Delving into Massive Digital Archives - finding lost, forgotten and neglected texts (Guided Project)

New

Application forms https://www.cdh.cam.ac.uk/file/cdhdelvingintomassivedaapplicationdocx should be returned to CDH Learning (learning@cdh.cam.ac.uk) by Tuesday 6 October 2020. Successful applicants will be notified by Thursday 8 October 2020.

Massive digital archives such as the Internet Archive offer researchers tantalising possibilities for the recovery of lost, forgotten and neglected literary texts. Yet the reality can be very frustrating due to limitations in the design of the archives and the tools available for exploring them. This programme supports researchers in understanding the issues they are likely to encounter and developing practical methods for delving into massive digital archives.

This programme is open to graduate students and staff at the University of Cambridge. PhD students and Early Career Researchers have priority for the scheme, but applications from MPhil students are welcome to apply.

You will need to subscribe to the Internet Archive before the first practical workshop. This is free. You will need to enter an email address, a screen name and a password. https://archive.org/account/signup

• To develop an overview and critical understanding of text-based scholarship that has used digital recovery methods.
• To practise and further develop productive practical techniques for delving into massive digital archives.
• To consider critical and ethical perspectives on the nature of digital archives and the tools currently available for using them.

This programme aims to develop researcher knowledge, capacity and confidence in using massive digital archives for textual history research and recovery.

Online – Microsoft Teams and Moodle Seminars will consist of 20-25 minutes of tutor-led input and 20-25 minutes of discussion, covering key topics. Project development workshops will include activities offering different levels of structure, focus and independence so you can tailor the programme to your interests. In the designated office hours the tutor will be available to discuss comments, questions and project ideas. In the final, longer session participants will present some findings from their own mini projects.

You will need a laptop or other suitable device with a web browser and a stable internet connection. We will use the Cambridge University Microsoft Teams platform for the ‘live’ sessions – seminars and practical workshops. We will use the Cambridge University Moodle site for Office Hour discussion, peer-to-peer discussion and sharing course materials.

We have a limited number of places available for participants who want to gain hands-on experience by attending the full programme and completing a mini project. Participants selected for this project track will be expected to give a 4 minute reflective presentation in the final session. Depending on the number of applications we may also offer the option of joining the course by attending the seminar sessions only.