School of Humanities  
 
 
HIS-20082 Work Experience for Historians  
Co-ordinator: Dr Nigel Tringham    Room: CBB0.061, Tel:33282  
Teaching Team: Miss Amanda  Roberts, Mrs Christine  Edge, Miss Jo-Anne  Watts  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 2 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office: Tel: 01782 733147
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
History Dual Honours (Level 2)
History Major (Level 2)
History Minor (Level 2)
History Single Honours (Level 2)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Barred Combinations
None

Prerequisites
Good passes in level one history modules (normally an average of at least 60%); all prospective students will be interviewed by the module tutors to ensure they understand their responsibilities.

Description

This module gives history students the opportunity to use their skills and knowledge in the world beyond the university - in museums, archives, libraries, and churches, or any workplace where the research, analyitical and communication skills of historians can be used. Students will be supported to arrange and develop an individual historically focused work-based project (helping with a museum exhibit or study day, cataloguing or publicising an archive, producing a leaflet or blog for a heritage organisation) that will be undertaken in semester two. Advice will be given on contacting placements and on composing a CV, and support will be provided throughout the placement. A focus on employability is central to the Distinctive Keele Curriculum and through this module you will obtain crucial first-hand experience of a relevant working environment and enhance your own employment opportunities. You should also enjoy the challenge of discussing and presenting historical events, issues and dilemmas to a greater variety of people, and the satisfaction of making a lasting, personal contribution to an outside body.
Aims
To enhance the career knowledge and employability of students of history;
To encourage history students to apply their historical skills in a broader work context;
To develop students' capacity to construct and carry through independent projects;
To encourage students to reflect on the broader uses and purposes of history.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Reflect on their own subject-specific and general skills and present them to external agencies and employers will be achieved by assessments: 1
Design and plan a coherent, feasible work-based project in cooperation with tutors and external bodies will be achieved by assessments: 1
Understand the variety of ways in which historical knowledge and skills can be deployed in non-academic contexts will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3
Work flexibly, reliably and cooperatively with others will be achieved by assessments: 2
Communicate historical issues and problems to broad audiences will be achieved by assessments: 2
Reflect on the contrasts and connections between 'academic' and 'public' history will be achieved by assessments: 3
Present a credible and convincing case for the public value of history and the employability of history graduates will be achieved by assessments: 1,2, 3
Assess their own strengths and weaknesses in an employment context and reflect on their progress through the module will be achieved by assessments: 1,3
Study hours
75 hours work experience; five hours preparatory workshops; twenty hours organising placement (CV, letter, meeting and construction of specific learning outcomes); ten hours preparing and giving presentation on the placement; forty hours reading, planning and preparing reflective essay.
Description of Module Assessment
01: Portfolio weighted 20% (min pass mark of 40)
CV, covering letter, agreed project description and health and safety checklist
In the first semester students will produce a CV and a covering letter to send to potential placements; and produce an agreed outline of the work to be completed at the placement with brief learning outcomes. The total word length for all three items will be no more than 2,000 words.
02: Placement weighted 30% (min pass mark of 40)
Report/Individual Presentation
The module tutor will assess the placement on the basis of a report from the placement provider and a visit to the placement where feasible [50%]; and on a ten minute presentation by the student to all members of the group on the project/activities undertaken [50%]
03: Reflective Analysis weighted 50%
Reflective essay assessing the achievements of the placement
Essay of up to 2,000 words, reflecting on the placement in the context of public/applied history
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.