2010/11 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HIST2550 Research Collaboration, Communication and Enterprise

20 creditsClass Size: 7

Module manager: Dr Raphael Hallett
Email: r.hallett@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2010/11

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

Would you like to produce historical research that has public relevance and impact? This module will enhance your research skills by offering opportunities for collaboration with businesses, charities and civic institutions in Leeds, with the aim of developing your confidence, communication and presentation skills in academic and professional contexts.As well as working with academic staff from the School of History (and receiving training in collaboration and research ethics) you will make links with local institutions and companies, and showcase your research findings to academic, public, and commercial audiences in the Yorkshire area.The key elements of the module are:- Themed, collaborative student research and project work.- Public-facing exhibition and dissemination of research, and liaison with external partners.- Promotion of School of History student research within the ethos of Leeds as a Civic University, in dialogue with institutions, businesses and communities in the Yorkshire area.- Employability training (eg external collaboration, community dialogue, public speaking, exhibition design, media broadcasting, website design ).- Innovative modes of assessment and feedback.The module's key research themes are:1. Race, Religion and Politics in Yorkshire2. The Civic City: Commerce and Culture in Leeds.These themes have been chosen to maximise existing research strengths in the School and to offer high relevance to local communities, cultures and civic and public interests. Working in a research group, you choose and design a project within these themes, and manage the project's development and final presentation.

Objectives

On completion of this module, which includes research collaboration with external partners in the region (eg archive research, oral interviews, co-organisation of exhibition display, collaboration on broadcast), students should be able to demonstrate:

1. the ability to design and complete a research project by collaborating with fellow students, academic staff and an external partner;

2. refined investigation into, and research outputs in relation to one of the module research themes: Race, Religion & Politics in Yorkshire and The Civic City Commerce & Culture in Leeds;

3. the intellectual flexibility to learn and adapt historical research techniques in different contexts and in relation to different audiences, within and outside the University;

4. the ability to search and select historical material and present it in a public-facing way, and at an appropriate level and format for a non-academic audience;

5. an enhanced knowledge of, and sensitivity to, the history of Leeds and/or the Yorkshire region, and an understanding of methodologies relating to Local History;

6. an enhanced cultural sensitivity and awareness of the relationship between academic research and community, commercial and civic activities;

7. developed and explicit awareness of the way academic and history-related skills can translate to 'Leeds for Life' skills and opportunities, in terms of employability, confidence and external relevance;

8. that they have had an opportunity to tackle a problem/problems of real concern to an outside organisation by applying their energy, knowledge and skills in a concerted and managed way, in the time and with the resources available;

9. initiative and creativity in presenting ideas and research via new platforms and in unfamiliar contexts (such as exhibitions, debates and broadcasts) and responding to novel assessment methods;

10. that they are able to critically analyse their own experience during the module, and develop a developmental profile in relation to it.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will have developed and showcased their knowledge and skills in History in a context (or to an audience) beyond the University. They will have shown that they can complete a project which they designed and orchestrated as a group.

This will involve liaising with external partners; negotiating, planning, managing their work collectively; reflecting on the project's merits and shortcomings, assessing results and drawing conclusions.

They will prepare a project outline, write reports, keep individual reflective logbooks, create and evaluate resources for display and give an end of module presentation to a mixed academic and non-academic audience.

Skills outcomes
On completion of the module students will have developed the following skills:
- Research Collaboration - Ability to use own initiative
- Communication skills - liaison, contacting external partners, group working
- Creativity - developing and presenting research materials in new forms and contexts
- Networking - working in the public, civic or commercial environment
- Negotiating - developing a reciprocal relationship with external partners
- Problem-solving skills
- Reflective learning skills
- Resource management - planning, developing and delivering research materials as a group
- Team-working skills
- Time management and ability to prioritise own workload within group commitments.

Syllabus

The module will consist of a series of training sessions and workshops, including:

- Community and Business Liaison
- Research and interview techniques and ethics
- Searching for Local Historical material
- Adapting historical material for exhibition, display & debate
- Themed academic workshops and group supervision
- Final presentation / exhibition / broadcast
- Post-module developmental debriefing.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	14	2.00	28.00
Fieldwork	20	2.00	40.00
Independent online learning hours			20.00
Private study hours			112.00
Total Contact hours			68.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Students will work independently (but sometimes as groups) on their project outline, research collaboration tasks and their reflective learning logs (completed on the module VLE).

Guidance and support will be available from the Module Leader and in academic workshops and training classes.

- Research of project theme / topic
- Facilitating and preparing for liaison with external partners
- Discovery and preparation of resources
- Preparation for meetings, interviews etc in the public / commercial domain
- Completion of reflective log throughout the project, as a VLE assignment
- Completion of developmental statement
- Preparation of final exhibition / broadcast (etc).

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress is monitored by:
1. Meetings with an academic supervisor who will discuss and monitor the group's research progress
2. Training Workshops (provided by Module leader, Hornsby Smith and WRCETLE and EKT resources)
3. Regular advice available from Module Leader
4. Reflective learning log and peer suggestions
5. Support from the link-partners in organisations outside the School of History 'hosting' or facilitating the research project.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Online Assessment	Students will have to complete an ongoing reflective log, in the VLE. In total this will be 2,000 words. Entries have to be made during the project, however, the final date for submission will be 12 noon Tuesday of teaching week 11, semester 2	20.00
Project	1 x 4,000 word group project outline to be submitted in week 11, semester 1 (In the group-assessed elements, individual students will each receive the 'group' grade, but with a discretionary 5% flexibility based on the Module Leader's assessment of individual contributions and collaboration within the group).	20.00
Presentation	Eg Exhibition, broadcast, webpage, organised debate. Students will be expected to submit hard copy materials (text and any other material used).	50.00
Assignment	1 x 1,000 word concluding statement about the skills, confidence and employability gained during the module to be submitted in teaching week 11, semester 2	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Project Presentation resit for this will be written submission only. Resit for reflective learning log will be an equivalent written exercise of 2,000 words. Presentation materials will be disseminated to partner institution as part of the collaborative and public engagement remit

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 10/04/2013

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