Young people and learning: how digital technologies can redefine collection-based learning
This panel explored how digital platforms are being utilised to engage with young people and those in learning. From animating physical spaces to the use of onscreen platforms as a means of engagement, the panel considered the ways and means in which digital technology can add another layer of interpretation to collections and broaden their appeal.
EXPLORING COLLECTIONS ON THE GREAT MAP
Jennifer Ross, Imperial War Museum
FOUNDATION OF LIBERTY OR SCRIBBLE ON A PAGE? – [VIDEO]
Andrew Payne, The National Archives
CLICK, CONNECT, CONSTRUCT: USING PINTEREST TO CREATE DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT WITH COLLECTIONS AND YOUNG PEOPLE – [VIDEO]
Meghan Goodeve, The Courtauld Institute of Art & Gallery
DIGITAL STRATEGY: HOW TO PLAN FOR ENHANCED DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT
This panel explored the development of a digital strategy as a foundation for meaningful digital engagement with audiences, both new and established. Papers considered the development of a digital strategy at a service level, those aimed at a particular audience and those growing out of a major exhibition or event.
ENGAGING, SHARING AND REPORTING: DEVELOPING A STRATEGY FOR DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT – [VIDEO]
Joanna Terry, Staffordshire Archives and Heritage
A NEW AGE OF ENGAGEMENT
Lisa Snook and Victoria Bryant, Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service
#USEFUL? USING DIGITAL PLATFORMS AS AN ENGAGEMENT AND EVALUATION TOOL
Sarah Price, University of Durham
CREATING DIGITAL COMMUNITIES: BRINGING TOGETHER NEW GROUPS IN CONVERSATION
This panel explored three very different ways of working in partnership with communities to unlock the meaning of collections, tell new stories and develop new platforms for exchange.
GETTING TO KNOW OUR PLACE: BRISTOL RECORD OFFICE AND THE KNOW YOUR PLACE WEBSITE – [VIDEO]
Julian Warren, Bristol Record Office, and Nick Nourse, University of Bristol
DIGITAL VOICES, REAL LIVES – [VIDEO]
Caroline Brown and Jan Merchant, University of Dundee
RE-ANIMATING THE ARCHIVES – [VIDEO]
Alison Green, Central Saint Martins, and Birgitta Hosea, Royal College of Art
GAMIFICATION: USING EDUTAINMENT PLATFORMS TO REVEAL AND REINTERPRET COLLECTIONS
This panel explored how games and entertainment platforms can be used to bring collections to life and broaden their appeal to new audiences. The panel considered some of the creative challenges in developing such platforms and how they can make meaningful contributions to the interpretation of collections.
HULLCRAFT – BRINGING ARCHITECTURAL PLANS TO LIFE AND TO NEW AUDIENCES – [VIDEO]
Simon Wilson, Hull History Centre
ARCHIVISTS VS. GAME DESIGNERS? CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS AND THE MAKING OF ARCHIVAL GAMES – [VIDEO]
Nick Webber and Sian Vaughan, Birmingham City University
FUN AND GAMES WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH COLLECTIONS – [VIDEO]
Rachel Hosker and Claire Knowles, University of Edinburgh
DIGITAL COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY
This panel explored the means and mechanics of collaboration in producing a major digital resource. It explored the various motivations of partners, the benefits of working in partnership and the lessons learnt from undertaking such activities.
ARCHIVES+: ENGAGING WITH NEW AUDIENCES THROUGH PARTNERSHIP
Kevin Bolton, Archives+
DOING IT IN PUBLIC: COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY ARCHIVES AND DIGITAL STORYTELLING – [VIDEO]
Simon Popple, University of Leeds
COLLABORATING IN MEDICAL HISTORY: THE UK MEDICAL HERITAGE LIBRARY PROJECT – [VIDEO]
Stella Butler, University of Leeds, and Paola Marchionni and Alex Thomas, Jisc
CROWDSOURCING AND VIRTUAL VOLUNTEERING: UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF PEOPLE AND COLLECTIONS, WHEREVER THEY ARE
This panel explored the potential of online platforms to open up access to collections through crowdsourcing, virtual volunteering, and co-curation of online resources. It considered the ways of establishing online communities of active engagement and the democratisation of content creation and discovery these can bring.
HERITAGE HEROES: VIRTUAL VOLUNTEERING IN SHROPSHIRE AND ACROSS THE WORLD – [VIDEO]
Mary McKenzie, Shropshire Archives
GLASGOW UNIVERSITY’S ROLL OF HONOUR: CROWDSOURCED SINCE 1914 – [VIDEO]
Moira Rankin and Jennifer Novotny, University of Glasgow
THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT IMAGE RESOURCE – POTENTIAL AND PRACTICE ENVIRONMENT IMAGE RESOURCE
Sally Crawford, Katharina Ulmschneider and Victoria Brown, University of Oxford
VIRTUAL SPACES IN PHYSICAL PLACES: THE POSSIBILITY OF INTEGRATING ONLINE AND ONSITE EXPERIENCES
This panel examined the use of digital technologies to add new layers of interpretation and visitor interaction to physical spaces within exhibitions, galleries, and public spaces. The panel considered how technology can change curatorial practices, the visitor’s engagement with collections, and enliven spaces whose purpose and contents have been altered. The importance of ‘visitor agency’ was explored in the use and development of such technologies, as will the importance of cross-disciplinary partnerships.
ENHANCING ENGAGEMENT EXPERIENCES WITH BLENDED COLLECTIONS – [VIDEO]
Jenny Bunn, University College London, and Alexandra Eveleigh, University of Westminster
AUGMENTED REALITY IN EXHIBITION: A RIOT OF POSSIBILITIES? – [VIDEO]
Adrian Davies, Nottingham City Museums and Galleries, and Roma Patel, University of Nottingham
MERGING PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL IN NOVEL INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES OF HERITAGE
Luigina Ciolfi, Daniela Petrelli, Mark Marshall and Nick Dulake, Sheffield Hallam University
DIGITAL MATERIALITY: HOW TO CONVEY TOUCH, TONE AND TEXTURE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
This panel looked at three different ways in which archives and museums are attempting to convey non-textual qualities of items or objects. This included capturing the texture and depth of three-dimensional objects through digitisation and in-exhibition replication, and identifying the chemistry of individual collections and what this reveals about their creation.
SHINING LIGHT ON MANUSCRIPTS – [VIDEO]
Andy Beeby, Richard Gameson and Richard Higgins, Durham University, and Kate Nicholson, Northumbria University
FROM SOMERSET TO SHANGHAI: GIVING GLOBAL ACCESS TO THE DIGITISED HERITAGE COLLECTIONS OF C & J CLARK LTD – [VIDEO]
Natalie Watson, Alfred Gillett Trust
HAPTICS: DIGITAL TOUCH REPLICAS ADDING TOUCH TO DIGITAL
Sam Sportun, Manchester Museum
DIGITAL HUMANITIES
This session gave an overview of what makes Digital Humanities and digital scholarship unique beyond using Dropbox, PDFs, and other commonplace digital and online tools. It gave participants not only a definition of Digital Humanities but also practical examples of where and how these new digital techniques and forms of outputs are involving not only students and researchers but also the public in greater engagement with digital collections.
HERITAGE COLLECTIONS AND THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE DIGITAL HUMANITIES
Mike Mertens, DARIAH-EU
SUPPORTING DIGITAL STUDENT ENGAGEMENT THROUGH SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
Joanne Fitton and Sarah Prescott , University of Leeds
DIGITAL HERITAGE AT DMU – [VIDEO]
Katharine Short and Elizabeth Wheelband, De Montfort University
DISCOVERABILITY: THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
This panel explored the ways and means of enhancing the discoverability of collections through online search platforms. The panel considered the process of aggregating multiple catalogues into single ‘search destinations’ and the lessons to be learnt from factoring in the experience of end users in their design and development.
DISCOVERY: DEVELOPING A NATIONAL ARCHIVES’ CATALOGUE – [VIDEO]
Jonathan Cates, The National Archives
HELP! I NEED SOMEBODY: RESCUING USERS FROM THE DIGITAL CATALOGUE – [VIDEO]
Jo Pugh, University of York
THE HIT PARADE: THE ARCHIVES HUB’S TOP 10 FOR USER ENGAGEMENT – [VIDEO]
Jane Stevenson and Bethan Ruddock, Archives Hub
TECHNOLOGY AND MOBILE HERITAGE
This panel explored how mobile applications have been used to link physical and virtual spaces. It explored how the creation of apps enable new users to engage with collections, in new spaces, and to engage with the curatorial process. What are the challenges of creating and using such content? What benefits can an app bring? And what is the potential for visitor agency in their design, content and use?
LACOCK UNLOCKED: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FOX TALBOT – HOW A MOBILE PHONE ‘APP’ CREATED BY AND DESIGNED BY YOUNG PEOPLE IS BRINGING LACOCK’S HISTORY TO LIFE IN THE 21ST CENTURY – [VIDEO]
Claire Skinner, Wiltshire and Swindon Archives
VISITOR AGENCY, CRITICAL PLAY AND HISTORY FROM BELOW: RETHINKING MOBILE HERITAGE INTERPRETATION – [VIDEO]
Steve Poole, University of the West of England
YOUR ‘PERSONAL ART JOURNEY’ AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY – [VIDEO]
Mona Walsh and Matt Terrington, The National Gallery
IDENTIFYING OUR AUDIENCE: WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP TO DEVELOP A DIGITAL OFFER
This panel explored the ways in which different organisations are working with user groups, partners and communities to redefine what is meant by their ‘audience’ and how this relates to forms of digital engagement.
LETTING SPARKS FLY
John Coburn, Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums
COLLABORATIVE CONTENT AND COLLECTIONS
Yvette Jeal and Gwen Riley-Jones, University of Manchester