Who would have thought that a lady of small stature who inherited the British Crown because she was the only available alternative and took her German cousin as a husband would have an era named after her? And what an era it was; an era of contradictions. On the one hand it saw great wealth, industrial and scientific development, empire, universal education and philanthropy, and on the other hand the extreme poverty of the workhouse, factory and cramped urban slums as outlined by such authors as Dickens. Come along to a relaxed and enjoyable class to view the era from the eyes of those who lived in it and influenced its development, with plenty of opportunity to look at how it worked out in you area.
Course aim
To provide a good overview of the age named after the Queen including a little about her character and that of her husband, and the major events of probably the most significant era so far in British history.
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.
- No skills or experience needed
- This course is suitable for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Form an opinion about the developments of the era in many fields of life and the extent to which the Queen and her husband epitomised and influenced them.
- Describe the major developments of the era in science and industry, the church, education, housing and public health and how people spent their leisure time.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the era not just as a series of chronological events but from the eyes of the people who lived through it by examining diaries, letters and other sources.
- Investigate how national issues and developments worked themselves out in your part of the country with opportunities and ideas given for your own research.
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
- You may be asked to undertake additional work in your own time to support your learning
What kind of feedback can I expect?
- You will be able to keep a record of your progress and achievement using photos, audio, text or documents uploaded into the WEA’s digital learning platform, WEA Canvas.
- Your tutor will provide written, text and audio feedback recorded in WEA Canvas, WEA’s digital learning platform.
- A range of informal activities will be used by the tutor to see what you are learning which may include quizzes, question and answer, small projects and discussion
- You will have opportunities to discuss your progress with your tutor
- 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
- There will be a number of tasks appropriate to your course such as written work, creating art or craft, video, photography or small projects. Some of these may be marked to help you progress
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 also need access to the internet outside of your sessions. You could do this using a smart phone, tablet, laptop or a desktop computer (at home or through a library etc.).
- 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
Pre-course work, reading and information sources
- You will have access to course resources and links to wider learning through the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- No pre reading is required but research on the subject on the internet or in the library may be helpful
- Ideas for pre course reading if students wish to do some will be provided on canvas
What can I do next?
- Progress to another WEA course
- Progress to a course with another provider
- Become involved with the WEA in a range of voluntary work and other activities including campaigning as a WEA member
- Become involved as a volunteer for a WEA partner or another organisation
- Access the WEA What Next? booklet here http://www.wea.org.uk/learn-wea/what-can-i-do-next
Download full course information sheet
