Learning from the Past: A Guide for the Curious Researcher

Online Course

Future Learn
Learning from the Past: A Guide for the Curious Researcher

What is the course about?

Learning from the Past: A Guide for the Curious Researcher
The course Learning from the Past: A Guide for the Curious Researcher is an online class provided by The University of Nottingham through Future Learn. It may be possible to receive a verified certification or use the course to prepare for a degree.

Learn how to understand the past to explain the present, and get to know the amazing sources and resources of the British Library.

Course description
  • Discover sources that help you understand the past, and explain the present!
  • 3 weeks
  • The language of history determines how we view our world and understand urgent issues, such as the environment, conflict and human rights. 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.
  • Why does the past matter today?
  • History as language – and how to crack the code….
  • Reading critically
  • Photographs: A Window on the Past?
  • Maps and Historical Images as Sources
  • Finding Sources in Library Catalogues and Archives
  • The impact of the present on understanding the past
  • Sound Collections and Oral History
  • Digital Sources & the Archived Web
  • Plan your own research project
  • Why does the past matter today?
  • History as language – and how to crack the code….
  • Reading critically
  • Photographs: A Window on the Past?
  • Maps and Historical Images as Sources
  • Finding Sources in Library Catalogues and Archives
  • The impact of the present on understanding the past
  • Sound Collections and Oral History
  • Digital Sources & the Archived Web
  • Plan your own research project
  • 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
  • No prior knowledge or training is needed. This course is for people who are interested in how history informs the ways in which we view the world today, or are already using records to find out about the past. You may be thinking about starting a postgraduate course, want to find out more about a specialist interest, or are working on a family or local history project.
  • The University of Nottingham
  • The University of Nottingham is committed to providing a truly international education, inspiring students with world-leading research and benefitting communities all around the world.
  • British Library
  • The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and one of the world’s greatest research libraries.
  • University of Birmingham
  • The University of Birmingham is a public research university, consistently listed as a leading UK university and ranked among the top 100 in the world.

Prerequisites & Facts

Learning from the Past: A Guide for the Curious Researcher

Course Topic

History

University, College, Institution

The University of Nottingham

Course Skill Level

Course Language

English

Place of class

Online, self-paced (see curriculum for more information)

Degree

Certificate

Degree & Cost

Learning from the Past: A Guide for the Curious Researcher

To obtain a verified certificate from Future Learn / The University of Nottingham you have to finish this course or the latest version of it, if there is a new edition. The class may be free of charge, but there could be some cost to receive a verified certificate or to access the learning materials. The specifics of the course may have been changed, please consult the provider to get the latest quotes and news.
The University of Nottingham
Learning from the Past: A Guide for the Curious Researcher
provided by Future Learn

Reviews

Share your experience

Learning from the Past: A Guide for the Curious Researcher
The University of Nottingham Future Learn
Rate the course

Do you recommend the course? *
Here you can find information, reviews and user experiences for the course “Learning from the Past: A Guide for the Curious Researcher“. The provider of the course – “The University of Nottingham” – will be glad to answer any questions you may have about the class, click here to use the offical support channels. It would be great if you could share your experience of participating in the course – Your honest review will surely help others to choose the right class!
School: The University of Nottingham
Topic: History