Proposal

Narrative

The establishment of a digital history classroom/laboratory is essential to FAU’s ability to offer a 21st-century History degree and stay competitive with university programs of similar size. It enables students to create databases for mapping or charting demographic change. It also allows students to work on the same platform simultaneously and removes any bias towards those who can’t obtain the equipment needed to complete class assignments. A lab would allow us to partner with local small museums and enhance internships by providing training in oral/video history, scanning and archiving collections, and 3-D manipulation of artifacts for use in a public setting. Students would practice their craft and broaden the university/community partnerships envisioned in the university’s Mission Statement and list of Values. The classroom/lab would also support Goals and Pillars that focus on achieving distinction in undergraduate research and the “innovative allocation of resources.” FAU’s History Department recently hired an assistant professor with expertise in digital history. In a competitive job market, a digital history lab is essential for training students for careers in historical societies, archives, libraries, businesses, etc. that increasingly rely on this technology. If funded, this lab will provide hands on learning to 350-400 students including about ten 20+ classes per semester. The lab would foster interdisciplinarity and collaboration by bringing together graphic designers and historians to make virtual digital products that put students right into the past. Geographers can help produce interactive historical maps, and engineers historical building reconstructions. Students can create online exhibitions, including those drawn from our own “Spirit of America” Collection. For all of these and the many other reasons students and faculty members are ready and eager to engage this new technology.

Facilities

The classroom/lab would be managed by FAU's Department of History. No renovations or upgrades are required.

Hardware Requirements

Dell Mobile Precision 5470 Laptop Computer ($2,079.00) 26 $ 54,054.00 (see attachment) Dell Premier Rechargeable Active Pen – PN7522W ($62.00) 30 $ 1,860.00 (see attachment) Dell Mobile Computer Cart Unmanaged CMPCT36 1 $ 2,023.00 (see attachment) Hardware equipment and Parts for Digital Classroom from OIT list $ 39,155.43 (see attachment) Lapel Microphones 6 $ 85.00 Tripods 6 $ 36.00 CD/DVD Drive 1 $ 79.00 Storage Unit 1 $ 400.00

Software Requirements

Software is Open Source, including Text Analyzer, Story Maps, ARCGis, Anaconda Distribution and affiliated program, TensorFlow, Gelphi, Palladio, NetworkX, Igraph, Cytoscape. ArcCatalog, ArcGlobe 10, ArcMap 10, Atlas.ti, IBM SSPS, Microsoft Office, Minitab 19, and R Studio. We may be able to share a GIS license with the Geosciences Department. In the future, any licensed software will be paid by course fees or by the History Department.

Personnel Costs

None

Other Costs

Electrical (Worx) $ 1,500.00 Telecom (Jade) $ 2,400.00 Installation Contractor Supplies $ 3,915.54 Installation Contractor Labor $ 11,746.83 See Hardware and Parts List attached

Timeline

If approved, the project would begin immediately with a proposed start-up date of June 1, 2023, with final project completion in July 2024.

Sustainability

Consumable (batteries, thumb drives, etc.) will be obtained through course fees and student course materials requirements, or purchased by the Department of History.

Resource Matching

Not applicable

Implementing Organization

The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters will implement the project. The classroom/lab would be managed by the Department of History. As with any classroom, the College IT staff would provide tech support.