Forms of Identity: An Interdisciplinary Approach (IL001/IL101) 2023/24

Description

Forms of Identity investigates individual identity, national identity, biological identity, gender identity, racial and ethnic identity, (among many more). This module is considered to be ‘blended’: incorporating a series of online activities, online/face-to-face multidisciplinary peer group work, face-to-face seminars, readings, and practical exercises designed by a series of disciplinary Specialist Contributors from across the University and beyond.

This module will support you in reflecting on Identity in new and creative ways, with the heart of the module being student-led. This means that you will have the opportunity to shape your own learning in the direction that is most relevant to you, through collaborating and co-creating the weekly content, as well as through the module’s flexible assessment programme. This module will encourage you to consider the ever-increasing and developing prominence of consumer, hybrid, border, and marginal identities, and the notion that identity can shift, that it can be fragmented, and that a variety of identities can exist simultaneously.

Forms of Identity is offered by the Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning (IATL) and is available at 15 CATS to undergraduates from across the University of Warwick who are in their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year of study.

Learning Outcomes

Level 5 (2nd year) – All students registered on IL001

By the end of the module you will have:

1. Explored different disciplinary approaches in the investigation of how identities are formed, changed or imposed.
2. Responded to problems through the development of a coherent thesis on the theme of identity, that is interdisciplinary in nature.
3. Reflected analytically on sources and arguments in order to develop your own informed ideas.
4. Reflected on your subject knowledge, interdisciplinary learning and independent research, including how it can be made accessible to wider audiences (where relevant).
5. Referenced and communicated ideas in a way that demonstrated familiarity with and grasp of professional and scholarly practice.
6. Designed and managed your own interdisciplinary academic and research activity

Level 6 (3rd/4th year) – All students registered on IL101

By the end of the module you will have:

1. Critically appraised different disciplinary approaches in the investigation of how identities are formed, changed or imposed.
2. Imaginatively responded to complex problems through the creation of a coherent and justified thesis on the theme of identity, that is interdisciplinary in nature.
3. Exhibited a sustained critical and reflective analysis of sources and arguments in order to develop your own informed ideas and judgements.
4. Critically reflected on and evaluated your subject knowledge, interdisciplinary learning and independent research, including how it can be made accessible to wider audiences (where relevant).
5. Referenced and communicated ideas in a way that demonstrated a distinguished grasp of professional and scholarly practice.
6. Designed and managed your own interdisciplinary academic and research activity.

Module Structure (*Subject to Change)

Week 1: Introduction to Identity and Interdisciplinarity

Week 2: Gender and Identity

Week 3: Race, Ethnicity and Identity

Week 4: National Identity and Migration

Week 5: Biological Identity

Week 6: Personal Identity

Week 7: Global Identity and the Climate Crisis

Week 8: Media and Identity

Week 9: Food and Identity

Week 10: Consolidation

Each week will be delivered by a Specialist Contributor representing a different disciplinary perspective on the theme of Identity. The content that is delivered will come in two formats: a pre-recorded ‘mini presentation’ for you to go through asynchronously online (through Moodle), and then later in the face-to-face session on Thursdays, which will focus on active learning & discussion. You will also be assigned to a multidisciplinary team of 5 – representing students from across the university – and you will be asked to do a small homework task together each week, designed by that week’s Specialist Contributor.

This structure gives you the opportunity to explore the content thoroughly prior to the in-person session – first on your own, and then with a small group. By the time you come to class, you’ll be ready to meet the Specialist Contributor in person, and hit the ground running!

The Thursday session will be divided into two parts:

First Half: With the Weekly Specialist Contributor

Second Half: With the Module Convenor

Assessment

This module has two assignments – both of which are designed to develop an interdisciplinary vocabulary and foster self-guided learning based on your personal/academic/professional interests and goals.

Contact

For more detail on this module, please see the explanatory video on this page. Please do feel free to contact the Module Convenor, Dr Heather Meyer at any time for more information.