Aims

The module aims to provide:

1. An introduction to digital communication practices in Cultural Organisations and Institutions (with emphasis on Museums, Galleries, Archives, Art and Heritage organisations).
2. An introduction on how cultural organisations (e.g. museums, archives, art organisations, performance groups, heritage community organisations etc.) use digital storytelling to create, appropriate and communicate cultural stories, content and expressions on digital platforms and networks.
3. Skills and experience necessary for understanding and analysing the use of digital technologies for communication purposes among cultural organisations from a theoretical, empirical and professional perspective.
4. An introduction to digital cultural audience segmentation.
4. Familiarity with current debates and theory about digital cultural communication, participation, engagement and active citizenship.
5. The opportunity to reflect on how digital tools and platforms affect the representation of contested cultural knowledges, histories and indigenous cultures in the digital realm.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module focuses on how cultural organisations (such as museums, archives, art and performance organisations, theatres, heritage community groups etc.) mobilise digital platforms, tools and practices to engage with a variety of audiences.

The module critically discusses key digital communication theories related to communication practices in cultural organisations; the types of audiences that engage with cultural sector organisations digitally and their motivations; and how value is generated in the cultural sector through digital communication. Furthermore, the module uses examples and practical activities to explore different forms of digital storytelling and how cultural organisations create, appropriate and communicate cultural content.

The module aims to encourage students to consider the challenges and opportunities of digital communication for cultural organisations. It uses a range of contemporary and historical digital communication examples, case studies and international online projects (from museums, art, heritage, performance and cultural organisations) to inspire students to explore how cultural organisations use digital communication to share knowledge, make cultural goods accessible, promote culture and support audience participation and engagement.

Teaching and learning activities will include a variety of topics, such as:

--current theoretical approaches to digital cultural communication for the cultural sector;
--digital audience segmentation and audience motivations to engage with cultural organisations through digital means;
--debates and practices around cultural value and ownership of digital cultural content;
--cultural digital crowdsourcing;
--issues related to the representation of indigenous knowledge(s) and hidden (hi)stories on digital platforms; and,
--how AI and environmental sustainability debates impact digital communication in cultural organisations.

The module includes design workshops and practitioners' talks, i.e. contributions from cultural sector professionals with experience in digital communication, engagement and programming, who will introduce real-life case studies to the class.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures: This is a teaching method to introduce students to the core content for this module and real-life case studies by external speakers, to achieve all of the knowledge learning outcomes.

Module talk: This teaching method will be used to introduce the module and brief students about assessment.

Lecture materials: This is a teaching methods to introduce students to focused content related to the knowledge learning outcomes of specific sessions and to help students to prepare for and extend the on-campus learning.

Small-group teaching: This teaching method is intended to allow students to consolidate knowledge learning outcomes and to meet the skills outcomes through critically applying their new knowledge. It also allows students to practice all of the skillsets within the Graduate Skills Framework.

Workshops: This method will enable students work in small groups to tackle small-scale design problem relating to the topic of the module. It will help students to develop the intended skills outcomes of the module.

Directed research and reading activities: This teaching method enables students to prepare for small group teaching and workshops by undertaking structured guided study.

Independent study: This method encourages students to deepen their knowledge outcomes and to practice all skills outcomes, as well as applying cognitive/intellectual, self-management and interaction skills in particular.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The first assessment is a case study analysis, written in up to 1,000 words. The case study should be from a recent relevant example of a digital cultural communication project, initiative, activity, intervention by a cultural sector organisation. The case study should be chosen by the student and be publicly available and clearly relating to the themes of the module as well as the theories. Examples and advice in the choice of case study will be provided by the module leader.

The second assessment involves the writing of a 2,600-word essay to be selected from a list of questions relating to key topics and themes addressed on the module. All essay questions require students to engage and research real-life examples connected to the topic.

Critical and analytical thinking will be assessed across both assessments, as will academic research, synthesis of evidence and writing and referencing skills.