Unit rationale, description and aim
In 1901, Queen Victoria was finally laid to rest. During her long reign, Britain had undergone remarkable demographic, political, social and economic change. Victorian Britain had developed into the workshop of the world, a formidable naval power and the centre of a vast global empire.
In the years since, Britain, and its place in the world, have changed dramatically. This course explores the history of Britain, from 1901 down to the present day. Across the semester we will investigate the political, social, economic and cultural history of the British Isles, together with the ways in which successive generations of historians and contemporary observers have sought to understand that story. We will draw on a range of official, private, and popular sources - everything from the census to the Sex Pistols.
The aim of this unit is to develop students' understanding of the many diverse and interconnected developments that together comprise the recent history of Britain. At the same time, we will pay regular attention to the ways in which Britain influenced, and was influenced by, the broader sweep of global history during the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unitLearning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Discuss theoretical and factual knowledge of the s...
Learning Outcome 01
Communicate clearly in written and/or oral form, i...
Learning Outcome 02
Locate, use and appropriately reference a variety ...
Learning Outcome 03
Apply critical reading skills to your understandin...
Learning Outcome 04
Interpret and reflect on key historical debates re...
Learning Outcome 05
Content
Specific topics studied may include:
- The British Empire ‘at home’
- British party politics and political reform
- Suffragism
- The Great War
- The 1916 Easter Uprising
- The Great Depression and Mass Observation
- Sport and recreation
- Interwar culture
- Gender in Twentieth Century Britain
- World World II
- Post-war social democracy
- Decolonisation, immigration and Europe
- British pop culture and counter culture
- Northern Ireland and the Troubles
- Britain and the Cold War
- Mrs Thatcher’s Britain and neo-liberalism
- ‘Cool Britannia’ and New Labour
- Devolution, nationalism and regional identity
- The Great Recession, Brexit and the Commonwealth.
Assessment strategy and rationale
On-Campus Mode
The assessment program for this unit, is designed to enable students to demonstrate the development of their historical skills, and their knowledge of the history of Modern Britain, throughout the course of the semester.
The Investigative Task assesses the student’s capacity to work with and interpret primary and secondary sources. This assessment may take the form of active research tasks that require students to locate and use primary and secondary sources; or, digital search techniques for online archives and/or digital newspaper databases. The investigative task assesses learning outcomes 1 and 2.
The Student-led Learning Task requires students to work collaboratively to research a topic in modern British history and to present their findings to their peers and/or lecturer in an appropriate written/oral format. The Student-led Learning Task assesses Learning Outcomes 1-4.
The Major Written Task, assesses the student’s ability to conduct a piece of substantive individual research on a topic in Modern British History, utilising both primary and secondary source materials. The Major Written Task assesses Learning Outcomes 2-5.
Overseas Intensive Mode
The assessment program for this unit, is designed to enable students to demonstrate the development of their historical skills, and their knowledge of the history of Modern Britain, both in the field and on their return to Australia.
The Reflective Task assesses students’ capacity to engage analytically, reflectively and creatively with the experiences and historical locations encountered during the fieldtrip and to relate them to relevant topics within Modern British History. The reflective task assesses Learning Outcomes 1, 2, and 3.
The Student-led Learning Task requires students to work collaboratively to research a topic in modern British history and to present their findings to their peers and/or lecturer in an appropriate written/oral format. The Student-led Learning Task assesses Learning Outcomes 1-4.
The Major Written Task, assesses the student’s ability to conduct a piece of substantive individual research on a topic in Modern British History, utilising both primary and secondary source materials. The Major Written Task assesses Learning Outcomes 2-5.
Overview of assessments
On campus face-to-face mode
Assessment Task 1: Investigative Task The purpo...
Assessment Task 1: Investigative Task
The purpose of this task is for students to develop their skills in working with primary and high-quality secondary sources, and in order to identify key information about a topic in Modern British history.
30%
Assessment Task 2: Student-led Learning Task Th...
Assessment Task 2: Student-led Learning Task
The primary purpose of this task is for students to develop their capacity to work collaboratively to research a topic in modern British history and to present their findings in an appropriate written and/or oral format.
20%
Assessment Task 3: Major Written Task The key...
Assessment Task 3: Major Written Task
The key purpose of this task is to assess the student’s ability to conduct a piece of substantive individual research into an area of Modern British History, making use of both primary and secondary sources.
50%
Overseas Intensive Mode
Assessment Task 1: Reflective Task The primary ...
Assessment Task 1: Reflective Task
The primary purpose of this task is for students to develop a portfolio of reflections on the learning experiences and historical sites encountered in Britain, and to relate them to the overarching themes of the course.
30%
Assessment Task 2: Student-led Learning Task Th...
Assessment Task 2: Student-led Learning Task
The primary purpose of this task is for students to develop their capacity to work collaboratively to research a topic in modern British history, and to present their findings in an appropriate written and/or oral format.
20%
Assessment Task 3: Major Written Task The key...
Assessment Task 3: Major Written Task
The key purpose of this task is to assess the student’s ability to conduct a piece of substantive individual research into an area of Modern British History, making use of both primary and secondary sources.
50%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
On-campus Mode
This is a 10-credit point unit and has been designed to ensure that the time needed to complete the required volume of learning to the requisite standard is approximately 150 hours in total.
This unit embraces active learning (including collaborative learning). It takes the form of a face-to-face class containing activities through which students will gain a deep understanding of the history of Modern Britain and the skills fundamental to the study of history. Key learning activities will include reading, writing, group discussion, primary source analysis, debate, and problem-solving.
To achieve a passing standard in this unit, students will find it helpful to engage in the full range of learning activities and assessments utilised in this unit, as described in the learning and teaching strategy and the assessment strategy. The learning and teaching and assessment strategies include a range of approaches to support your learning such as lectures and tutorials or workshops, supported by webinars, podcasts or online materials when appropriate. The balance of the hours then become private study to prepare for class activities and complete set readings and assignments for this unit.
Overseas Intensive Mode
This unit embraces active learning (including collaborative learning). It takes the form of an overseas fieldtrip to Britain. During the fieldtrip students will undertake a range of learning activities through which they will gain a deep understanding of the history of Modern Britain and the skills fundamental to the study of history and heritage. Key learning activities will include reading, writing, group discussion, primary source analysis, debate, and problem-solving.