units

ATS2931

Faculty of Arts

Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Arts
Organisational UnitHistory
OfferedClayton Second semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)Professor Alistair Thomson

Synopsis

How do we make the past into history? In this unit you will learn to think and work like a professional historian. You'll research a topic from your own family history, from resources provided by Museum Victoria (MV), or from a previous unit. You'll do oral history interviews and research photos, objects, documents and other sources. You'll storyboard and script your own history video. In the final month we will work together in computer labs as each student produces their digital video, which will be placed on the MV Making History website and then showcased at a Museum event for students, family and friends. See previous student work at http://profiles.arts.monash.edu.au/alistair-thomson/

Outcomes

At level 2, students successfully completing this subject are expected to develop a conceptual and practical understanding of historical sources, methods and production. In addition, they will also be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an ability to formulate research projects and acquire independent research skills.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of primary historical sources and of approaches and issues in their use in the production of a historical argument.
  3. Place secondary sources in their cultural, ideological and intellectual context by showing where they fit into the current state of historical knowledge.
  4. Demonstrate an acquaintance with some of the ongoing debates about the philosophy and practice of history.
  5. Demonstrate the skills and understandings involved in production of a digital history video.
  6. Demonstrate an ability to use online digital history resources

Assessment

Class participation: (10%)
Primary source analysis (submitted by end of week 4)(500 words): 10%
Project proposal (2000 words): 30%
Digital history project (3 minute video history production): 30%
Class test (1000 words): 20%

Note that this unit involves close collaboration with Museum Victoria. Students will use the Museum Victoria online educational resource 'Making History'. Student video histories will be uploaded to a secure Museum Victoria website for assessment by members of the teaching team. Subject to permissions, the student video histories will then be showcased on the Museum Victoria Making History website.

Chief examiner(s)

Workload requirements

One 1-hour lecture per week and one 1-hour tutorial per week. In the final 4 weeks the tutorials will take place in computer labs. In weeks 10 and 11 the lecture will be replaced by additional optional time in the computer labs.

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Prerequisites

Two gateway units in History, International Studies orAncient cultures or permission from the coordinator.

Prohibitions

ATS3931