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Department of History

Facilitating Seminar

Assignment

Each student has been tasked with facilitating a part of a seminar (up to 50 minutes) in term two.

1. Choose a topic, debate or issue related to public history.

2. Find a few readings or other materials that will provide context or raise interesting questions for the class discuss.

3. Prepare a few questions to focus the class discussion.

4. Send Meleisa both your questions and readings at least two weeks in advance.

5. Prepare a plan of your session, including your objective (what do you want the class to get out of the discussion) and some exercises. You do not have to present anything or prepare a Powerpoint.

Please consult with Meleisa if you have any questions, concerns, or just need some help deciding on readings, questions or a plan.

Assessment

This assignment is worth 10% of your final mark and is self-assessed. Following your seminar we will have a brief discussion where we can discuss how you feel it went, any challenges you encountered and achievements. I will then ask you for the mark you feel you deserve and why. I understand for many of you this may be challenging to assess your own performance and so I will moderate, if necessary.

When preparing your session and in considering your assessment, please refer to the criteria set out under SEMINAR CONTRIBUTIONS: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/history/students/undergraduate/teaching/assessment/markingscales/

You should especially consider the following:

  • Oral Communication: clarity of expression; respectfulness and inclusivity; asking useful/probing questions; contributions that extend the discussion.

  • Knowledge and Understanding: evidence of preparation; demonstrates comprehension of the readings

  • Methodological Approaches: ability to explain or engage with historiographical or methodological issues raised by the readings

  • Analysis: engagement with and evaluation of readings; focus on meaning rather than description

  • Classroom Agreements: ability to maintain classroom agreements in discussions amongst peers

Tips for Facilitating Discussion

1.Don't dominate the discussion

2. Prepare a range of exercises that allows students to engage with each other in different ways. For instance, consider one-to-one discussions along with larger class discussions and debates

3. Use open-ended questions and ask students for clarification, examples and definitions

4. Invite students to address one another and not always "go through" you

5. Pause to give class time to reflect on comments or points raised. You don't have to fill every silence.

6. Toward the end of the discussion, review the main ideas, the thread of the discussion and any conclusions