About us
LEADR, the Lab for Education and Advancement in Digital Research, is a collaborative initiative between the History and Anthropology departments at Michigan State University.
The primary focus of LEADR is to enhance traditional history education by incorporating digital technologies and methodologies. While History and Anthropology courses at MSU do an exceptional job of promoting field knowledge, critical thinking, research, and writing skills, LEADR aims to enhance this work by bridging the gap between these traditional classroom approaches and modern digital competencies.
What we do
LEADR is a wonderful place to meet people, experiment, and learn new digital skills. Whether you are a digital novice or a computer expert, the lab offers support for research, class projects, and workshops for digital tools. We can equip you with the 21st century skills you’ll need for a competitive edge on the job market and beyond.
Data Visualization
Augment your analysis with visuals that display your process whether that be mapping, networking, text analysis, or graphs.
Digital Storytelling
Enhance your skills by integrating podcasting, video editing, and scrollytelling tools into your work.
Digital pedagogy
We offer seamless integration of digital projects and assignments into the classroom and curriculum.
Digital Projects
Please browse our dedicated digital projects site linked below.
Testimonials
Read what others have described about LEADR.
LEADR required us to step outside our comfort zones. The lab has become a model for digital history learning and research labs. Our students, graduate and undergraduate, have taken what they have learned in LEADR and done things they never could have done in a traditional classroom.
Walter Hawthorne
Working with LEADR allowed my US Women’s History students to develop new skills and to take pride in making their work available to a wider audience. LEADR worked with the students every step of the way so that they felt like they mastered the technology as well as the historical content.
Emily Conroy-Krutz
It’s been great, I’ve learned a lot. I got to teach students, make friends, and gain new skills. I made a 3D model, network graphs, and multiple maps to visualize elements for my dissertation. It’s a wonderful place to make community and learn about other people’s areas of research.
Marissa Knaak
Get in touch
Do you want to brainstorm how digital methods can be a part of your classroom? Let’s bring digital innovation to your classroom: get in touch today for a consultation.
Our work in numbers
Some of our milestones
Students served
8300+
Classes
304+
years of experience
11
Funded Graduate Assistants
21
Contact us
Opening Hours:
Mondays-Thursdays: 10:00AM-5:00PM
Fridays: 10:00AM-1:00PM
The lab is closed on university holidays.