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Teaching in 2020-2021

For up-to-date information on what to do if you are self-isolating please see this page.

For the latest information from the University on plans for term 2 see this page.

Please see our statement on assessment for terms 2 and 3, our information on summer exams, and our information about assignments and the Covid-19 Coversheet.

The information below is guidance for Undergraduate History students to give some specific advice on how teaching will be organised for the academic year 2020-21. The page will be updated as circumstances change or we receive more information.

How will teaching be organised in term 2?  

All classes will be online at present. There will be a review later in the term.  

All lectures will be recorded and may be listened to at any time. Some lectures may be shorter or recorded in sections. Lectures will have captions to make them more accessible and many will be supported with powerpoint slides or other media. 

Please see module webpages for detailed information on the seminars for each module. These will all be online at present. Online activities will vary according to the module and topics. There may be ‘asynchronous’ tasks that you can prepare and respond to in your own time and receive feedback from tutors; there may be online seminars which take place via video conferencing on Microsoft Teams (these may be shorter than the face to face seminars); your tutors may also offer online ‘drop-in’ sessions or one to one meetings.

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What will the contact hours be? 

The learning hours for all modules will be the same as previous years and will have weekly teaching . The balance of activities will differ between modules and tutors will also be providing extra support and resources.

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How will I be assessed and what are the deadlines? 

Assessment types for most modules are not changing but please see our separate statement on assessment which takes into account the changed conditions due to the national lockdown. Modules that traditionally set unseen exams are replacing these with open book take-home assessments. The format is the same as that of unseen exams but you will have 7 calendar days to complete each paper. It is not expected that you spend more than a few hours on each exam. This format was used in the summer of 2020 and was very successful. Assessment deadlines have been discussed with the SSLC and are staggered throughout the year depending on the type of module. All deadlines will be available to you via your Tabula page. There is also more information on deadlines here. Tutors will provide guidance on assessments and any which are not standard essays or exams will have extra information provided including guidance on completing the assessment, what is being assessed and the marking criteria. 

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I have been away from formal study for some months, how will the Department support me?  

The Department recommends all students complete the Warwick Online Learning Fundamentals moodle course (for second year students this is available as a certificate). This course offers useful advice to support your learning in a blended environment. We have also designed some ‘History specific’ elements which focus on the use of primary sources and are setting some reflective tasks to be completed by the start of term. Your personal tutor will be meeting with you (online) in week 1. They will have read your reflective submission and will discuss your specific needs and concerns about returning to study. . As usual there will be further personal tutor meetings throughout the year to check on your progress and wellbeing and provide academic and pastoral support. Each year group has a Year Director and they will be organising sessions throughout the year designed to help you with the specific academic requirements of your particular stage of study. Each year group also has a Senior Tutor who will help if you have any issues with personal tutoring or need more information about pastoral care and wellbeing. If you wish, the Departmental Senior Tutor is also happy to meet with you. The Senior Tutor team oversee the pastoral care of the Department.

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What about library resources? 

All key reading for seminars will be available electronically. If you have difficulty accessing any readings for seminars or assessments, please discuss with your seminar tutor. 

The University of Warwick Library has put together some guidance regarding the use of their collections and available online resources. You can view the list of the library's online resources, which can be searched to be subject specific. The University Library moves to a fully mediated service on Wednesday 13 January and there will be no individual access to the main Library collections, study spaces or other facilities. The Library offers a scan and deliver service; free postal loans (for UK based staff and students) and a Click and Collect service. Online access to resources and services, including enquiries and support, will continue unchanged. Study spaces will be available in Rootes Grid, the BioMed Grid and the PG Hub. Opening hours for these facilities will be 08:00 – 22.00 Monday to Sunday, except for the BioMed Grid, which will open 10:00 - 18:00 Saturday and Sunday. The Library information page has more details.

If you have any questions about the library's collections or provision you can contact the History Academic Support Librarian for advice and guidance. 

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Is there a recommended specification for IT equipment?

The University has provided guidance on the recommended IT equipment needed for study in 2020-21 and specifications.

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How will attendance be recorded?  

Attendance at seminars and engagement with any online activities is compulsory and will be recorded by tutors on Tabula. If you are unable to attend a class or participate in online activities you must email your tutor in advance to inform them of the reason, your absence will then be recorded as ‘authorised’. There are monitoring points throughout the year which are again recorded on Tabula. Some of these will be attendance at seminars but others may be meeting your personal tutor or submitting an assessment. 

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What happens if circumstances change? 

We will follow university and government guidance. Your seminar tutors will inform you of their teaching plans and there will be regular updates from Year Directors. 

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    What happens if I have to self-isolate?

    If you have to self-isolate you should contact your seminar tutors as soon as possible to let them know and also complete this form which is to ensure you get appropriate support. If you are ill you will be able to put forward evidence on the mitigating circumstances portal explaining how you have been affected. You will also be able to apply for extensions for assessed work. For more information see this page.

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    What about safety on campus?

    The central university is continually revising its plans for safety on campus. Some buildings are already open and there are detailed risk assessments carried out to ensure the campus is safe. For full details, see the Safety on Campus pages.

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    Well-being Support Services

    In addition to the pastoral care of your personal tutor and the senior tutors, Well-being Support Services provide a range of help.

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