The Department of History at Sussex University offers a course on “Time and Place: 1642: English Civil War (V 1323) for the second year (level 2). The course has 18 credits and is spread over the spring and summer terms. The course is taught by lecture (one hour lecture/week) and seminar (two hours on alternate week) methods. It is assessed by assignments. The assignment is writing essays of 3500 words at the end of summer term. Today was a seminar day and there were three groups of students. Each group seminar was conducted at different time and I attended one such seminar session. Prior to this seminar the students had a lecture (yesterday). The topic for the seminar was “ King Charls His Tryal at the High Court of Justice sitting in Westminster Hall”. The students were asked to play a role as Lord President, the King and Attorney for the Common-Wealth. They were given the printed material to play their respective roles. This is how the students are made to learn and understand the subject. This method makes learning interesting for the students.
It would be interesting to know the topics for all the three groups for the seminar. The basic lecture, I suppose, was the same for all the three groups the previous day.
ReplyDeleteIt is an excellent idea of learning, hands-on, through the seminar. It would be worthwhile for us to emulate, I think.
How do we get our history teachers to first read this blog, and second to consider using this methodology in their classes?
ReplyDeletePrincipal Sir, do you have any ideas?
Umaji
There are few teachers from our college I know who conduct this type of session.Once while interacting with Mrs. Kavita; shared that she tried it(role play) with the functions of different parts of the brain or something like that and it was fun.
ReplyDeleteI think the topic for the seminar was same for all the three groups. The Tutor who taught in the lecture class conducted the seminars for all the three groups on the same day. Still I will find out.
ReplyDeleteRight now I do not have any ideas. Every body should take interest in this. This can be implemented in certain subjects/Third year classes where the number of students is less than 15. Some of the lectures can be converted into tutorials and seminars.
one more thing sir, how many lectures do a student have to attend in one week for his/her B.A. degree?
ReplyDeleteDear Masur,
ReplyDeleteThe University of Sussex offers credit based courses. The students are free to choose any degree programme. In an academic year (in three terms) each student has to take 120 credits. Depending upon the programme and the number of courses chosen by the students in each term, the number of lectures required to be attended will vary from student to student.
Sir,
ReplyDeleteCan one take more than 120,for Ex.200 credits?
Is one credit equivalent to one hr. lecture?
I am just wondering, our student takes 900 hrs. lectures in an academic year so in one year he does seven years work!!!!!!
Dear Masur,
ReplyDeleteOne cannot take more than 120 credits. Please visit my blog posted on Thursday, 6th January,2011 which will give you more information.
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ReplyDeleteDear Sir,
ReplyDeleteIt was a wonderful experience interacting with you today. Thank you for your time and your valuable insights.
It was interesting to see how History is taught at the University, I must say that it is at a different level altogether. I did find the methods of teaching and learning innovative and challenging.
I was curious to know what is it that keeps the students motivated and focused, thank you for enlightening me on the same.
Sir, some of the courses that have been mentioned on the University website, have caught my attention. I would be grateful if you could kindly give me details about the following courses:
Year 1:
*Historical Controversy
*The History of Now
Year 2:
*1930 Indian Civil Disobedience
Much obliged,
Vanessa. Viegas. Fernandes
Department of History
Dear Ms.Vanessa,
ReplyDeleteThis comment should have been posted on feedback on History courses. The students are aware of the rules of passing. The student will lose the year if they fail in sit and resit examinations conducted in an academic year. I will write to the course organisers of these courses which you have mentioned.