About

ANP412: Method and Practice in Digital Heritage provides students with a robust, hands on introduction to the range of digital methods and computational approaches that are deployed in the domain of heritage for the purposes of documentation, site and collections management, public engagement and outreach, preservation, and research. The course pays particular attention to both the practical methods and ethical implications of digital heritage practice

D2L

We won’t be using D2L that much for class.  All of your assignments are done online (the course website) or submitted in digitally, so there is nothing to “hand in” on D2L.  Also, all of the course announcements & discussions that you might normally find on D2L happen on  Mattermost (see below)  — which is why you will always need to keep you eye on Mattermost (ie. turn notifications on ASAP) .  The only real thing that we’ll be using D2L for is the class gradebook.  You’ll be able to use it to see your grades (if you see something amiss with your grades, be sure to email me ASAP)

GUIDELINES FOR USING MATTERMOST

This semester, we’re going to use Mattermost as a primary way of talking out of class, sharing information, announcements, etc.  You find a neat tool or project?  Post it.  You have a question about something?  Post it.  Can’t figure something out? Post it.  While there will be a channel for “official course announcements,” students should treat Mattermost as a commons where everyone has the right to post/talk about course related stuff.  If you’ve used Slack or Microsoft Teams, Mattermost will be familiar to you. You can access it through the web or use one of their desktop or mobile applications.

To join the course Mattermost team, just visit the signup link that was sent to your MSU email address. Make sure you turn notifications on – I’ll be using Mattermost for announcements instead of email.

Some guidelines for using Mattermost for class:

  • Because Mattermost is going to serve as our primary method of class communication, you need to check it regularly – install the mobile and desktop app.  You almost must turn notifications on.  This way, you’ll know when something new is posted.  The onus is on students to check in regularly.
  • Be respectful and thoughtful with your posts/discussions.  I’ll come down pretty hard on people who are being disrespectful, racist, misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic, etc.  Seriously, don’t be a dick and everything will be ok.  
  • the #random channel is just that….a place to post random stuff.  go crazy.  
  • This is our space…not just a way for me to shout announcements at you.  Own it.  Ask for help, help other people, don’t be shy, etc.

ASSIGNED TEXTBOOKS & READINGS

There is no required textbook for this class.  Instead, electronic readings (mostly journal articles)  will be assigned throughout the semester. Many of the online readings will be available through the MSU Library Electronic Resources System. Refer to the Schedule for reading assignments.  If you are off campus and are having trouble getting access to the readings, ping Ethan on Mattermost or email him.  

It is extremely important to remember that all readings are mandatory for the class, and must be completed.

DUE DATES & SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS

Due dates are not negotiable. All assignments are to be submitted on their specific due date (refer to weekly schedule for exact due dates) If you know ahead of time that you are going to be away from a computer with an assignment is due, it is your responsibility to submit it before the due date if you don’t want to be penalized.

Only under serious circumstances will students be allowed to submit assignments after the due date without being penalized. Students who do not submit any of their assignments will be docked 15% for each 24 hour period for which it is late.

Department of Anthropology Undergraduate Learning Goals

By the time they graduate, all MSU Department of Anthropology undergraduate majors should be able to:

  • Demonstrate how communities differently construct systems of knowledge about the natural and social world
  • Demonstrate in-depth understanding of a culture other than their own
  • Explain cultural and biological diversity across time and space
  • Recognize and explain connections between local events/contexts and global dynamics
  • Connect actions of individuals to societal norms and social structure

They should able be able to:

  • Locate, extract, and evaluate data from multiple sources
  • Apply appropriate methods to collect data in at least one subfield (field or lab work)
  • Apply appropriate methods to analyze data in at least one subfield
  • Apply appropriate methods for presenting what they have learned to an audience
  • Construct an argument using evidence/critical analysis
  • Identify and Demonstrate ethical research standards

In order to ensure these learning goals are being met, all Department of Anthropology undergraduate majors will build and submit a portfolio of their work as part of ANP 489: Anthropology Capstone (which is usually taken in the fall semester of a student’s senior year).  This portfolio will ask students to identify and include assignments and learning experiences that meet specific learning goals (the full list can be found here).  As such, Department of Anthropology undergrad majors should save copies of all the work they produced during their undergrad career.

Assignments from ANP 412: Method & Practice in Digital Heritage could meet a number of Department of Anthropology Undergrad Learning Goals (and, as such, can be used in the ANP 489: Anthropology Capstone portfolio assignment).

Please note, this only applies to Anthropology majors.

GRIEF ABSENCE

Students seeking a grief absence should be directed to the Grief Absence Request Form found on the RO home page (https://reg.msu.edu/) under ‘Student Services – Grief Absence Request Form’ OR to StuInfo (https://stuinfo.msu.edu/) under ‘Academics – Enrollment Information and Services – Grief Absence Request Form.’ Students will be asked to supply information on the nature of the loss, the date they became aware, and the expected period of absence. Once completed, the information is routed to the Assoc. Dean of the student’s college and must be received prior to the student leaving campus. The student will receive a confidential message confirming the submission and reminding them that supporting documentation must be provided and who to send it to. In addition, the appropriate dean’s office will be notified that a request has been submitted. Once the appropriate administrator has either approved or denied the request, the student will again receive a confidential message notifying them of the decision of the dean’s office. If approved, instructors will be notified by the appropriate dean’s office of the period of absence. Instructors are expected to arrange for students to make up the missed work.

RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE POLICY

Michigan State University is committed to the value of inclusion and it has always been our policy to permit students, faculty and staff to observe holidays set aside by their chosen religious faiths. As of Spring Semester 2023, MSU has implemented a revised Religious Observance Policy. Students who miss class, assignments, or exams to observe a religious holiday must be accommodated in ways that include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1.  Professors and instructors should make every effort to avoid scheduling exams and oral presentations during the major holidays of religions on campus (Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc.). If a professor has scheduled such an exam or oral presentation, exams must be reasonably rescheduled without academic penalty.
  2. Absences may not be counted as a missed class in any course in which attendance is a measure of academic performance.
  3. Reasonable extensions of time must be given, without academic penalty, for missed assignments; students must be allowed to schedule presentations around such absences. Make-up work should be appropriate and not more difficult than the original assignment.
  4. It is the responsibility of those students who need to be absent to inform their instructor at least two weeks before the holiday, make arrangements in advance with their instructors, and to catch up on any material discussed and assignments given during that class period. Accommodations must never fundamentally alter an essential requirement of the course or academic program.

To support implementation of these requirements, the Office of the Provost maintains a Religious Observance Calendar resource webpage to identify major religious observation days.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

In accordance with Michigan State University’s policies on “Protection of Scholarship and Grades” and “Integrity of Scholarship and Grades,” students are expected to honor principles of truth and honesty in their academic work. Academic integrity means, amongst other things, not plagiarizing. Plagiarism includes submitting someone else’s work (words, ideas, etc.) as their own now will the knowingly permit another student to copy and submit their work. Additional discussion of academic integrity is available on the Ombudsman’s website: http://www.msu.edu/unit/ombud/dishonestystud.html.

DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR

Article 2.3.5 of the Academic Freedom Report (AFR) for students at Michigan State University states: “The student’s behavior in the classroom shall be conducive to the teaching and learning process for all concerned.” Article 2.3.10 of the AFR states that “The student has a right to scholarly relationships with faculty based on mutual trust and civility.” General Student Regulation 5.02 states: “No student shall . . . interfere with the functions and services of the University (for example, but not limited to, classes . . .) such that the function or service is obstructed or disrupted.

Students whose conduct adversely affects the learning environment in this classroom may be subject to disciplinary action through the Student Faculty Judiciary process.”

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities may be made by contacting the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at 517-884-RCPD or on the web at rcpd.msu.edu. Once your eligibility for an accommodation has been determined, you will be issued a verified individual services accommodation (“VISA”) form. Please present this form to me at the start of the term and/or two weeks prior to the accommodation date (test, project, etc).

LIMITS TO COURSE CONFIDENTIALITY

Essays, journals, and other materials submitted for this class are generally considered confidential pursuant to the University’s student record policies. However, students should be aware that University employees, including instructors, may not be able to maintain confidentiality when it conflicts with their responsibility to report certain issues to protect the health and safety of MSU community members and others. As the instructor, I must report the following information to other University offices (including the Department of Police and Public Safety) if you share it with me:

  • Suspected child abuse/neglect, even if this maltreatment happened when you were a child,
  • Allegations of sexual assault or sexual harassment when they involve MSU students, faculty, or staff, and
  • Credible threats of harm to oneself or to others.

These reports may trigger contact from a campus official who will want to talk with you about the incident that you have shared. In almost all cases, it will be your decision whether you wish to speak with that individual. If you would like to talk about these events in a more confidential setting you are encouraged to make an appointment with the MSU Counseling Center.

REPORTING NON-ATTENDANCE

In compliance with federal regulations governing financial aid and veterans education benefits, instructors are required to report students who stop attending or who have never attended class. After the first week of classes, through the middle of the term of instruction, instructors who identify a non-attending student should notify their departmental office. Upon receiving a report of non-attendance, departmental representatives are encouraged to initiate an administrative drop.

Attendance is defined as physical attendance or participation in an academically-related activity, including but not limited to the submission of an assignment, an examination, participation in a study group or an online discussion. Instructors who do not take attendance may utilize key assessment points (e.g. projects, papers, mid-term exams, and discussions) as benchmarks for participation.

DROP FOR NON-ATTENDANCE

Students may be dropped from a course for non-attendance by a departmental administrative after the fourth class period, or the fifth class day of the term of instruction, whichever occurs first.

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