CX276-15 Public Engagement in Classics and Ancient History
Introductory description
This module is for anyone with an interest in what good Public Engagement in Classics looks like and wants to develop these skills themselves. Picturing Public Engagement as a kind of storytelling, this module will focus on the practical application of Engagement, looking at what good engagement is, how engagement can be assessed, different methods of engagement for different audiences, and why engagement is a crucial skill for any Classicist. As the central core to this module, students will undertake their own engagement project and have the opportunity to work with institutions outside the University in developing their project.
Module aims
The aims of this module are to provide students with an outline of the importance of Public Engagement in Classics, a working knowledge of the different types and methods of Public Engagement depending on project and audience, and practical experience of running a Public Engagement project. The module aims to give students practical experience which will be of use in their future careers, especially for those interested in entering the heritage and educational sector or those wishing to enter academia. Overall this module will provide a strongly vocational element to student learning, providing skills of central importance to many different fields of employment after university.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
- Week 1: What is Public Engagement in Classics and why does it matter?
- Week 2: Who are the ‘public’? Different ‘publics’ and types of engagement in Classics
- Week 3: The work of the WCN/WIE. Developing a reflective blog post on general issues in Classics Public Engagement [assessment part one]
- Week 4: Public Engagement with Research. Seminar 1 – Developing a research-driven Classics engagement project
- Week 5: Engagement techniques, skills, planning; video skills training for vlog/engagement project assessment. Planning of online video reflective piece on specific question on Classics Public Engagement [assessment part two]
- Week 6: Reading Week
- Week 7: Engaging with schools and museums Seminar 2 – Developing a Classics engagement project [assessment part three]
- Week 8: Digital engagement and creation of online resources; Developing a Classics engagement project continued [assessment part three continued]
- Week 9: Public Engagement in film and media
- Week 10: How do we assess Public Engagement? Feedback and assessment
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Have an understanding of the importance of Public Engagement in Classics and what good PE is
- Have an understanding and experience of the different types of engagement used for engaging different audiences
- Have developed a range of practical engagement skills
- Have developed experience of working within a team on an engagement project
- Have developed practical knowledge of assessment methods in engagement
- Have experience of developing and carrying out an engagement project
- Have developed skills in undertaking research and presenting this to a non-academic audience
- Help you better articulate the relevance of your own subject area to society, and identify to which parts of society your subject area has most relevance
- Have developed transferable skills in critical thinking, problem solving, communication, information literacy, professionalism, teamwork, and time management
Indicative reading list
Generic Reading lists can be found in Talis
Research element
The engagement project which the students will undertake may require research in an area of classics to be communicated through the project, depending on the specifics of the project chosen. It may be that students have to undergo new research, or they may use research already avaialble. Equally, the engagement project may itself provide information which may then be the subject of research. A research element will be present in the choice of subject and audience for the project as well.
Interdisciplinary
The use of new technology is especially important in this course on Public Engagement in Classics. While some students will take the opportunity to gain experience of the heritage and educational sectors, we are hoping that some projects will take advantage of our Departmental links to Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) and engage with technologies such as laser scanning and 3D printing. We are also open for our students to forge links with other Warwick Departments.
Subject specific skills
Students will develop an understanding of the importance of Public Engagement in Classics and what good PE is; have an understanding and experience of the different types of engagement used for engaging different audiences; develop a range of practical engagement skills; develop experience of working within a team on an engagement project; develop practical knowledge of assessment methods in engagement ; have experience of developing and carrying out an engagement project; and will develop skills in undertaking research and presenting this to a non-academic audience. Students will also be able to better articulate the relevance of their subject area to society, and identify which parts of societytheir subject area has most relevance for.
Transferable skills
Critical thinking
Problem solving
Communication in various media
Information literacy
Professionalism
Teamwork
Time management
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 9 sessions of 2 hours (18%) |
| Seminars | 4 sessions of 2 hours (8%) |
| Project supervision | 1 session of 10 hours (10%) |
| Online learning (independent) | 5 sessions of 10 hours (50%) |
| Private study | 14 hours (14%) |
| Total | 100 hours |
Private study description
Independent research for developing Public Engagment project
Costs
| Category | Description | Funded by | Cost to student |
|---|---|---|---|
| Books and learning materials |
texts approximately £30 |
Student | £30.00 |
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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| Reflective Blog | 20% | 10 hours | Yes (extension) |
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Students will write a 750 word reflective blog post on a general area of Public Engagement in Classics |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Reflective Vlog | 30% | 15 hours | Yes (extension) |
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Students will record a 5 minute reflective video on a specific question in Classics Public Engagement |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Public Engagement Project | 50% | 25 hours | No |
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Students will undertake a Public Engagement Project which will develop throughout the course and will involve any aspect of Public Engagement. This will be a group project. Each person will write a reflective piece of 1,500 words on their project, and 75% of the project marks will be awarded for this reflective piece which will reveal individual contribution to group work as well as success and scope of the project as a whole. 25% of the project assessment will for the public engagement presentation. Presentations will take place in a showcase event in Term 3. Working in groups students will present for 30 minutes on their project to a public/student audience. Not every member will need to present on the day but all need to be involved in the delivery, production or hosting of the event. Some projects may also tie in to the Classics Dept. Ancient Worlds Day in Term 3. In the event of failure in the group presentation (25% component), students will be offered the chance to do an individual presentation 5-10mins long as remedy of this failure. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
Individual written feedback will be given and face to face feedback sessions will be offered to the students for all assessed work
Courses
This module is Option list A for:
- Year 2 of UCXA-Q800 BA in Classics
- Year 2 of UCXA-VV16 Undergraduate Ancient History and Classical Archaeology
- Year 2 of UCXA-VV18 Undergraduate Ancient History and Classical Archaeology with Study in Europe
- Year 2 of UCXA-Q820 Undergraduate Classical Civilisation
- Year 2 of UCXA-Q821 Undergraduate Classical Civilisation with Study in Europe
- Year 2 of UCXA-Q802 Undergraduate Classics (Latin) with Study in Europe
This module is Option list B for:
- Year 2 of UCXA-Q800 BA in Classics
- Year 2 of UCXA-VV16 Undergraduate Ancient History and Classical Archaeology
- Year 2 of UCXA-VV18 Undergraduate Ancient History and Classical Archaeology with Study in Europe
- Year 2 of UCXA-Q820 Undergraduate Classical Civilisation
- Year 2 of UCXA-Q821 Undergraduate Classical Civilisation with Study in Europe