FIT5206 - Digital continuity - 2017

Maintaining continuity in a digital data driven world is emerging as a key challenge for organisations, communities, governments and societies. Digital continuity is defined as the ability to use digital information in the way that is needed for as long as it is needed. It encompasses understanding the frameworks, principles, processes and technologies underpinning intergenerational system conceptualisation, design, development and implementation.

This unit will build on the introduction to digital/data curation provided in FIT5146. It will examine the laws, frameworks and policies for managing and preserving digital media and data as evidence and cultural heritage; access and appraisal strategies, policies and tools, metadata regimes for digital media and data archives; digital repository platforms, technologies, systems and tools; management of archival databases, datasets and digital media collections; and development and deployment of digital media and data archiving tools and services for users. Exemplar digital media and/data archiving initiatives and projects in the community and cultural heritage sectors will also be explored.

At the completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. develop and evaluate archival frameworks, policies and best practice for digital media and data as evidence, memory and cultural heritage, including appraisal and access frameworks and policies;
2. design metadata regimes for appraising, describing and managing digital media and data archives, and making them available for access and use;
3. specify functional requirements for and evaluate digital repository platforms, technologies, systems and tools;
4. identify, register, and curate archival databases, datasets and digital media collections;
5. identify, evaluate, develop and/or deploy digital media/data archiving tools and services for users;
6. evaluate digital media/data archiving initiatives/projects in the community and cultural heritage sectors.

In-semester assessment: 100%

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

9a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

• Two hours lectures,
• Two hours tutorials
  1. Study schedule for off-campus students:
• Off-campus students generally do not attend lecture, tutorial and laboratory sessions, however should plan to spend equivalent time working through resources and participating in discussions.
  2. Additional requirements (all students):
     • A minimum of 8 hours of personal study per week for completing lab/tutorial activities, assignments, private study and revision.

See also Unit timetable information

Dr Tom Denison

Archives and recordkeeping

Data science

FIT9132

FIT5087