Corso di laurea in Beni Culturali

The specific objective of the course is to provide students with the theoretical, methodological, and practical tools necessary for the digitalization of cultural heritage through the analysis of documentation standards in the archival, bibliographic, and museum fields.

Particular attention will be paid to the contents of the Italian National Plan for the Digitalization of Cultural Heritage and to communication and participation strategies and tools. A series of case studies will be proposed to illustrate practical applications.

Upon completion of the course, students will have the theoretical, methodological, and partially applied tools to:

1. Understand the principles, standards, and procedures for applying cross-cutting and interdisciplinary models in the digital environment.

This means that students will be able to identify and apply relevant principles, standards, and procedures when working with digital cultural heritage materials. They will also be able to understand how these principles, standards, and procedures can be used to create cross-cutting and interdisciplinary models.

2. Understand the main characteristics of the digitization process of the National Digitization Plan.

This means that students will be able to explain the different steps involved in the digitization process of the National Digitization Plan. They will also be able to identify the key challenges and opportunities associated with this process.

3. Evaluate the applications of models and standards, from a perspective focused on the communication and fruition of content.

This means that students will be able to assess the effectiveness of different models and standards for communicating and sharing digital cultural heritage content. They will also be able to identify the best practices for using these models and standards to create engaging and informative experiences for users.

The course covers the following topics:

1. Digital archives and libraries, networked archives and libraries

This topic will introduce students to the concepts of digital archives and libraries, as well as the different types of networked archives and libraries that exist. Students will learn about the benefits and challenges of digitizing archival and library materials, and they will gain an understanding of the different tools and technologies that can be used to manage and access digital collections.

2. Basic concepts of cultural heritage description: tools, standards, and platforms

This topic will introduce students to the basic concepts of cultural heritage description, including the different elements of a bibliographic record and the different standards that are used to describe cultural heritage materials. Students will learn how to use different tools and platforms to create and manage bibliographic records, and they will gain an understanding of the importance of metadata for the discovery and use of cultural heritage materials.

3. The digitization of cultural heritage: techniques, formats, and standards

This topic will introduce students to the different techniques, formats, and standards that are used to digitize cultural heritage materials. Students will learn about the factors that need to be considered when choosing a digitization method, and they will gain an understanding of the different file formats that are used to store digital cultural heritage materials. Students will also learn about the different standards that are used to ensure the quality and interoperability of digital cultural heritage materials.

4. The National Plan for the Digitization of Cultural Heritage: vision, strategy, and guidelines

This topic will introduce students to the National Plan for the Digitization of Cultural Heritage (PND), which is a strategic plan for the digitization of cultural heritage materials in Italy. Students will learn about the goals and objectives of the PND, and they will gain an understanding of the different strategies and guidelines that are being used to achieve these goals.

5. Digital strategies and tools for the management and valorization of collections, with a focus on artificial intelligence tools

This topic will introduce students to the different digital strategies and tools that can be used to manage and valorize cultural heritage collections. Students will learn about the different types of digital tools that are available, and they will gain an understanding of how these tools can be used to improve access to and engagement with cultural heritage collections. Students will also learn about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for the management and valorization of cultural heritage collections.

The knowledge and skills acquired will be assessed through an oral exam.

The oral exam will consist of the following aspects:

• Knowledge of the topics covered in the lectures and the bibliography (see Recommended texts and bibliography);
• Ability to discuss the topics using appropriate language;
• Ability to analyze and propose an intervention for a new hypothetical issue;
• Ability to independently develop training paths to deepen or expand the knowledge acquired.

The evaluation, at the end of the exam, will be expressed in thirtieths (minimum score 18/30). The achievement of full and critical competence on the topics covered and mastery of the specific language will be evaluated with very good, excellent and outstanding marks (27-30 with honors). A mnemonic or not well-matured knowledge of the subject and the use of a correct but not always appropriate language will be evaluated with medium-good marks (23-26). Minimal knowledge of the topics of study and sometimes inappropriate language will imply barely sufficient marks (18-22). Finally, where there are serious gaps, the result of the test will be evaluated as insufficient (<18/30).

For students with DSA or disabilities, please refer to the University's support (https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-con-disabilita) and reception (https://www.unito.it/accoglienza-studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa) procedures, and in particular the procedures required for exam support (https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-e-studentesse-con-disabilita/supporto-studenti-e-studentesse-con).

Students with SLD are asked to inform the lecturers and at the beginning of the course, in order to agree on a personal learning path tailored to their needs, even beyond the compensatory and dispensatory measures provided for the examination.

Will be guaranteed the possibility of using teaching material in the Moodle platform.