This course is designed to introduce students to the language and application of digital and IT tools for the conservation, enhancement, and dissemination of cultural heritage and related activities. The programme equips students with both cultural and technical skills for addressing the challenges of innovation and seizing the opportunities offered by information technology and digitalisation. It prepares graduates in the humanities to play an active role in shaping innovative cultural and creative organisations, within a context where digital transition can be considered a strategic lever for the advancement of humanistic knowledge.
The course offers an overview of the main ICT languages and tools available to the humanist in the field of knowledge management and enhancement, oriented towards conservation, production and enjoyment in the fields of literature and art. The course aims to cover the basic concepts on systems and technologies of digital representation of content, the main productivity tools, the evolutionary scenarios and relevant case studies from real applications in artistic contexts and for cultural heritage.
The course is designed to provide humanities students with a shared conceptual framework and foundational skills for engaging with technological and digital innovation processes within cultural and creative disciplines. Its overarching aim is to contribute to the training of professionals capable of interacting effectively with technical specialists and experts in digital transition, and of participating in the development of innovative strategies within the knowledge sector. Teaching combines cross-disciplinary lectures on the digitalisation of cultural heritage with thematic in-depth sessions and case study analysis. A group or individual project work enables students to experiment with open-access digital tools and to apply theoretical concepts in practice. The general purpose of the course is articulated into four key objectives, which students develop throughout the lectures and which are assessed through two examination components: an online test and a project work submission (described below). First Objective: Acquisition of basic vocabulary and understanding of fundamental notions and concepts relating to information and digital technologies. The programme includes lectures on ICT languages and data representation for the humanities. Second Objective: Ability to critically analyse complex scenarios concerning the digitalisation of cultural heritage and innovation in cultural organisations. This aspect is addressed through the study of specific topics and case studies where digital technologies serve the knowledge production and transfer. Achievement of the first two objectives will be assessed through the online test. Third Objective: Development of design skills for creating innovative digital solutions tailored to the cultural and creative sector. This competence will be fostered through the project work, employing open-access tools and visual design methodologies such as the Business Model Canvas and the Mission Model Canvas. Fourth Objective: Enhancement of soft skills, including teamwork, problem-solving, and project management. The coherence and feasibility of the project work, together with the students’ ability to apply theoretical concepts to the design process, will serve to assess the achievement of these additional objectives.
Expected Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
This course does not require advanced technical skills; however, a basic familiarity with common digital tools and social media, as well as an understanding of cultural and humanistic contexts, is recommended. Students should demonstrate curiosity about digital technologies and an interest in innovation dynamics within the cultural sector. The ability to work collaboratively and to approach complex problems with critical thinking will be considered an asset. No programming skills are required.
Classes will be held in person and organised into thematic sections, each comprising:
Guidelines for Students with Special Needs
Students with special educational needs and working students are strongly encouraged to contact the teacher at the start of the course, to agree on personalised arrangements for learning and assessment. Accessible tools and resources, tailored to specific requirements, will be detailed on the Aulaweb platform.
Guidelines for Attending and Non-Attending Students
Both attending and non-attending students will follow the same programme for the theoretical and practical components.
The course is structured into 10 sections, combining theoretical foundations, case study analysis, and practical activities.
Overview of topics covered (with indication of sections for students enrolled in the 6 ECTS and 9 ECTS tracks):
Additional materials will be made available on the Aulaweb platform.
Ricevimento: Teacher: Monica Bruzzone Where: Department of Economics (DIEC), Via Vivaldi 5 – First Floor Book your appointment: monica.bruzzone@economia.unige.it Online option: In exceptional cases, meetings can be held via Microsoft Teams. Please note: Both in-person and on-line appointments must be scheduled in advance by email.
MONICA BRUZZONE (President)
RENATA DAMERI
ANDREA PAOLINI (Substitute)
Lessons will start on 20th February 2024.
https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/index.php?view=easycourse&_lang=it&include=corso
The examconsists of two components, both mandatory for all students, whether attending or non-attending (specific organisational details are provided below):
Note: Students with special educational needs are encouraged to contact the instructor at the beginning of the course to agree on personalised examination arrangements.
Attending students:
Students will develop the project during the semester and present their results in the concluding seminar (Section 10). They may further refine the work for submission at the examination session.
Non-attending students:
Students will agree on the project topic with the instructor, present and discuss their work during the oral examination, and submit all materials in digital format no later than five days before the scheduled exam date.
Guidelines and templates for both attending and non-attending students will be provided on the Aulaweb platform.
Further details, useful links, and organisational announcements will be provided on the Aulaweb platform. Students are encouraged to participate actively in discussions and to take advantage of the networking opportunities offered by the course.
