A tumultuous century where truth is stranger than fiction. A time of drama, intrigue, rivalry, treachery, deviancy, pestilence, famine, and the overthrow of a king. A century of conflicts that pitted sons against fathers and wives against husbands. Over-mighty subjects like Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser as well as strong, powerful queens, Phillipa of Hainault and the ‘She-Wolf,’ Isabella of France and the worst and best of English kings. Ignored and largely unknown to most people - this was the calamitous fourteenth century, 1307 – 1377.
Course aim
This course explains some of the forces of change in Plantagenet England and seeks to develop and extend knowledge and understanding of the catastrophic period between 1307 and 1377
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- You will need your own personal email address so that you’re able to login to the WEA’s digital learning platform: WEA Canvas. You will need to be able to understand how to follow URL links to pages on the internet. If you want to understand more about Canvas please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- You will need to be able to follow links to join our WEA live video learning platform: WEA Zoom. If you’d like to understand more about our video learning platform, Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline and http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- This course is for a group of around 15 students studying in a live video-learning platform conference and an online digital learning environment platform from the comfort of your own home.
- This is a live lecture delivered by a subject specialist in an online webinar video learning platform. You will need to be able to access the internet on a device with speakers or earphones. There will be opportunities to take part in discussions and chats. If you’d like to know how to use Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- No skills or experience needed
- This course is for beginners
- This course is for improvers
- This course is suitable for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- To develop an interest in and enthusiasm for history and an understanding of its value and significance eg can we learn any lessons for our current political situation from a study of the Plantagenets ?
- To develop the ability to ask relevant questions about the past and investigate them critically using a range of sources eg how reliable ar contemporary chronicles as evidence of the past?
- To actively engage in the process of historical enquiry to develop as effective and independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers
- To draw parallels with the past seeing their relevance in the modern world eg the xenophobia of England in the 14th-century compared with our world today.
- To assess the significance of individuals, events, developments and ideas from the past eg the relative merits of the kingship of Edward II compared to Edward III
How will I be taught?
- The WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas will be used to provide resources or to support lessons, enable assessment, provide learner feedback and for other activities for individuals away from the course. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you and the group to be actively involved in your learning
What kind of feedback can I expect?
- You will be encouraged to share your work with the group and discuss your learning
- You will be encouraged to consider other students work and give your opinions and suggestions
What else do I need to know?
- What you need: You will need an internet connection, speakers, a microphone and a webcam so that you can use our video learning platform, Zoom. If you’d like to understand more Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- You will need a personal email address to join the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas so that you can receive resources, record your progress and achievement and to work with others and share ideas. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- Nothing else is needed
- All materials will be provided
Pre-course work, reading and information sources
- No pre reading or pre course work is required
What can I do next?
- Progress to another WEA course
- Progress to a course with another provider
- Become involved as a volunteer for a WEA partner or another organisation
Download full course information sheet
