Residential school. Total war and social change: Europe 1914-1955
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| End-of-course assessment | Residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
This week-long residential school is linked to the course Total war and social change: Europe 1914 – 1955 (AA312) – you must have studied or be registered on AA312 to attend. The school will develop core skills for the historian; deepen your understanding of the causes and consequences of the two world wars; and explore relationships between total war and social change. It includes research exercises and presentations, seminar discussions and debates, lectures, documentaries and feature films, and a visit to the Imperial War Museum. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn or improve your skills in using specialist online resources for historical study.
Course content
The main elements of this residential school are a programme of intensive study on the themes covered by the associated course Total war and social change: Europe 1914-1955 (AA312), and an assessed essay of approximately 2000 words to be submitted after the school. The school’s emphasis is on developing the understanding you have gained from studying AA312, of the causes, nature and consequences of the First and Second World Wars, and of the connections between total war and social change. It will also encourage you to explore in greater depth the historical debates and controversies surrounding total war and social change in twentieth-century Europe. You will participate in themed seminars, lectures and special tutorials devoted to document analysis. You will develop core research techniques for history students, including the use of a university library and the application of information technology to historical study. Working in small groups on research exercises and presentations, you will also participate in seminar discussions and debates. You will be able to attend lectures and IT training sessions; view documentaries and feature films; and visit the Imperial War Museum. You will be shown how to use a university library for research, and will practise your document analysis skills in an assessed essay – which you will prepare while at the school and finish writing up afterwards – to be submitted around six weeks after the end of the school. Most importantly of all, you will have the unique opportunity to immerse yourself fully in your studies, and you will benefit from discussing your interest in history with like-minded students and tutors in formal and informal settings.
The residential-school programme is both challenging and very rewarding, and will help you to make the most of your studies on AA312 and your Level 3 history studies. Please note that attendance and satisfactory participation in the compulsory elements of the week’s programme is a requirement of this course.
The particular skills and learning outcomes you will gain from the residential school course include:
- competence in oral discussion of a complex subject in a structured manner
- the ability to evaluate and analyse a piece of historical writing or visual evidence in a manner appropriate to academic discussion
- competence in reading and synthesising substantial amounts of material
- skills in planning, researching and structuring pieces of written work
- the ability to participate in group discussions and prepare joint projects.
The residential school will be held at Queen Mary University of London in late July/early August. Places are limited and allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and you are therefore strongly advised to register at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment. See our Residential Schools website for more information.
Entry
This residential school course complements the study of the associated course Total war and social change: Europe 1914-1955 (AA312). You should register for it only if you are also registering for AA312, or if you have already successfully completed this course or the discontinued AA319 (last presented in 2003). The residential school course will give you 10 credit points, which can be counted towards the BA (Hons) History. You will gain the best learning experience if you take the residential school course in the same year as the associated course.
This is a Level 3 course. Level 3 courses build on study skills and subject knowledge acquired from studies at Levels 1 and 2. They are intended only for students who have recent experience of higher education in a related subject, preferably at the OU. You should already have the skills appropriate to study of history at this level
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Preparatory work
You will be sent a booklet outlining the preparation you will be required to do before you arrive at the school. We will send you copies of two short historical documents: you will be expected to have read these before the school, and to contribute to seminar discussions about them.
Qualifications
AXR312 is an optional course in our
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is suitable for a BA. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a course towards a qualification if you have already taken another course with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this course, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The course materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Large print versions of the course material can be provided on request. Other alternative formats of the course materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
Assistance of various kinds can be offered at the school. After you have registered you will receive detailed information about the residential school site and the facilities available to help with the academic programme
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklets Meeting Your Needs and Meeting your residential school needs, which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
One week’s full study programme, including seminars, tutorials and lectures, and supervised time spent in a university library; full board and accommodation in student halls of residence.
You will need
Your course materials from AA312 – you will not be able to do the residential school coursework without these materials, and they are not included in the residential school course fee. In addition, you will need one of the set books for AA312, i.e.: A. Marwick, C. Emsley, W. Simpson (eds) Total War and Historical Change: Europe 1914–1955, Open University Press.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Assessment
Assessment for this course consists of two elements. You must attend and participate satisfactorily in the compulsory elements of the residential school programme in order to pass the first assessment component of the course. These elements will be listed in the booklet sent to you before the school. The second assessment component is an end of school assignment, a 2000-word essay based on the analysis of a historical document, details of which will also be included in the booklet. You must pass both assessment components in order to pass the course. Your work at the school will be assessed by your residential school tutors. Your end-of-course assignment will be assessed by independent markers.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in June 2009. We expect it to be available at the same time once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
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Student Reviews
Absolutely essential if you are interested in broadening your knowledge of the subject, getting time to really interact with the ...
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Great fun, very stimulating and a great help towards the main AA312 course. The week flies by, everybody mucks in ...
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