Outside certain domains within the humanities (e.g. archaeology, spatial history) the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) remains relatively uncommon. There are several reasons for this. The complexity of GIS systems themselves entails a steep learning-curve along with requiring familiarity with sophisticated technical systems and data formats, setting a high threshold for scholars and students in non-technical fields. Moreover, despite notable exceptions, much humanistic inquiry is not inherently predisposed to engage with spatiality in the literal manner demanded by GIS, lacking a justification to engage with a technology requiring such a large upfront investment. Some, such as Moretti and Hayles, have gone so far as to describe mapping and GIS as fundamentally at odds within humanistic epistemology, despite its enormous potential.

Faced with these concerns and tasked with developing an open educational resource (OER) introducing GIS to humanists, the authors undertook an exploration of comparable OERs. The current paper reports how GIS is introduced to humanities-based scholars and enthusiasts through various learning resources platforms: The Programming Historian (17 OERs), Dariah Campus (5), Esri’s GIS for Humanities (6), and DariahTeach (2). The purpose of the survey is to understand how the technology and methods of GIS are presented to primarily humanistically-based learners. The OERs are subjected to a content analysis along three distinct dimensions:

Audience: What do the OERs assume about their audiences (motivations, backgrounds, desired outcomes, skillsets)?Method: How are GIS framed (utility, use-cases, affordances, accessibility)?Instruction: What conceptual and technical elements are covered (procedures, functionalities, workflows, resources)?By analysing these aspects of the OERs sampled and using our own OER in development to highlight the insights gleaned, the paper hopes to present a clearer understanding of OER development and instruction more generally within the humanities with respect to more complex and esoteric digital methods.