GD5627 The Ethical Digital Museum

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Enrolment is limited to online PGT programmes.

Planned timetable

To be confirmed

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr N P Meehan

Dr N P Meehan
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Nicole Meehan

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module will explore the role digital technologies play in shaping museum and heritage institutions through a critical ethics-based lens. Key themes include: the ability of museum-based codes of ethics to deal with ‘the digital’; digitisation practices, copyright and bias; critical data ethics; AI; digital colonialism and the environmental cost of digital technologies. Students will consider a range of technologies used by museum and heritage institutions and those that may be adopted in the future, as well as the policies and processes that govern their use. In particular, the advantages and limitations of these tools will be discussed, considering the implications of their integration into daily practice for museum professionals and their diverse audiences. Students will be encouraged to experiment and explore freely available open-source tools and to reflect upon the relationship between practice and theory.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

6 x 1 hour lecture, 1 x 1 hour seminar and 2 x 1 hour one-to-one supervision

Scheduled learning hours

13

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

138

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand the role of digital technologies in museums historically and in the present
  • Reflect upon the advantages and limitations of the use of digital technologies in museums
  • Engage effectively in reflective and critical thinking
  • Understand the needs of diverse audiences in museum and heritage institutions in digital settings