Basic informatics and digital humanities

Learning outcomes

The course aims to guide the student in learning the basic theoretical concepts of computer science, with an eye also to recent technological developments (Generative Artificial Intelligence, the metaverse, and extended reality). The student will grasp and become familiar with the methods of digital representation and the principles governing the production chain of digital objects in the humanities, with special attention to the world of the Web. In particular, the student will gain skills related to the complex process of conceiving, designing, and creating a website.

Course contents

Computers and computational thinking; algorithms and computability, notes on Artificial Intelligence and robotics; programming languages, computer networks, the internet and how it works; representation and processing of digital information: markup, character encoding and formats, typography, text and multimedia; information technology in the Digital Humanities; online information searching; note on extended reality (augmented reality, virtual reality, 360° video) and the metaverse; hypertexts, the World Wide Web and its operation; basic Web languages: HTMLXNUMX and CSS, notes on using ChatGPT for code verification; project management plan and fundamentals of web interface design: information architecture and site map, responsive layout; frameworks/CMS for website construction.

Prerequisites

Knowing how to use the computer at a basic level.

Reading/Bibliography

The reference manual for theoretical matters is: M. Lazzari, Informatica Umanistica, III edizione, McGraw-Hill, Milano 2021 (available in the Library).

Additional teaching materials will be made available during the lessons.

Teaching methods

The lessons will have both theoretical and practical components, with the presentation of examples and hands-on laboratory exercises.
The lessons will take place in classrooms equipped with WiFi connection or in a computer lab with PCs connected to the Intranet and Internet.
Each theoretical lesson will always be complemented by a practical component: the use and critical analysis of available tools (websites, specific software, formal languages).

Assessment methods

The student must conceive, design, and develop a website. The website should be built on a CMS (as indicated during the lessons) or hosted on a free hosting system (as indicated during the lessons) and presented orally on the day of the exam.
Additionally, during the oral exam, questions will be asked about the theoretical concepts of Computer Science and Digital Humanities.
The evaluation of the website will be based on the following parameters:
• Analysis. Adequacy of analysis through appropriate conceptualization; target audience; effectiveness of architectural choices; quality of solutions adopted for effective communication at the user interface level and for dissemination; suitability of solutions for preservation and enhancement.
• Design. Quality of the project management plan based on: comprehensiveness of design points; completeness of individual project items; technical accuracy of the proposed plan; ability to describe the project using specialized terminology.
• Implementation. Appropriateness of proposed solutions; quality of information architecture; usability of the developed resource; quality of the preservation plan devised; effectiveness of the enrichment strategies proposed and implementable.
These three parameters will be used to determine if the submitted proposal is inadequate (does not meet any of the three parameters), satisfactory (meets only one/two parameters), good (meets all three parameters), or excellent (adds to the three parameters a personal elaboration capability).