Digital resources in the Social Sciences and Humanities OpenEdition Our platforms OpenEdition Books OpenEdition Journals Hypotheses Calenda Libraries OpenEdition Freemium Follow us

Ursula Lehmkuhl: Building Data Competencies for Historians: Perspectives from the NFDI4Memory ‘Data Literacy’ Program

The NFDI consortium 4memory includes a task area that focuses on enhancing Data Literacy in historically oriented research and education. This task area seeks to promote cultural change in the historical profession by developing methodological and curricular innovations, aiming to integrate Data Literacy competencies at all levels of history education. This includes BA, MA, and PhD programs, as well as specialized courses in area history (e.g., African, Asian, and Latin American histories). We emphasize mainstreaming Data Literacy rather than limiting it to specialized programs, fostering a global and interdisciplinary approach to historical research under digital conditions. The presentation explores issues surrounding digital hermeneutics, historical data criticism, and the distinct challenges posed by area histories.

Key Goals and Importance of Data Literacy

We understand Data Literacy as the ability to critically collect, manage, evaluate, and apply data. For historians, this extends to the traditional “historical method of source criticism,” now expanded to include digital considerations. This involves understanding data models, metadata, algorithms, and IT systems to evaluate their implications for research. The digitization of historical sources introduces new opportunities, such as advanced text mining, network analysis, and simulation, but also challenges, particularly in ethical, technical, and methodological aspects.

Key Measures to enhance Data Literacy in historical research and education

To enhance Data Literacy in historical research and education we will implement four key measures.

Measure 1: Data Literacy Training Lab

The Data Literacy Training Lab aims to mainstream Data Literacy education by fostering collaboration with experts in teacher training, secondary education, and higher education institutions. The primary activities of the Lab include:

  • Developing a comprehensive Data Literacy competence profile and catalog to outline necessary skills and knowledge.
  • Creating specialized Data Literacy training modules designed for students and researchers.
  • Proposing a model curriculum that integrates Data Literacy education systematically into BA and MA programs.
  • Establishing a Data Literacy accreditation service to ensure quality assurance and promote advocacy.

Our goal is to establish a robust, scalable, and sustainable system for developing and integrating Data Literacy competencies in historical research and education.

Measure 2: Historical Data Criticism and Research Data Management

The focus of Measure 2 is on advancing historical data criticism and research data management (RDM). The core activities under this measure include:

  • Organizing conferences to encourage interdisciplinary communication and knowledge sharing.
  • Creating and maintaining a blog to facilitate discussions on digital historical methods.
  • Developing time- and area-specific syllabi as best practices for teaching history using digital sources.
  • Publishing guidelines and a textbook dedicated to historical data criticism to support researchers and educators.

This measure helps to adapt the classical historical method of source criticism to the challenges of the digital turn in the Humanities.

Measure 3: Digital Area Histories

Measure 3 addresses the distinct challenges faced by digital area histories, including legal, technical, and ethical considerations. The objectives under this measure include:

  • Assessing the specific needs of different areas and developing tailored recommendations for digital source criticism.
  • Establishing information services that provide updates on international technical standards and RDM practices.
  • Addressing ethical challenges such as issues related to data ownership and global academic asymmetries.

This measure fosters cross-border collaboration and ensures fair and equitable access to international data resources.

Measure 4: Digital Research Counselling Service

Measure 4 is designed to empower historians with the tools and methodologies needed for digitally driven research. The key tasks associated with this measure include:

  • Conducting community needs assessments to identify gaps and opportunities in Data Literacy training.
  • Developing and offering webinars focused on digital methods, tools, and research techniques.
  • Piloting regional training centers to provide hands-on opportunities for training the trainers.
  • Establishing a virtual hub for Data Literacy resources, integrated into the 4Memory service structure, to provide comprehensive support.

This service connects researchers with digital expertise and makes training materials easily accessible.

Together, these measures aim to advance Data Literacy across all levels of historical research and education, ensuring historians are equipped to navigate the digital age effectively.

Innovation and Impact:

With its focus on promoting Data Literacy the NFDI consortium 4memory contributes to transforming historical research by equipping historians with the skills needed to handle digital and analogue sources critically. By addressing the entire research cycle, we support a dynamic and inclusive approach to historical scholarship, emphasizing FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) principles. The initiatives foster collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and regions, driving forward innovation in history education and research.

Collaborative Framework:

Our activities in the field of Data Literacy involve contributions from a wide network of co-applicants and participants, including universities, archives, libraries, and international research organizations. This broad collaboration ensures the integration of Data Literacy competencies across diverse educational and cultural contexts. By normalizing Data Literacy training and providing resources to support the global history community, the NFDI consortium 4memory plays a pivotal role in preparing historians for the digital age while respecting cultural and ethical nuances.

Lecture within the Open Research Colloquium Digital History
Time: POSTPONED – New date: Wednesday, 21 May 2025, 4:15-5:45 pm CET Wednesday, 22 January 2025.
Place: via Zoom – Request access via email (digitalhistory@hu-berlin.de) or Mailinglist


OpenEdition schlägt Ihnen vor, diesen Beitrag wie folgt zu zitieren:
Digital History Berlin (Redaktion) (20. Januar 2025). Ursula Lehmkuhl: Building Data Competencies for Historians: Perspectives from the NFDI4Memory ‘Data Literacy’ Program. Digital History Berlin. Abgerufen am 12. Februar 2025 von https://doi.org/10.58079/1340v


Schreibe einen Kommentar

Deine E-Mail-Adresse wird nicht veröffentlicht. Erforderliche Felder sind mit * markiert

Diese Website verwendet Akismet, um Spam zu reduzieren. Erfahre mehr darüber, wie deine Kommentardaten verarbeitet werden.