Unit information: Engaging with collections in 2020/21

Unit name	Engaging with collections
Unit code	ARCH20071
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Professor. Hodos Lucas
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit introduces students to a variety of methods beyond the classroom to engage with past and contemporary societies. It presents culture-specific knowledge about selected societies. It allows students the opportunity to work with material culture to explore various means of stimulating public interest in other societies. It enables students to gain experience of transferable skills that support curatorial and heritage work, public engagement, cultural diplomacy, advertising, marketing and teaching.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Identify key socio-cultural features of selected societies.
2. Analyse critically the methods by which we derive knowledge about selected societies.
3. Summarise evidence for the diachronic development of selected societies.
4. Appraise evidence for the diachronic development of selected societies.
5. Utilise written presentation skills.
6. Employ verbal communication skills.
7. Practice group working skills.
8. Recognise appropriate methods of handling artefacts.

Teaching Information

Lectures/class activities: 10 hours Formative presentation: 3 hours

Small group project preparation: 12 hours

Field trip (in person or self-guided): 8 hours

Assessment Information

Formative: Powerpoint presentation. Summative: One essay (2500 words): 50%. Assesses ILOs 1-5. One project portfolio (2500 words): 50%. Assesses ILOs 1-8.

Reading and References

Oxford Handbooks Online (database)

The International Handbooks of Museum Studies (Wiley)

readings about selected past societies will vary from year to year.