Getting the Romans Online:e-learning, student engagement and contextual knowledge in the

humanities

Dr James Gerrard & Emma GoochHistory, Classics and Archaeology

http://images.scholastic.co.uk/assets/a/ba/b0/roman-lion-ns-742127.jpg

Motivations• Increased fees and concerns (real and perceived) about ‘value for

money’

• Student focus on high value summative assessments > Deep strategic learning at expense of breadth

• Threshold Concepts / Contextual Knowledge

• Need to explore online resources and use them to their full potential

• Continuous formative assessment – enabling students to gauge their progress

NWE Bursary• Following discussions within Archaeology it was decided to

use a NWE bursary to develop e-learning for UG Roman period modules

• Wanted student involvement in the design and development process

• Formal application process and interview > careers skills

• Emma Gooch Stage 3 Anc. Hist. and Arch. appointed in December 2013.

Application Process Student Perspective

• Formal process

• Application– Career’s Service advice

• Interview– Invaluable experience

• Outcome

http://www.wallarc.com/wallpaper/view/293867

http://www.bangsarbabe.com/2013/08/interview.html/interview-cartoon

General TestsAims• To have wide-ranging applicability • To enhance knowledge of threshold concepts• To provide revision aids

Geography of the Roman Empire: Early Provinces I

Series• Dates• Images of Emperors • Geography of the Roman Empire

Module-Specific TestsAims• To enhance and broaden

learning within modules• To provide visually-stimulating

learning resources • To encourage the learning of key

information

Examples• Anatomy of a Roman Fort• Anatomy of an Early Byzantine

Church • Hadrian’s Wall Forts

Identification• Antonine Wall Forts

Identification Anatomy of a Roman Fort

Resource-Based TestsAims• To encourage use of Module Handbooks• To promote interaction with key resources

Examples• Late Roman Amphorae• Buckles and Burials at Lankhills

http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/amphora_ahrb_2005/index.cfm

Late Roman Amphorae: Types Identification Test

Feedback

• Positive

• Progressive

• Advisory

• Multiple attempt enabled tests

Incorrect Feedback

Try revising the form and notable characteristics of Late Roman Amphora types, which makes it easier to distinguish between the different forms.

Useful sources to aid your revision include:• http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/

amphora_ahrb_2005/index.cfm• http://www.potsherd.uklinux.net• Hayes, J.W. (1997) Handbook of Mediterranean Roman Pottery.

London: British Museum Press.• Peacock, D.P.S (1982) Pottery in the Roman World: An

Ethnoarchaeological Approach. London: Longman.

The image used here was sourced from: http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/amphora_ahrb_2005/zoom.cfm?id=236&img=PEC335&CFID=72514&CFTOKEN=8888F238-60C0-4535-91A1BF6AF4095138

The Resource Created

• Approximately 45 tests

• Variety of question types to engage interest

• Range of key topic areas covered

• Suitable for use across modules

• Personal progress awareness (Students)

Benefits

• Value added to courses

• Enhances learning

• Students can assess progress (so can staff)

• Forces students to engage with resources

• ‘Fun’ / addictive

• Cost effective

• Automatically assessed

• Frees up time and resources