Session post-mortem (Metropolis on Trial)
As I suspected, I regret not attending the conference in person. We had such an interesting session on teaching with Old Bailey Online that I wanted to follow everyone out for tea at the end of it all. Still, I was able to follow along with and participate fully in the session, thanks to the efforts of the IT people here and there as well as our session chair and organizer, Chris A. Williams who opened things off with a discussion of the general reception of the website ranging from idle interest and sensation-seeking to the academic treatments of teachers and researchers.
David Silbey of Alvernia College discussed how his World Civ students worked with cases from the site as sources for their research essays. His narration of the ups and downs of building assignments was very helpful, especially when he discussed how he refined his approach to the material so as to spark more thoughtful analysis.
Drew Gray of the University of Northampton drew us into a consideration of inquiry-based learning. His students recreate trials, playing the roles of defendants, witnesses, jury and so on. This technique not only avoids the trap of students rereading papers they’ve earlier handed in, but it has inspired the students to new and thoughtful lines of inquiry regarding, say, the relations between master and servant in eighteenth century London.
I spoke about my experiences teaching quantitative history with the database. (This may sound familiar to some!) To previous discussions, I’ve added in more illustrations of the type of statistical terminology and skills I’ve tried to build with the students as well as how their use of the statistical search function of Old Bailey Online’s database plays out. I reiterated how happy I am that students come out of the class with more confidence in approaching other historians’ use of statistics and that’s true — I only wish I could do more with the material. As I’m leaning towards adding another two weeks to the subject when I teach it again in January, 2009, it just might be possible. If I do, you can bet I’ll be taking advantage of the ideas that my fellow presenters shared and audience questions provoked.
Is the conference available online? FOr those of us who couldn’t be there?
Sounds terrific!
It sounds great! I was impresssed with the web site. The virtual university is on its way.
Susan, there is some talk about making at least some of the sessions available online. Ours would be a likely candidate since it was run through the cameras for my presentation but I’d hope there were some more that could be shared.
I agree, Dad, that we’re finally seeing more of that virtual university we’ve always dreamed of!
[…] Proceedings of the Old Bailey and Central Criminal Court from 1674 to 1913.” Janice Liedl reports about her teleconferenced participation. Hope more is posted […]