History: By the Sword Divided - The English Civil War and its aftermath

Course aim

To tell the story of the English Civil War and its aftermath from the point of view of those who lived through it and whose lives were disrupted by it.

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 course is suitable for beginners and improvers

By the end of the course I should be able to:

• Outline the issues which caused the war - political, religious and economic.
• Explain the part played by the Scottish and Irish in the war. Also perhaps research what was happening in your part of the country at the time.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the lives of those involved in the war on both sides of the conflict, both male and female, from letters, diaries and contemporary accounts including drawing conclusions about whether individuals necessarily supported the side you might have expected them to support.
• Explain why the Commonwealth and Protectorate failed
• Demonstrate an understanding of the Restoration in 1660. Was everyone happy? Winners and losers.

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.
• 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

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

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