Storymap: digital mapping technology for the AHC

Mapping has always played an important part in humanities research, but the growth in accessibility of digital mapping technology has changed how humanists use maps, both for research and to tell stories from that research to a range of audiences. This workshop looks at ‘story maps’, that is, maps that tell a story from humanities research. It uses the point-and-click and freely available StorymapJS as an example of how researchers can easily create story maps from their research, along with showing examples of how humanities scholars have used tools like this in their own work. It is open to staff and postgraduate researchers in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures.

The first part of the workshop will introduce some examples of how story maps are used in the humanities. It will also demonstrate an example map made specifically for this workshop. Data from this will be pre-circulated to attendees, to show how straightforward it is to create such a map.

The second part will involve making a story map. Please bring along any ideas you have from your own research, as this is a great opportunity to try the technology out for the first time. Don’t worry if you’re not sure – the pre-circulated data is an alternative, to show how practically easy it is to use Storymap.

There will also be time for some questions and discussion throughout the workshop. If you have further questions at the end, or want to talk through story mapping more thoroughly, please either fill out a DCCH contact form (at dcch.leeds.ac.uk) or email [email protected].

This workshop will also determine interest in future mapping workshops hosted by DCCH. If you are interested in mapping of any kind, please do come along! At the end, we will invite feedback on how we can support future engagement with digital mapping methodologies.

Requirements

· A laptop computer of any kind (that can connect to Eduroam);

· (optional) Please bring along ideas of stories from your research that you might want to tell in a narrative map format;

· It will also help if you have already set up your Google Accounts with Storymapjs.

Please note this is an IN PERSON event only. Open to staff and PGRs

Please register here.   Places are limited to 35.

If you cannot attend in-person, but are interested in future workshops on story mapping (or on an online version), please email dcch to register your interest and we will let you know about future sessions. We will also circulate PowerPoint slides, a recording of the first part of the workshop and handouts to those who cannot attend.