FutureLearn

Learning from the Past: A Guide for the Curious Researcher (FutureLearn)

Offered by University of Birmingham, The University of Nottingham, British Library,
Learning from the Past: A Guide for the Curious Researcher (FutureLearn)

Learn how to understand the past to explain the present, and get to know the amazing sources and resources of the British Library. Discover sources that help you understand the past, and explain the present! The language of history determines how we view our world and understand urgent issues, such as the environment, conflict and human rights.

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This language is shaped by documents held in libraries and archives, and the ways in which researchers interpret these is constantly developing. This course will provide you with skills to discover and critically analyse the records of the past, including hidden treasures from the British Library’s collections. Researchers at the University of Nottingham and University of Birmingham will show how these collections influence the way we view our world today.

What topics will you cover?

Week 1 - Language and History
Why does the past matter today?
History as language – and how to crack the code….
Reading critically

Week 2 - Images and Artefacts
Photographs: A Window on the Past?
Maps and Historical Images as Sources
Finding Sources in Library Catalogues and Archives

Week 3 - Thinking Outside the Box…
The impact of the present on understanding the past
Sound Collections and Oral History
Digital Sources & the Archived Web
Plan your own research project

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Develop a research project on a topic of your choice
  • Assess the relevant scholarship and existing research
  • Collect and evaluate relevant primary sources from a variety of genres (written text, images/photos, oral history, recorded sound, web archive)
  • Debate your research plan with educators and other learners, be inspired by their ideas
  • Evaluate how history influences the contemporary world
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