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Read more at: Disruptive technologies

Disruptive technologies

Short description: 

Disruptive technologies have the potential for economic and social impact, altering the status quo and creating new opportunities. Past examples include the mechanised loom, moving assembly line and the personal computer. Today we ponder the influence and power of artificial intelligence, gene editing and renewable energies. In this course we will be looking at the science behind some of these technologies and explore their potentials and challenges for society.

Course code: 
2021SFL311
Start date: 
Monday, 12 July, 2021 - 01:00 to Friday, 16 July, 2021 - 01:00
Apply by: 
Sunday, 11 July, 2021 - 01:00
Course tutor id: 
9557
Meetings: 
0
Course ID: 
30350
Tuition fee: 
£149
Course programme: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Duration description: 
1 week
Non-accredited
Course photo: 
Address lines: 
Online
City or Town: 
Postcode: 
Venue: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Single capacity: 
0
Double capacity: 
0
Twin capacity: 
0
Single usage: 
0
Double usage: 
0
Twin usage: 
0
Maximum places: 
50
Booked places: 
10
Course cancelled: 
false
course status ref: 
booking destination ref: 
Tutor role ref: 
Course Director
Purpose ref: 
Study mode ref: 
tab1name: 
Overview
tab1html: 

Learning outcomes:

This course has been designed to enable you to:

  • Describe the main characteristics of disruptive technologies
  • Differentiate between disruptive and gradual technological revolution
  • Describe the science and technology that drives current disruptive technologies
  • Systematically evaluate the practical potential of a number of disruptive technologies

Course sessions:

1. A definition of disruptive technologies
In this session we will be looking at the defining characteristics of disruptive technologies rooted in business studies. We will have a first attempt at distinguishing hype from reality.

2. Devices
This session focuses on devices and their potential for disruptive innovation. Examples include location trackers and health care monitors which enable a range of novel applications. We will explore the science behind some of these devices and evaluate their impact on our daily lives.

3. Materials
In this session we will explore the science behind some of the materials that enable disruptive technologies, such as composites and nanomaterials. We will look at the physical and biological properties required of these materials. We will investigate whether the hype around some new materials is justified.

4. Industrial and scientific methods
It is not only devices and materials that drive disruptive technologies. This session will focus on new industrial and scientific methods, such as additive manufacturing, augmented reality and gene editing, that have a huge disruptive potential.

5. Systems
In this final session we will be looking at the larger picture and discuss disruptive technologies from a systems perspective. Areas that will be addressed are energy and transport infrastructure, such as smart grids and driverless cars.

Non-credit bearing

Please note that our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning courses are non-credit bearing.

Certificate of Participation

A certificate of participation will be sent to you electronically within a week of your Summer Festival course(s) finishing.

tab2name: 
Schedule and delivery
tab2html: 

Welcome week: Before the course starts

Courses are delivered online via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A week before your course starts you will receive an email from our Teaching & Learning (TEL) team confirming your VLE login details. Once you have logged into the VLE, you should:

  • Access the ‘Course Information’ and ‘Welcome to the course’ areas.
  • Carry out any technical checks, including video checks.
  • View the VLE ’Online course tour’ and familiarise yourself with your learning environment.
  • Watch the Course Director’s welcome video.
  • Introduce yourself to the Course Director and other students using the general forum.
  • Access and carry out any pre-reading or activities for the course provided in the ‘Welcome to the course’ area.

Study week: Course delivery, video content and study time

  • You will be taught largely through a series of pre-recorded course videos.
  • Course videos will be released on a daily basis, Monday to Friday.
  • We suggest that you set aside around 1.5 hours each day to watch the course videos, view course materials and resources and complete any related reading, activities and discussions in the daily forums. This does not need to be done in one sitting, you have the flexibility to access content when and where you want, and to go back and review it as often as you wish.

At the end of the course

  • Content for each course will remain available on the VLE for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • Course forums will close for postings on the Monday after the course, but existing messages will still be visible for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • You will receive a certificate of participation via email within a week of your course finishing

Pre-recorded course videos

Courses include one or two videos per day, these are designed by the Course Director to help you address different aspects of the main topic. All of our course videos are subtitled.

Course discussion forums

There will also be the opportunity to engage in written form with other course participants and discuss questions set by the Course Director on the discussion forums. Your Course Director will launch a number of discussions on the daily forums and will generally respond to a selection of key questions and comments on a daily basis. You are encouraged to actively take part in these discussions to get the most out of the course and to add to your overall enjoyment.

Resources, reading lists and activities

During the course and up until 5 weeks after the course has finished you will have access to a number of learning resources which may include links to websites, readings and research papers. These are provided by the Course Director to support the teaching and will be available on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

tab3name: 
Requirements
tab3html: 

Who can book?

Our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning is open to students aged 18-80+. Courses are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level. Unless otherwise stated, you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject. Unfortunately we cannot accept bookings from anyone under the age of 18. However we are also running a Virtual Pre-University Programme for 16-18 years olds in July. 

English Language requirements:

To ensure that all participants are able to enjoy studying with us, you will need to be confident understanding and following arguments presented in written and spoken English at University level. 

If English is not your native language, you will need to satisfy yourself that you have an appropriate level of English language proficiency in line with the following recommended tests (achieved in the same sitting and no more than 2 years before the date of booking): 

  • IELTS Academic or IELTS Academic for UKVI: Overall band score of 6.5 or above (with no less than 6.5 in each of the four individual components) 
  • CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency): Grade C or above or 200 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 
  • CAE (Cambridge English Advanced): Grade A or B or 193 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 

Alternatively, you may have undertaken all, or part, of your education in English and/or may have extensive experience using English on a regular basis in your professional life. On this basis, you could reasonably expect to fully participate in our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning. 

Technical requirements:

All of our courses will be delivered via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will receive access to the VLE a week before your course starts (see the Course schedule and delivery tab). Here you can study and learn online, access resources and activities, and interact with your Course Director and fellow students via the forums. 

You will need to have access to: 

  • the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device  
  • speakers or headphones in order to hear pre-recorded course videos provided by the Course Director 
  • a webcam and microphone for any interactive Zoom sessions which may be available  

 When you first log into the VLE we recommend that you view the Online course tour. This will help you to familiarise yourself with the learning environment.  

Full instructions and support on how to use the VLE is available on request.  

Test Video

By playing the video below you can test your home set up to ensure you are able to access our pre-recorded course videos. 

Accessibility and additional support for students 

We make every effort to meet the requirements of those students with additional needs. Please let us know about any additional requirements as soon as possible so that we can offer you the support and advice you require before and during the Festival. Please note that all of our courses are subtitled.

tab4name: 
Related courses
tab4html: 

You may wish to consider these additional related courses on offer in the Festival:

If you are able to study more than one course or for more than one week, you may wish to consider streams of related course subjects.  There will be many other options – this is just an illustration of possible course combinations:

Week 1: 28 June - 2 July  An introduction to AI ethics and society
Week 2: 5 July - 9 July  Materials and our environment: striving for sustainability
Week 4: 19 July - 23 July Nanotherapeutics: how nanobiotechnology is revolutionising healthcare

And don’t forget to watch the series of talks included in your course booking (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab5name: 
How to book
tab5html: 

Booking a course

To book a Festival course please click the Book Now button at the top of the course page. You will be taken to our secure bookings portal where you can set up an account using your email address, and pay for your course by credit or debit card.

All of our courses are limited to 50 places, in order to allow students and Course Directors the opportunity for interaction via the discussion forums on the VLE.

Bookings will remain open until midnight the day before the course starts. If your preferred course is full at the time of booking you can add yourself to a waiting list. You will be notified, by email, if a place becomes available. We recommend that you book early to avoid missing out.

Please note that if you book a place the weekend before a course starts, it may take up to 48 hours to process your application and notify you of your VLE log in details. You may therefore not have access until the end of the second day of the course, but can go back and review sessions which have already been released.

‘How to book a course’ video

Our short video below talks you through the necessary steps to register and create an account before booking on to your chosen course(s) via our secure payment portal.

Before booking, please ensure that you have read and understood our Booking terms and conditions

Talks

As part of our Summer Festival we will also be offering a series of talks showcasing the variety of subjects on offer here at the University, as well as research, global current affairs and a range of other topics.

By booking a Summer Festival course, you automatically qualify for free access to these talks (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab1order: 
1
tab2order: 
2
tab3order: 
3
tab4order: 
4
tab5order: 
5
Course Image version: 
100003
Study level ref: 

Read more at: Writing historical fiction for children

Writing historical fiction for children

Short description: 

In this course we’ll consider why writing historical stories can be a good option for child readers. We’ll look at the rich range of material history offers, considering how best to handle it for a young audience. We’ll consider how to research, and then use, historical material, always in the service of a strong story. In addition to the daily pre-recorded talks and reading, there is a writing challenge. Listening to the talks, doing the reading and attempting the tasks is likely to take you about 1.5 to 2 hours each day. But there are options to expand tasks, and to spend more time reading and commenting on work posted by others.

Subject ref: 
Course code: 
2021SFL306
Start date: 
Monday, 12 July, 2021 - 01:00 to Friday, 16 July, 2021 - 01:00
Apply by: 
Sunday, 11 July, 2021 - 01:00
Course tutor id: 
8312
Course ID: 
30305
Tuition fee: 
£149
Course programme: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Duration description: 
1 week
Non-accredited
Course photo: 
Address lines: 
Online
City or Town: 
Postcode: 
Venue: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Single capacity: 
0
Double capacity: 
0
Twin capacity: 
0
Single usage: 
0
Double usage: 
0
Twin usage: 
0
Maximum places: 
50
Booked places: 
12
Course cancelled: 
false
course status ref: 
booking destination ref: 
Tutor role ref: 
Course Director
Purpose ref: 
Study mode ref: 
tab1name: 
Overview
tab1html: 

Learning outcomes:

This course has been designed to enable you to:

  • acquire an appreciation of the opportunities and responsibilities inherent with using historical settings and subjects
  • gain an understanding of children and book formats at different stages of childhood
  • understand what ‘story’ is, and how story works
  • be equipped with a variety of story writing techniques
  • gain insights into historical research, and how to use that research
  • acquire an understanding of how to create a convincing yet accessible world from the past for modern young readers
  • practice assessing the success of writing by considering each other’s written pieces
  • have some understanding of how to approach getting published

Course sessions:

1. Why write historical fiction for children?
Looking at the role of history in giving children and their society perspective, but also the fun to be had with a historical story. Considering what historical topics and fictional treatments work best for different stages of childhood and formats of book. Thinking about the personal history we have in our own experiences.

2. Where to find your story
The things, big and small, which plant the seeds of stories in our minds, and ways to grow those seeds into fully realised stories. Should we aim to write stories about the big moments and characters in history, or focus on the more ordinary? The potential to develop historical fiction via fantasy of different kinds.

3. Taking us there
Considering the importance of character and story structure in making a story live in our imaginations. Working on story openings; the need to introduce characters, set the historical scene, and set the tone of the story, all whilst getting the story action going. How much historical background do we need to describe?

4. Finding your, and your characters’, voices
Is it better to mix telling what happens with dialogue in a traditional narrative way, or to write in the first person? Should characters speak in the language of their time? Considering how to use other written forms, such as diaries or letters. What happens when writing shares the story telling with pictures?

5. Doing your research, and what comes next?
Considering different sources for information and ideas. What, and how much, do we need to know? How do we find those things out? And how do we fill the inevitable gaps?
Where to find help in developing your historical story writing skills, and potential routes to publication.

Non-credit bearing

Please note that our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning courses are non-credit bearing.

Certificate of Participation

A certificate of participation will be sent to you electronically within a week of your Summer Festival course(s) finishing.

tab2name: 
Schedule and delivery
tab2html: 

Welcome week: Before the course starts

Courses are delivered online via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A week before your course starts you will receive an email from our Teaching & Learning (TEL) team confirming your VLE login details. Once you have logged into the VLE, you should:

  • Access the ‘Course Information’ and ‘Welcome to the course’ areas.
  • Carry out any technical checks, including video checks.
  • View the VLE ’Online course tour’ and familiarise yourself with your learning environment.
  • Watch the Course Director’s welcome video.
  • Introduce yourself to the Course Director and other students using the general forum.
  • Access and carry out any pre-reading or activities for the course provided in the ‘Welcome to the course’ area.

Study week: Course delivery, video content and study time

  • You will be taught largely through a series of pre-recorded talks, designed to help you address different aspects of the main topic. These will be released on a daily basis, Monday to Friday. All of our videos are subtitled. There will also be an element of interactive work: a daily writing exercise to which you may respond by posting a short piece on the Student Forum on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You may also, if you wish, post questions related to the day’s teaching and the associated daily writing exercise, to be answered by the tutor on a separate ‘Your Questions’ Forum. 
  • Please note: Your course director will read your posts daily, and will comment in broad terms on the group’s work, but it won’t be possible to provide feedback on individual exercise assignments, though questions arising from the assignment will be welcome. Depending on the number of questions, your tutor may have to work selectively. Where this applies, selection will tend to favour questions of general interest to the group as a whole. 
  • The first talk will be introductory, and thereafter a typical session might run as follows, with the Course Director providing: 
    • a broad account of the territory to be covered in the session 
    • close analysis of relevant published texts or images posted on the course VLE  
    • a writing exercise based on the session's focal concerns, and giving you guidelines and making you aware of key issues 
    • a summary of the session's concerns and a brief outline of the next day's focus
  • We suggest that you set aside around 2 hours each day to watch the videos, view course materials and resources, complete any related reading, pose questions and undertake the writing exercises. This does not need to be done in one sitting, you have the flexibility to access content when and where you want, and to go back and review it as often as you wish. 

At the end of the course

  • Content for each course will remain available on the VLE for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • Course forums will close for postings on the Monday after the course, but existing messages will still be visible for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • You will receive a certificate of participation via email within a week of your course finishing

Resources, reading lists and activities

During the course and up until 5 weeks after the course has finished you will have access to a number of learning resources which may include links to websites, readings and research papers. These are provided by the Course Director to support the teaching and will be available on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

tab3name: 
Requirements
tab3html: 

Who can book?

Our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning is open to students aged 18-80+. Courses are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level. Unless otherwise stated, you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject. Unfortunately we cannot accept bookings from anyone under the age of 18. However we are also running a Virtual Pre-University Programme for 16-18 years olds in July. 

English Language requirements:

To ensure that all participants are able to enjoy studying with us, you will need to be confident understanding and following arguments presented in written and spoken English at University level. 

If English is not your native language, you will need to satisfy yourself that you have an appropriate level of English language proficiency in line with the following recommended tests (achieved in the same sitting and no more than 2 years before the date of booking): 

  • IELTS Academic or IELTS Academic for UKVI: Overall band score of 6.5 or above (with no less than 6.5 in each of the four individual components) 
  • CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency): Grade C or above or 200 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 
  • CAE (Cambridge English Advanced): Grade A or B or 193 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 

Alternatively, you may have undertaken all, or part, of your education in English and/or may have extensive experience using English on a regular basis in your professional life. On this basis, you could reasonably expect to fully participate in our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning. 

Technical requirements:

All of our courses will be delivered via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will receive access to the VLE a week before your course starts (see the Course schedule and delivery tab). Here you can study and learn online, access resources and activities, and interact with your Course Director and fellow students via the forums. 

You will need to have access to: 

  • the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device  
  • speakers or headphones in order to hear pre-recorded course videos provided by the Course Director 
  • a webcam and microphone for any interactive Zoom sessions which may be available  

 When you first log into the VLE we recommend that you view the Online course tour. This will help you to familiarise yourself with the learning environment.  

Full instructions and support on how to use the VLE is available on request.  

Test Video

By playing the video below you can test your home set up to ensure you are able to access our pre-recorded course videos. 

Accessibility and additional support for students 

We make every effort to meet the requirements of those students with additional needs. Please let us know about any additional requirements as soon as possible so that we can offer you the support and advice you require before and during the Festival. Please note that all of our courses are subtitled. 

tab4name: 
Related courses
tab4html: 

You may wish to consider these additional related courses on offer in the Festival:

If you are able to study more than one course or for more than one week, you may wish to consider streams of related course subjects.  There will be many other options – this is just an illustration of possible course combinations:

Week 2: 5 July - 9 July  Writing fiction: plot
Week 4: 19 July - 23 July Writing non-fiction: lives - past and present
Week 5: 26 July - 30 July Adventures in fiction I: time

And don’t forget to watch the series of talks included in your course booking (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab5name: 
How to book
tab5html: 

Booking a course

To book a Festival course please click the Book Now button at the top of the course page. You will be taken to our secure bookings portal where you can set up an account using your email address, and pay for your course by credit or debit card.

All of our courses are limited to 50 places, in order to allow students and Course Directors the opportunity for interaction via the discussion forums on the VLE.

Bookings will remain open until midnight the day before the course starts. If your preferred course is full at the time of booking you can add yourself to a waiting list. You will be notified, by email, if a place becomes available. We recommend that you book early to avoid missing out.

Please note that if you book a place the weekend before a course starts, it may take up to 48 hours to process your application and notify you of your VLE log in details. You may therefore not have access until the end of the second day of the course, but can go back and review sessions which have already been released.

‘How to book a course’ video

Our short video below talks you through the necessary steps to register and create an account before booking on to your chosen course(s) via our secure payment portal.

Before booking, please ensure that you have read and understood our Booking terms and conditions

Talks

As part of our Summer Festival we will also be offering a series of talks showcasing the variety of subjects on offer here at the University, as well as research, global current affairs and a range of other topics.

By booking a Summer Festival course, you automatically qualify for free access to these talks (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab1order: 
1
tab2order: 
2
tab3order: 
3
tab4order: 
4
tab5order: 
5
Course Image version: 
100003
Study level ref: 

Read more at: International human rights: war, conflict and the responsibility to protect

International human rights: war, conflict and the responsibility to protect

Short description: 

War is depressingly constant throughout human history, and in the modern era, civilians frequently find themselves in the front line. This course charts the evolution of legal attempts from the 19th century to limit war's excesses up to the current debate about whether, when and how States may intervene to protect human rights. 

Course code: 
2021SFL214
Start date: 
Monday, 5 July, 2021 - 01:00 to Friday, 9 July, 2021 - 01:00
Apply by: 
Sunday, 4 July, 2021 - 01:00
Course tutor id: 
9647
Meetings: 
0
Course ID: 
30346
Tuition fee: 
£149
Course programme: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Duration description: 
1 week
Non-accredited
Course photo: 
Address lines: 
Online
City or Town: 
Postcode: 
Venue: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Single capacity: 
0
Double capacity: 
0
Twin capacity: 
0
Single usage: 
0
Double usage: 
0
Twin usage: 
0
Maximum places: 
50
Booked places: 
20
Course cancelled: 
false
course status ref: 
booking destination ref: 
Tutor role ref: 
Course Director
Purpose ref: 
Study mode ref: 
tab1name: 
Overview
tab1html: 

Learning outcomes:

This course has been designed to enable you to:

  • Chart the development of law of armed conflict since 1850 and demonstrate the impact that this has had on conduct of hostilities; 
  • Assess the limits and the successes of the attempt since 1945 to limit States’ recourse to force to solve international disputes;
  • Consider the use of force in future, especially outside of the authority of the UN Security Council, in order to defend human rights.

Course sessions:

1. The International Legal Order
1.1 Westphalia to San Francisco
1.2 United Nations

These two lectures provide the international legal basis for the rest of the course. In the first one, we will explore the distinction between the law governing force (jus ad bellum) and the law governing the conduct of hostilities (jus in bello). We then look at the development of the jus ad bellum from ancient times to the present, covering the major legal instruments and showing how the UN Charter was a revolutionary document in making offensive war illegal for the first time in human history.

2. Regulating Conflict
2.1 Regulating Conflict to 1899
2.2 The Long 20th Century Part 1

Having introduced the rules around the use of force in Session One, Session Two looks at the development of the jus in bello, laws which regulate how wars should be fought. Here, the focus is on the Six Principles, and by considering the law of war promulgated by Abu Bakr, the first Caliph in 7th-Century Arabia, we see that many of the principles are neither modern nor Eurocentric. These lectures then cover the creation of the Red Cross and the First Geneva Convention in the 19th Century, Hague Regulations of 1899 and 1907, before looking to the key to understanding the most well-known elements, the Four Geneva Conventions of 1949 by looking at how the classification of conflict dictates what law governs that conflict.

3. Contemporary Law of Armed Conflict
3.1 The Long 20th Century Part 2
3.2 Law and Disarmament

These two lectures cut to the heart of how the modern Geneva Conventions work in practice. Building on the classification of conflict lecture, we introduce the distinction between combatants and non-combatants for the first time, and look at the Direct Participation rule. Once we've worked out who is covered by the protections and permissions of the conventions, we then consider the substantive Geneva Convention law in lecture 3.1 before looking at arms control in lecture 3.2. 

4. Contemporary Issues governing the Use of Force: Aggression and the Responsibility to Protect
4.1 Aggression
4.2 Responsibility to Protect

The previous two sessions have been about controlling how wars are fought, these two lectures look at two of the most challenging issues in jus ad bellum today. In lecture 4.1 we examine the notion of aggression, and how attempts to introduce criminal liability for aggression have been tried with limited success since the post-Second World War tribunals at Nuremberg and Tokyo convicted the Germany and Japanese wartime leaders of aggression. Lecture 4.2 looks at the problem when the UN Charter comes into conflict with itself: the lacuna that exists between protecting human rights and the guarantee of non-intervention in the affairs of a sovereign state – what happens when a state abuses its own citizens? Here, the post-Kosovo development of the law, known as Responsibility to Protect, or R2P, is examined and critiqued. 

5. Enforcement and the Future
5.1 Enforcement
5.2 The world to and beyond 2030

In the final two lectures, we will look at how the international community enforces the rules, looking at the International Tribunals and internationalised courts which originated in the 1990s to prosecute crimes committed in Former Yugoslavia, the Rwandan Genocide, Sierra Leone and the historic crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in the 1970s. Having looked at these courts and tribunals, we will consider the International Criminal Court (ICC) which had built on these foundations to begin to end impunity for some offenders in some conflicts. In lecture 10, we will conclude the course by considering whether the international community is closer to stopping aggression, the abuse of human rights and prosecuting those responsible than we were in 1990. What will the world look like in 2030? 

Non-credit bearing

Please note that our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning courses are non-credit bearing.

Certificate of Participation

A certificate of participation will be sent to you electronically within a week of your Summer Festival course(s) finishing.

tab2name: 
Schedule and delivery
tab2html: 

Welcome week: Before the course starts

Courses are delivered online via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A week before your course starts you will receive an email from our Teaching & Learning (TEL) team confirming your VLE login details. Once you have logged into the VLE, you should:

  • Access the ‘Course Information’ and ‘Welcome to the course’ areas.
  • Carry out any technical checks, including video checks.
  • View the VLE ’Online course tour’ and familiarise yourself with your learning environment.
  • Watch the Course Director’s welcome video.
  • Introduce yourself to the Course Director and other students using the general forum.
  • Access and carry out any pre-reading or activities for the course provided in the ‘Welcome to the course’ area.

Study week: Course delivery, video content and study time

  • You will be taught largely through a series of pre-recorded course videos.
  • Course videos will be released on a daily basis, Monday to Friday.
  • We suggest that you set aside around 1.5 hours each day to watch the course videos, view course materials and resources and complete any related reading, activities and discussions in the daily forums. This does not need to be done in one sitting, you have the flexibility to access content when and where you want, and to go back and review it as often as you wish.

Zoom Session

  • Toby Fenwick will be hosting a live Zoom session on Thursday 8 July at 2pm BST (GMT+1). The session will last approximately 30 minutes. Access via the VLE

At the end of the course

  • Content for each course will remain available on the VLE for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • Course forums will close for postings on the Monday after the course, but existing messages will still be visible for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • You will receive a certificate of participation via email within a week of your course finishing

Pre-recorded course videos

Courses include one or two videos per day, these are designed by the Course Director to help you address different aspects of the main topic. All of our course videos are subtitled.

Course discussion forums

There will also be the opportunity to engage in written form with other course participants and discuss questions set by the Course Director on the discussion forums. Your Course Director will launch a number of discussions on the daily forums and will generally respond to a selection of key questions and comments on a daily basis. You are encouraged to actively take part in these discussions to get the most out of the course and to add to your overall enjoyment.

Resources, reading lists and activities

During the course and up until 5 weeks after the course has finished you will have access to a number of learning resources which may include links to websites, readings and research papers. These are provided by the Course Director to support the teaching and will be available on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

tab3name: 
Requirements
tab3html: 

Who can book?

Our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning is open to students aged 18-80+. Courses are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level. Unless otherwise stated, you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject. Unfortunately we cannot accept bookings from anyone under the age of 18. However we are also running a Virtual Pre-University Programme for 16-18 years olds in July. 

English Language requirements:

To ensure that all participants are able to enjoy studying with us, you will need to be confident understanding and following arguments presented in written and spoken English at University level. 

If English is not your native language, you will need to satisfy yourself that you have an appropriate level of English language proficiency in line with the following recommended tests (achieved in the same sitting and no more than 2 years before the date of booking): 

  • IELTS Academic or IELTS Academic for UKVI: Overall band score of 6.5 or above (with no less than 6.5 in each of the four individual components) 
  • CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency): Grade C or above or 200 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 
  • CAE (Cambridge English Advanced): Grade A or B or 193 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 

Alternatively, you may have undertaken all, or part, of your education in English and/or may have extensive experience using English on a regular basis in your professional life. On this basis, you could reasonably expect to fully participate in our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning. 

Technical requirements:

All of our courses will be delivered via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will receive access to the VLE a week before your course starts (see the Course schedule and delivery tab). Here you can study and learn online, access resources and activities, and interact with your Course Director and fellow students via the forums. 

You will need to have access to: 

  • the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device  
  • speakers or headphones in order to hear pre-recorded course videos provided by the Course Director 
  • a webcam and microphone for any interactive Zoom sessions which may be available  

 When you first log into the VLE we recommend that you view the Online course tour. This will help you to familiarise yourself with the learning environment.  

Full instructions and support on how to use the VLE is available on request.  

Test Video

By playing the video below you can test your home set up to ensure you are able to access our pre-recorded course videos. 

Accessibility and additional support for students 

We make every effort to meet the requirements of those students with additional needs. Please let us know about any additional requirements as soon as possible so that we can offer you the support and advice you require before and during the Festival. Please note that all of our courses are subtitled.

tab4name: 
Related courses
tab4html: 

You may wish to consider these additional related courses on offer in the Festival:

If you are able to study more than one course or for more than one week, you may wish to consider streams of related course subjects.  There will be many other options – this is just an illustration of possible course combinations:

Week 1: 28 June - 2 July  Challenges to the global order
Week 3: 12 July - 16 July International development: past present and future
Week 4: 19 July - 23 July Making sense of international migration and/or The Cherokee: from first contact to forced removal

And don’t forget to watch the series of talks included in your course booking (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab5name: 
How to book
tab5html: 

Booking a course

To book a Festival course please click the Book Now button at the top of the course page. You will be taken to our secure bookings portal where you can set up an account using your email address, and pay for your course by credit or debit card.

All of our courses are limited to 50 places, in order to allow students and Course Directors the opportunity for interaction via the discussion forums on the VLE.

Bookings will remain open until midnight the day before the course starts. If your preferred course is full at the time of booking you can add yourself to a waiting list. You will be notified, by email, if a place becomes available. We recommend that you book early to avoid missing out.

Please note that if you book a place the weekend before a course starts, it may take up to 48 hours to process your application and notify you of your VLE log in details. You may therefore not have access until the end of the second day of the course, but can go back and review sessions which have already been released.

‘How to book a course’ video

Our short video below talks you through the necessary steps to register and create an account before booking on to your chosen course(s) via our secure payment portal.

Before booking, please ensure that you have read and understood our Booking terms and conditions

Talks

As part of our Summer Festival we will also be offering a series of talks showcasing the variety of subjects on offer here at the University, as well as research, global current affairs and a range of other topics.

By booking a Summer Festival course, you automatically qualify for free access to these talks (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab1order: 
1
tab2order: 
2
tab3order: 
3
tab4order: 
4
tab5order: 
5
Course Image version: 
100003
Study level ref: 

Read more at: Stellar evolution

Stellar evolution

Short description: 

The birth and death of stars is the story of the origin of the elements that make up our Earth. It is also the story of the battle of matter against gravity. A battle that gravity always wins with either a whimper or a bang.

Course code: 
2021SFL101
Start date: 
Monday, 28 June, 2021 - 01:00 to Friday, 2 July, 2021 - 01:00
Apply by: 
Sunday, 27 June, 2021 - 01:00
Course tutor id: 
1368
Meetings: 
0
Course ID: 
30291
Tuition fee: 
£149
Course programme: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Duration description: 
1 week
Non-accredited
Course photo: 
Address lines: 
Online
City or Town: 
Postcode: 
Venue: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Single capacity: 
0
Double capacity: 
0
Twin capacity: 
0
Single usage: 
0
Double usage: 
0
Twin usage: 
0
Maximum places: 
50
Booked places: 
24
Course cancelled: 
false
course status ref: 
booking destination ref: 
Tutor role ref: 
Course Director
Purpose ref: 
Study mode ref: 
tab1name: 
Overview
tab1html: 

Learning outcomes:

This course has been designed to enable you to:

  • Have a deeper understanding of the world around us and appreciate the fact that we are all made from material made in stars
  • Better understand media reports of new astronomical discoveries
  • Have a broader perspective of our own significance and possible future, within the context of the Universe

Course sessions:

1. Origin and birth of Stars
1.1 In this lecture we see how the Universe has evolved from its origin to the present day. Today it is mainly made of hydrogen and helium as well as an ever decreasing proportion of heavy elements, whose origins must be explained as a product of the evolution of stars.
1.2 We now see how stars and planets are born from clouds of dust and gas that collapse driven by the force of gravity. These clouds fragment producing stars with a wide range of masses. As a cloud collapses to form a star it has to get rid of its internal heat by radiating it away.

2. The life and death of stars
2.1 A star is a stable balance between the force of gravity and the pressure maintained by the interior nuclear fusion reactions. When the interior fuel runs out other reactions start. We can track the steady changes in a star as it moves around the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, which is a plot of a star’s brightness against surface temperature.
2.2 We have seen the way low-mass stars begin and end their lives. We now see how stars that are more than five times the mass of the Sun end their lives in supernova explosions and how these explosions create certain elements, through the rapid capture of neutrons, which inside the atomic nucleus decay into protons.

3. Exploding stars
3.1 We look at a recent supernova explosion and see how only a tiny fraction of the energy of the explosion is radiated in visible light. We then see how the most massive and fortunately rare stars of 100 solar masses, end their lives, in ways that could pose a threat to the Earth.
3.2. Half the stars in the sky are double and if they are sufficiently close they can transfer material from one to the other, influencing the way they evolve. This can lead to many different outcomes, including a different type of supernova explosion when a previously fading star is reawakened. We see how the energy of such explosions can be explained by the release of gravitational potential energy.

4. Neutron stars and black holes
4.1 One of the outcomes of stellar evolution can be a neutron star. Double stars each producing a neutron star can create a situation where the neutron stars merge, creating a burst of gravitational waves and producing a particular mix of heavy elements including gold. We will see that there are a wide range of different exploding stars.
4.2 Black holes are found in the centres of galaxies as well as being created by the death of massive stars. They are all similar in properties only the time scale of their variation in the brightness of their jets and accretion disks depends on their mass. We will look at the evidence for black holes and see what they are like.

5. How we know and what we know
5.1 Light is the messenger of the Universe and its colour contains the message. We see how we read this message through the technique of spectroscopy. This allows us to measure the temperature and composition of stars, providing evidence for everything we have talked about in the previous talks.
5.2 In the final talk we look at the proportions of the different elements in the Universe and review how they are made in stars of different mass, as they evolve. What elements are made depends on the mass of the stars and whether they end their lives as supernovae, white dwarfs or merging neutron stars. We see how the evolution of stars entails recycling material from previous generations of stars. How this is an imperfect system that will one day leave the Universe empty and cold.

Non-credit bearing

Please note that our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning courses are non-credit bearing.

Certificate of Participation

A certificate of participation will be sent to you electronically within a week of your Summer Festival course(s) finishing.

tab2name: 
Schedule and delivery
tab2html: 

Welcome week: Before the course starts

Courses are delivered online via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A week before your course starts you will receive an email from our Teaching & Learning (TEL) team confirming your VLE login details. Once you have logged into the VLE, you should:

  • Access the ‘Course Information’ and ‘Welcome to the course’ areas.
  • Carry out any technical checks, including video checks.
  • View the VLE ’Online course tour’ and familiarise yourself with your learning environment.
  • Watch the Course Director’s welcome video.
  • Introduce yourself to the Course Director and other students using the general forum.
  • Access and carry out any pre-reading or activities for the course provided in the ‘Welcome to the course’ area.

Study week: Course delivery, video content and study time

  • You will be taught largely through a series of pre-recorded course videos.
  • Course videos will be released on a daily basis, Monday to Friday.
  • We suggest that you set aside around 1.5 hours each day to watch the course videos, view course materials and resources and complete any related reading, activities and discussions in the daily forums. This does not need to be done in one sitting, you have the flexibility to access content when and where you want, and to go back and review it as often as you wish.

At the end of the course

  • Content for each course will remain available on the VLE for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • Course forums will close for postings on the Monday after the course, but existing messages will still be visible for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • You will receive a certificate of participation via email within a week of your course finishing

Pre-recorded course videos

Courses include one or two videos per day, these are designed by the Course Director to help you address different aspects of the main topic. All of our course videos are subtitled.

Course discussion forums

There will also be the opportunity to engage in written form with other course participants and discuss questions set by the Course Director on the discussion forums. Your Course Director will launch a number of discussions on the daily forums and will generally respond to a selection of key questions and comments on a daily basis. You are encouraged to actively take part in these discussions to get the most out of the course and to add to your overall enjoyment.

Resources, reading lists and activities

During the course and up until 5 weeks after the course has finished you will have access to a number of learning resources which may include links to websites, readings and research papers. These are provided by the Course Director to support the teaching and will be available on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

tab3name: 
Requirements
tab3html: 

Who can book?

Our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning is open to students aged 18-80+. Courses are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level. Unless otherwise stated, you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject. Unfortunately we cannot accept bookings from anyone under the age of 18. However we are also running a Virtual Pre-University Programme for 16-18 years olds in July. 

English Language requirements:

To ensure that all participants are able to enjoy studying with us, you will need to be confident understanding and following arguments presented in written and spoken English at University level. 

If English is not your native language, you will need to satisfy yourself that you have an appropriate level of English language proficiency in line with the following recommended tests (achieved in the same sitting and no more than 2 years before the date of booking): 

  • IELTS Academic or IELTS Academic for UKVI: Overall band score of 6.5 or above (with no less than 6.5 in each of the four individual components) 
  • CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency): Grade C or above or 200 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 
  • CAE (Cambridge English Advanced): Grade A or B or 193 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 

Alternatively, you may have undertaken all, or part, of your education in English and/or may have extensive experience using English on a regular basis in your professional life. On this basis, you could reasonably expect to fully participate in our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning. 

Technical requirements:

All of our courses will be delivered via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will receive access to the VLE a week before your course starts (see the Course schedule and delivery tab). Here you can study and learn online, access resources and activities, and interact with your Course Director and fellow students via the forums. 

You will need to have access to: 

  • the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device  
  • speakers or headphones in order to hear pre-recorded course videos provided by the Course Director 
  • a webcam and microphone for any interactive Zoom sessions which may be available  

 When you first log into the VLE we recommend that you view the Online course tour. This will help you to familiarise yourself with the learning environment.  

Full instructions and support on how to use the VLE is available on request.  

Test Video

By playing the video below you can test your home set up to ensure you are able to access our pre-recorded course videos. 

Accessibility and additional support for students 

We make every effort to meet the requirements of those students with additional needs. Please let us know about any additional requirements as soon as possible so that we can offer you the support and advice you require before and during the Festival. Please note that all of our courses are subtitled.

tab4name: 
Related courses
tab4html: 

You may wish to consider these additional related courses on offer in the Festival:

If you are able to study more than one course or for more than one week, you may wish to consider streams of related course subjects.  There will be many other options – this is just an illustration of possible course combinations:

Week 1: 28 June - 2 July  From micro to macro: understanding our planet
Week 5: 26 July - 30 July Windows to the Universe

And don’t forget to watch the series of talks included in your course booking (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab5name: 
How to book
tab5html: 

Booking a course

To book a Festival course please click the Book Now button at the top of the course page. You will be taken to our secure bookings portal where you can set up an account using your email address, and pay for your course by credit or debit card.

All of our courses are limited to 50 places, in order to allow students and Course Directors the opportunity for interaction via the discussion forums on the VLE.

Bookings will remain open until midnight the day before the course starts. If your preferred course is full at the time of booking you can add yourself to a waiting list. You will be notified, by email, if a place becomes available. We recommend that you book early to avoid missing out.

Please note that if you book a place the weekend before a course starts, it may take up to 48 hours to process your application and notify you of your VLE log in details. You may therefore not have access until the end of the second day of the course, but can go back and review sessions which have already been released.

‘How to book a course’ video

Our short video below talks you through the necessary steps to register and create an account before booking on to your chosen course(s) via our secure payment portal.

Before booking, please ensure that you have read and understood our Booking terms and conditions

Talks

As part of our Summer Festival we will also be offering a series of talks showcasing the variety of subjects on offer here at the University, as well as research, global current affairs and a range of other topics.

By booking a Summer Festival course, you automatically qualify for free access to these talks (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab1order: 
1
tab2order: 
2
tab3order: 
3
tab4order: 
4
tab5order: 
5
Course Image version: 
100003
Study level ref: 

Read more at: Writing fiction: character

Writing fiction: character

Short description: 

This course considers a variety of ways in which we can construct characters, creating three-dimensional plausible personalities. But inventing characters is just the beginning; we’ll go on to discover how writers reveal character to the reader and how we encourage readers to invest emotionally in what happens to our characters.

Subject ref: 
Course code: 
2021SFL405
Start date: 
Monday, 19 July, 2021 - 01:00 to Friday, 23 July, 2021 - 01:00
Apply by: 
Sunday, 18 July, 2021 - 01:00
Course tutor id: 
1953
Meetings: 
0
Course ID: 
30364
Tuition fee: 
£149
Course programme: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Duration description: 
1 week
Non-accredited
Course photo: 
Address lines: 
Online
City or Town: 
Postcode: 
Venue: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Single capacity: 
0
Double capacity: 
0
Twin capacity: 
0
Single usage: 
0
Double usage: 
0
Twin usage: 
0
Maximum places: 
50
Booked places: 
31
Course cancelled: 
false
course status ref: 
booking destination ref: 
Tutor role ref: 
Course Director
Purpose ref: 
Study mode ref: 
tab1name: 
Overview
tab1html: 

Learning outcomes:

This course has been designed to enable you to:

  • Be introduced to strategies for creating and developing characters
  • Develop an awareness of the different ways in which they can introduce characters to readers
  • Understand the importance of characters' voices, both through dialogue and narrative voice

Course sessions:

1. Characters inside out
We'll consider the problems associated with over-planning characters by pinning down too much detail early on, and consider various ways in which we can arrive at a better sense of who they are.

2. Introducing characters
We'll look at ways of presenting characters to readers and address the importance of 'inhabiting' our characters.

3. Characters and plot
We'll think about the relationship between character and plot and how we make characters multi-faceted.

4. Voices
We'll focus on how we can use dialogue and first-person narrative voice to convey character.

5. Drawing it all together
We'll draw together the various elements of character development and consider some practical tips.

Non-credit bearing

Please note that our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning courses are non-credit bearing.

Certificate of Participation

A certificate of participation will be sent to you electronically within a week of your Summer Festival course(s) finishing.

tab2name: 
Schedule and delivery
tab2html: 

Welcome week: Before the course starts

Courses are delivered online via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A week before your course starts you will receive an email from our Teaching & Learning (TEL) team confirming your VLE login details. Once you have logged into the VLE, you should:

  • Access the ‘Course Information’ and ‘Welcome to the course’ areas.
  • Carry out any technical checks, including video checks.
  • View the VLE ’Online course tour’ and familiarise yourself with your learning environment.
  • Watch the Course Director’s welcome video.
  • Introduce yourself to the Course Director and other students using the general forum.
  • Access and carry out any pre-reading or activities for the course provided in the ‘Welcome to the course’ area.

Study week: Course delivery, video content and study time

  • You will be taught largely through a series of pre-recorded talks, designed to help you address different aspects of the main topic. These will be released on a daily basis, Monday to Friday. All of our videos are subtitled. There will also be an element of interactive work: a daily writing exercise to which you may respond by posting a short piece on the Student Forum on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You may also, if you wish, post questions related to the day’s teaching and the associated daily writing exercise, to be answered by the tutor on a separate ‘Your Questions’ Forum. 
  • Please note: Your course director will read your posts daily, and will comment in broad terms on the group’s work, but it won’t be possible to provide feedback on individual exercise assignments, though questions arising from the assignment will be welcome. Depending on the number of questions, your tutor may have to work selectively. Where this applies, selection will tend to favour questions of general interest to the group as a whole. 
  • The first talk will be introductory, and thereafter a typical session might run as follows, with the Course Director providing: 
    • a broad account of the territory to be covered in the session 
    • close analysis of relevant published texts or images posted on the course VLE  
    • a writing exercise based on the session's focal concerns, and giving you guidelines and making you aware of key issues 
    • a summary of the session's concerns and a brief outline of the next day's focus
  • We suggest that you set aside around 2 hours each day to watch the videos, view course materials and resources, complete any related reading, pose questions and undertake the writing exercises. This does not need to be done in one sitting, you have the flexibility to access content when and where you want, and to go back and review it as often as you wish. 

At the end of the course

  • Content for each course will remain available on the VLE for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • Course forums will close for postings on the Monday after the course, but existing messages will still be visible for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • You will receive a certificate of participation via email within a week of your course finishing

Resources, reading lists and activities

During the course and up until 5 weeks after the course has finished you will have access to a number of learning resources which may include links to websites, readings and research papers. These are provided by the Course Director to support the teaching and will be available on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

tab3name: 
Requirements
tab3html: 

Who can book?

Our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning is open to students aged 18-80+. Courses are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level. Unless otherwise stated, you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject. Unfortunately we cannot accept bookings from anyone under the age of 18. However we are also running a Virtual Pre-University Programme for 16-18 years olds in July. 

English Language requirements:

To ensure that all participants are able to enjoy studying with us, you will need to be confident understanding and following arguments presented in written and spoken English at University level. 

If English is not your native language, you will need to satisfy yourself that you have an appropriate level of English language proficiency in line with the following recommended tests (achieved in the same sitting and no more than 2 years before the date of booking): 

  • IELTS Academic or IELTS Academic for UKVI: Overall band score of 6.5 or above (with no less than 6.5 in each of the four individual components) 
  • CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency): Grade C or above or 200 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 
  • CAE (Cambridge English Advanced): Grade A or B or 193 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 

Alternatively, you may have undertaken all, or part, of your education in English and/or may have extensive experience using English on a regular basis in your professional life. On this basis, you could reasonably expect to fully participate in our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning. 

Technical requirements:

All of our courses will be delivered via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will receive access to the VLE a week before your course starts (see the Course schedule and delivery tab). Here you can study and learn online, access resources and activities, and interact with your Course Director and fellow students via the forums. 

You will need to have access to: 

  • the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device  
  • speakers or headphones in order to hear pre-recorded course videos provided by the Course Director 
  • a webcam and microphone for any interactive Zoom sessions which may be available  

 When you first log into the VLE we recommend that you view the Online course tour. This will help you to familiarise yourself with the learning environment.  

Full instructions and support on how to use the VLE is available on request.  

Test Video

By playing the video below you can test your home set up to ensure you are able to access our pre-recorded course videos. 

Accessibility and additional support for students 

We make every effort to meet the requirements of those students with additional needs. Please let us know about any additional requirements as soon as possible so that we can offer you the support and advice you require before and during the Festival. Please note that all of our courses are subtitled.

tab4name: 
Related courses
tab4html: 

You may wish to consider these additional related courses on offer in the Festival:

If you are able to study more than one course or for more than one week, you may wish to consider streams of related course subjects.  There will be many other options – this is just an illustration of possible course combinations:

Week 2: 5 July - 9 July  Writing fiction: plot
Week 3: 12 July - 16 July Writing fiction: a sense of place
Week 5: 26 July - 30 July Adventures in fiction: time

And don’t forget to watch the series of talks included in your course booking (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab5name: 
How to book
tab5html: 

Booking a course

To book a Festival course please click the Book Now button at the top of the course page. You will be taken to our secure bookings portal where you can set up an account using your email address, and pay for your course by credit or debit card.

All of our courses are limited to 50 places, in order to allow students and Course Directors the opportunity for interaction via the discussion forums on the VLE.

Bookings will remain open until midnight the day before the course starts. If your preferred course is full at the time of booking you can add yourself to a waiting list. You will be notified, by email, if a place becomes available. We recommend that you book early to avoid missing out.

Please note that if you book a place the weekend before a course starts, it may take up to 48 hours to process your application and notify you of your VLE log in details. You may therefore not have access until the end of the second day of the course, but can go back and review sessions which have already been released.

‘How to book a course’ video

Our short video below talks you through the necessary steps to register and create an account before booking on to your chosen course(s) via our secure payment portal.

Before booking, please ensure that you have read and understood our Booking terms and conditions

Talks

As part of our Summer Festival we will also be offering a series of talks showcasing the variety of subjects on offer here at the University, as well as research, global current affairs and a range of other topics.

By booking a Summer Festival course, you automatically qualify for free access to these talks (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab1order: 
1
tab2order: 
2
tab3order: 
3
tab4order: 
4
tab5order: 
5
Course Image version: 
100003
Study level ref: 

Read more at: Writing fiction: plot

Writing fiction: plot

Short description: 

Covering the fundamental principles of plot structure, this course considers classic story shapes and how we can use them to help make our narratives realistic and believable yet unpredictable and compelling. Moving on from tried and tested formulae we’ll consider how we can reinvent plot to tell new stories.

Subject ref: 
Course code: 
2021SFL207
Start date: 
Monday, 5 July, 2021 - 01:00 to Friday, 9 July, 2021 - 01:00
Apply by: 
Sunday, 4 July, 2021 - 01:00
Course tutor id: 
1953
Course ID: 
30340
Tuition fee: 
£149
Course programme: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Duration description: 
1 week
Non-accredited
Course photo: 
Address lines: 
Online
City or Town: 
Postcode: 
Venue: 
Virtual Summer Festival of Learning
Single capacity: 
0
Double capacity: 
0
Twin capacity: 
0
Single usage: 
0
Double usage: 
0
Twin usage: 
0
Maximum places: 
50
Booked places: 
40
Course cancelled: 
false
course status ref: 
booking destination ref: 
Tutor role ref: 
Course Director
Purpose ref: 
Study mode ref: 
tab1name: 
Overview
tab1html: 

Learning outcomes:

This course has been designed to enable you to:

  • appreciate that plot is not merely a series of events but a way of controlling the reader's experience of a story.
  • gain an understanding of some of the thinking that has been done about common story designs.
  • be able to design your own plots with confidence, using what you have learnt as you deem appropriate, and to feel you can 'own' your plots.

Course sessions:

1. Event-plot stories
We’ll begin by considering very old, apparently simple stories, and we'll move on to some classic event-plot stories, gaining an understanding of how there's often a bigger, 'universal' meaning behind a plot.

2. Anti-plot stories
We’ll move away from event-plot stories to consider ‘anti-plot, ‘slice-of-life’ or ‘Chekhovian’ stories, where conventional plot (a series of events) is rejected in favour of another kind of journey - maybe an emotional, spiritual or psychological journey. 
  
3. Plot and time 
We'll think about the role that time plays in plot and how the order in which information is revealed to the reader affects their perception - and the meaning - of the story.
  
4. Plot systems 
We'll look at some of the attempts that have been made to reduce plot to a kind of formula and consider what we can usefully learn from these.

5. Story shapes
We’ve been looking at plot patterns in terms of stages the main character goes through; we're now going to consider a very different way of representing plot - a simple graph template onto which any story can be mapped.

Non-credit bearing

Please note that our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning courses are non-credit bearing.

Certificate of Participation

A certificate of participation will be sent to you electronically within a week of your Summer Festival course(s) finishing.

tab2name: 
Schedule and delivery
tab2html: 

Welcome week: Before the course starts

Courses are delivered online via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A week before your course starts you will receive an email from our Teaching & Learning (TEL) team confirming your VLE login details. Once you have logged into the VLE, you should:

  • Access the ‘Course Information’ and ‘Welcome to the course’ areas.
  • Carry out any technical checks, including video checks.
  • View the VLE ’Online course tour’ and familiarise yourself with your learning environment.
  • Watch the Course Director’s welcome video.
  • Introduce yourself to the Course Director and other students using the general forum.
  • Access and carry out any pre-reading or activities for the course provided in the ‘Welcome to the course’ area.

Study week: Course delivery, video content and study time

  • You will be taught largely through a series of pre-recorded talks, designed to help you address different aspects of the main topic. These will be released on a daily basis, Monday to Friday. All of our videos are subtitled. There will also be an element of interactive work: a daily writing exercise to which you may respond by posting a short piece on the Student Forum on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You may also, if you wish, post questions related to the day’s teaching and the associated daily writing exercise, to be answered by the tutor on a separate ‘Your Questions’ Forum. 
  • Please note: Your course director will read your posts daily, and will comment in broad terms on the group’s work, but it won’t be possible to provide feedback on individual exercise assignments, though questions arising from the assignment will be welcome. Depending on the number of questions, your tutor may have to work selectively. Where this applies, selection will tend to favour questions of general interest to the group as a whole. 
  • The first talk will be introductory, and thereafter a typical session might run as follows, with the Course Director providing: 
    • a broad account of the territory to be covered in the session 
    • close analysis of relevant published texts or images posted on the course VLE  
    • a writing exercise based on the session's focal concerns, and giving you guidelines and making you aware of key issues 
    • a summary of the session's concerns and a brief outline of the next day's focus
  • We suggest that you set aside around 2 hours each day to watch the videos, view course materials and resources, complete any related reading, pose questions and undertake the writing exercises. This does not need to be done in one sitting, you have the flexibility to access content when and where you want, and to go back and review it as often as you wish. 

At the end of the course

  • Content for each course will remain available on the VLE for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • Course forums will close for postings on the Monday after the course, but existing messages will still be visible for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • You will receive a certificate of participation via email within a week of your course finishing

Resources, reading lists and activities

During the course and up until 5 weeks after the course has finished you will have access to a number of learning resources which may include links to websites, readings and research papers. These are provided by the Course Director to support the teaching and will be available on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

tab3name: 
Requirements
tab3html: 

Who can book?

Our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning is open to students aged 18-80+. Courses are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level. Unless otherwise stated, you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject. Unfortunately we cannot accept bookings from anyone under the age of 18. However we are also running a Virtual Pre-University Programme for 16-18 years olds in July. 

English Language requirements:

To ensure that all participants are able to enjoy studying with us, you will need to be confident understanding and following arguments presented in written and spoken English at University level. 

If English is not your native language, you will need to satisfy yourself that you have an appropriate level of English language proficiency in line with the following recommended tests (achieved in the same sitting and no more than 2 years before the date of booking): 

  • IELTS Academic or IELTS Academic for UKVI: Overall band score of 6.5 or above (with no less than 6.5 in each of the four individual components) 
  • CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency): Grade C or above or 200 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 
  • CAE (Cambridge English Advanced): Grade A or B or 193 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 

Alternatively, you may have undertaken all, or part, of your education in English and/or may have extensive experience using English on a regular basis in your professional life. On this basis, you could reasonably expect to fully participate in our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning. 

Technical requirements:

All of our courses will be delivered via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will receive access to the VLE a week before your course starts (see the Course schedule and delivery tab). Here you can study and learn online, access resources and activities, and interact with your Course Director and fellow students via the forums. 

You will need to have access to: 

  • the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device  
  • speakers or headphones in order to hear pre-recorded course videos provided by the Course Director 
  • a webcam and microphone for any interactive Zoom sessions which may be available  

 When you first log into the VLE we recommend that you view the Online course tour. This will help you to familiarise yourself with the learning environment.  

Full instructions and support on how to use the VLE is available on request.  

Test Video

By playing the video below you can test your home set up to ensure you are able to access our pre-recorded course videos. 

Accessibility and additional support for students 

We make every effort to meet the requirements of those students with additional needs. Please let us know about any additional requirements as soon as possible so that we can offer you the support and advice you require before and during the Festival. Please note that all of our courses are subtitled.

tab4name: 
Related courses
tab4html: 

You may wish to consider these additional related courses on offer in the Festival:

If you are able to study more than one course or for more than one week, you may wish to consider streams of related course subjects.  There will be many other options – this is just an illustration of possible course combinations:

Week 3: 12 July - 16 July Writing fiction: a sense of place
Week 4: 19 July - 23 July Writing fiction: character
Week 5: 26 July - 30 July Adventures in fiction: time

And don’t forget to watch the series of talks included in your course booking (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab5name: 
How to book
tab5html: 

Booking a course

To book a Festival course please click the Book Now button at the top of the course page. You will be taken to our secure bookings portal where you can set up an account using your email address, and pay for your course by credit or debit card.

All of our courses are limited to 50 places, in order to allow students and Course Directors the opportunity for interaction via the discussion forums on the VLE.

Bookings will remain open until midnight the day before the course starts. If your preferred course is full at the time of booking you can add yourself to a waiting list. You will be notified, by email, if a place becomes available. We recommend that you book early to avoid missing out.

Please note that if you book a place the weekend before a course starts, it may take up to 48 hours to process your application and notify you of your VLE log in details. You may therefore not have access until the end of the second day of the course, but can go back and review sessions which have already been released.

‘How to book a course’ video

Our short video below talks you through the necessary steps to register and create an account before booking on to your chosen course(s) via our secure payment portal.

Before booking, please ensure that you have read and understood our Booking terms and conditions

Talks

As part of our Summer Festival we will also be offering a series of talks showcasing the variety of subjects on offer here at the University, as well as research, global current affairs and a range of other topics.

By booking a Summer Festival course, you automatically qualify for free access to these talks (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab1order: 
1
tab2order: 
2
tab3order: 
3
tab4order: 
4
tab5order: 
5
Course Image version: 
100003
Study level ref: 

Read more at: Othello and the politics of the human heart

Othello and the politics of the human heart

Short description: 

Venice fascinated the English mind, with its heady mixture of ethnicities, nascent capitalism and Republican politics. A complex place to navigate in the post-medieval world and one that a new arrival could misunderstand. Othello is invited into the heart of its society, rewarded with key friendships and a pivotal job, but why does he surrender to Iago’s proffered translation of its norms? What empowers Iago and disempowers Desdemona? In this course we will look at Shakespeare's construction of this world and its characters to understand better why this intermixture leads into tragedy.

Subject ref: 
Course code: 
2021SFL318
Start date: 
Monday, 12 July, 2021 - 01:00 to Friday, 16 July, 2021 - 01:00
Apply by: 
Sunday, 11 July, 2021 - 01:00
Course tutor id: 
2602
Course ID: 
30310
Tuition fee: 
£149
Course programme: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Duration description: 
1 week
Non-accredited
Course photo: 
Address lines: 
Online
City or Town: 
Postcode: 
Venue: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Single capacity: 
0
Double capacity: 
0
Twin capacity: 
0
Single usage: 
0
Double usage: 
0
Twin usage: 
0
Maximum places: 
50
Booked places: 
14
Course cancelled: 
false
course status ref: 
booking destination ref: 
Tutor role ref: 
Course Director
Purpose ref: 
Study mode ref: 
tab1name: 
Overview
tab1html: 

Learning outcomes:

This course has been designed to enable you to:

  • Become aware of the play’s presentation of societies and their value systems
  • Become aware of the play’s presentation of gender roles
  • Gain greater awareness of how poetic language communicates ideas

Course sessions:

1. Iago
What cultural norms and ‘acceptable’ prejudices does Shakespeare present to us through Iago? How fair are some of Iago’s criticisms of his world and its people? Is he an aspect of Venice or an aberration? How might we react to his pronouncements on human sexuality and love? Is acting part of being Venetian? These are some of the questions in today’s lecture.

2 Othello
Shakespeare’s presentation of Othello seems always to have elicited the epithet noble, but what makes us feel Othello is noble? How important is it to remember that he is part of the military? Does he see himself as Venetian? How are we meant to integrate the information Shakespeare gives us about his background? These are some of the issues we will look at today.

3 Desdemona and Emilia
Desdemona is seen as a girl by her father and a woman by her husband. She speaks with force when she wants to persuade her husband, tricks her father and commands the Senate floor. Emilia is outspoken and saucy and a trickster, yet both can be highly submissive. What are we to make of how Shakepeare writes these women?

4 Othello and Iago in Cyprus
There are two sites that dominate the play, Venice and Cyprus. Does the former represent ‘civilisation’ where a careful senate will gently reprimand signs of racism and sexism in the errant senator, Brabantio? Is the latter the world of ‘barbarism’ where murder, trickery and psychotic states go unchecked? How does Shakespeare shape Othello and Iago in the ‘lawless’ island of Cyprus?

5 ‘Chaos is come again’
Order and chaos seem to be dominating ideas in the play and the characters feel the urge to judge in order to maintain order. Yet disorder is everywhere, waiting to erupt through drunkenness, sexual distemper and cultural warpings and misreadings – and the judging the characters perform just adds to the chaos. What is a Shakespearean tragedy? Is it this hopelessness? Our final lecture will look at the world we have been part of during the play’s performance.

Non-credit bearing

Please note that our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning courses are non-credit bearing.

Certificate of Participation

A certificate of participation will be sent to you electronically within a week of your Summer Festival course(s) finishing.

tab2name: 
Schedule and delivery
tab2html: 

Welcome week: Before the course starts

Courses are delivered online via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A week before your course starts you will receive an email from our Teaching & Learning (TEL) team confirming your VLE login details. Once you have logged into the VLE, you should:

  • Access the ‘Course Information’ and ‘Welcome to the course’ areas.
  • Carry out any technical checks, including video checks.
  • View the VLE ’Online course tour’ and familiarise yourself with your learning environment.
  • Watch the Course Director’s welcome video.
  • Introduce yourself to the Course Director and other students using the general forum.
  • Access and carry out any pre-reading or activities for the course provided in the ‘Welcome to the course’ area.

Study week: Course delivery, video content and study time

  • You will be taught largely through a series of pre-recorded course videos.
  • Course videos will be released on a daily basis, Monday to Friday.
  • We suggest that you set aside around 1.5 hours each day to watch the course videos, view course materials and resources and complete any related reading, activities and discussions in the daily forums. This does not need to be done in one sitting, you have the flexibility to access content when and where you want, and to go back and review it as often as you wish.

At the end of the course

  • Content for each course will remain available on the VLE for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • Course forums will close for postings on the Monday after the course, but existing messages will still be visible for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • You will receive a certificate of participation via email within a week of your course finishing

Pre-recorded course videos

Courses include one or two videos per day, these are designed by the Course Director to help you address different aspects of the main topic. All of our course videos are subtitled.

Course discussion forums

There will also be the opportunity to engage in written form with other course participants and discuss questions set by the Course Director on the discussion forums. Your Course Director will launch a number of discussions on the daily forums and will generally respond to a selection of key questions and comments on a daily basis. You are encouraged to actively take part in these discussions to get the most out of the course and to add to your overall enjoyment.

Resources, reading lists and activities

During the course and up until 5 weeks after the course has finished you will have access to a number of learning resources which may include links to websites, readings and research papers. These are provided by the Course Director to support the teaching and will be available on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

tab3name: 
Requirements
tab3html: 

Who can book?

Our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning is open to students aged 18-80+. Courses are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level. Unless otherwise stated, you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject. Unfortunately we cannot accept bookings from anyone under the age of 18. However we are also running a Virtual Pre-University Programme for 16-18 years olds in July. 

English Language requirements:

To ensure that all participants are able to enjoy studying with us, you will need to be confident understanding and following arguments presented in written and spoken English at University level. 

If English is not your native language, you will need to satisfy yourself that you have an appropriate level of English language proficiency in line with the following recommended tests (achieved in the same sitting and no more than 2 years before the date of booking): 

  • IELTS Academic or IELTS Academic for UKVI: Overall band score of 6.5 or above (with no less than 6.5 in each of the four individual components) 
  • CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency): Grade C or above or 200 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 
  • CAE (Cambridge English Advanced): Grade A or B or 193 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 

Alternatively, you may have undertaken all, or part, of your education in English and/or may have extensive experience using English on a regular basis in your professional life. On this basis, you could reasonably expect to fully participate in our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning. 

Technical requirements:

All of our courses will be delivered via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will receive access to the VLE a week before your course starts (see the Course schedule and delivery tab). Here you can study and learn online, access resources and activities, and interact with your Course Director and fellow students via the forums. 

You will need to have access to: 

  • the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device  
  • speakers or headphones in order to hear pre-recorded course videos provided by the Course Director 
  • a webcam and microphone for any interactive Zoom sessions which may be available  

 When you first log into the VLE we recommend that you view the Online course tour. This will help you to familiarise yourself with the learning environment.  

Full instructions and support on how to use the VLE is available on request.  

Test Video

By playing the video below you can test your home set up to ensure you are able to access our pre-recorded course videos. 

Accessibility and additional support for students 

We make every effort to meet the requirements of those students with additional needs. Please let us know about any additional requirements as soon as possible so that we can offer you the support and advice you require before and during the Festival. Please note that all of our courses are subtitled.

tab4name: 
Related courses
tab4html: 

You may wish to consider these additional related courses on offer in the Festival:

If you are able to study more than one course or for more than one week, you may wish to consider streams of related course subjects.  There will be many other options – this is just an illustration of possible course combinations:

Week 4: 19 July - 23 July An introduction to Shakespeare's sonnets
Week 5: 26 July - 30 July Shakespeare's Venice: The Merchant of Venice and Othello

And don’t forget to watch the series of talks included in your course booking (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab5name: 
How to book
tab5html: 

Booking a course

To book a Festival course please click the Book Now button at the top of the course page. You will be taken to our secure bookings portal where you can set up an account using your email address, and pay for your course by credit or debit card.

All of our courses are limited to 50 places, in order to allow students and Course Directors the opportunity for interaction via the discussion forums on the VLE.

Bookings will remain open until midnight the day before the course starts. If your preferred course is full at the time of booking you can add yourself to a waiting list. You will be notified, by email, if a place becomes available. We recommend that you book early to avoid missing out.

Please note that if you book a place the weekend before a course starts, it may take up to 48 hours to process your application and notify you of your VLE log in details. You may therefore not have access until the end of the second day of the course, but can go back and review sessions which have already been released.

‘How to book a course’ video

Our short video below talks you through the necessary steps to register and create an account before booking on to your chosen course(s) via our secure payment portal.

Before booking, please ensure that you have read and understood our Booking terms and conditions

Talks

As part of our Summer Festival we will also be offering a series of talks showcasing the variety of subjects on offer here at the University, as well as research, global current affairs and a range of other topics.

By booking a Summer Festival course, you automatically qualify for free access to these talks (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab1order: 
1
tab2order: 
2
tab3order: 
3
tab4order: 
4
tab5order: 
5
Course Image version: 
100003
Study level ref: 

Read more at: The Dig: exploring the cultural and artistic context of Sutton Hoo

The Dig: exploring the cultural and artistic context of Sutton Hoo

Short description: 

The great Anglo-Saxon ship-burial at Sutton Hoo, on the Deben Estuary in Suffolk, has captured popular and academic imagination ever since it was first excavated by Basil Brown, at the behest of landowner Edith May Pretty, in 1938 – a story told in the recent film 'The Dig'. Other famed archaeologists have returned to the site since, deepening the levels of complexity in the tale of this intriguing place and its early people, from kings to felons. This course will explore that historical context and will reappraise the finds in the light of more recent discoveries such as the burial of the Prittlewell Prince and the Staffordshire Hoard. It will examine the astounding international artefacts and their relationship to the great illuminated manuscripts, carvings and metalwork of the early Anglo-Saxon age.

Course code: 
2021SFL309
Start date: 
Monday, 12 July, 2021 - 01:00 to Friday, 16 July, 2021 - 01:00
Apply by: 
Sunday, 11 July, 2021 - 01:00
Course tutor id: 
2852
Course ID: 
30307
Tuition fee: 
£149
Course programme: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Duration description: 
1 week
Non-accredited
Course photo: 
Address lines: 
Online
City or Town: 
Postcode: 
Venue: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Single capacity: 
0
Double capacity: 
0
Twin capacity: 
0
Single usage: 
0
Double usage: 
0
Twin usage: 
0
Maximum places: 
50
Booked places: 
20
Course cancelled: 
false
course status ref: 
booking destination ref: 
Tutor role ref: 
Course Director
Purpose ref: 
Study mode ref: 
tab1name: 
Overview
tab1html: 

Learning outcomes:

This course has been designed to enable you to:

  • Appreciate the interface between history, archaeology and art history
  • Understand what material culture can tell us about its age
  • Explore early Anglo-Saxon culture and its impact.

Course sessions:

1. Welcome and Introduction
The Sutton Hoo site and excavations. This session sets the scene, outlines the various excavations at Sutton Hoo and asks why they were all necessary and why is Sutton Hoo such an important site in Anglo-Saxon England.

2. Exploring the artefacts
This session comprises a detailed examination of various finds from excavated.

3. The Historical Context
This session considers how the site sits in the history of Anglo-Saxon England and the conversion period. There will also be some discussion of the literary and poetic context.

4. Relationships to recent finds
This session considers other major recent excavations that have bearing on how we interpret Sutton Hoo, such as the Prittlewell Prince’s burial and the Staffordshire Hoard.

5. Relationships to the manuscripts and other media. Conclusion.
This session broadens the discussion to see how the finds sit in relation to the wider artefactual and artistic context, including works in other media, notably illuminated manuscripts such as the Book of Durrow and the Lindisfarne Gospels. There will be a concluding discussion.

Non-credit bearing

Please note that our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning courses are non-credit bearing.

Certificate of Participation

A certificate of participation will be sent to you electronically within a week of your Summer Festival course(s) finishing.

tab2name: 
Schedule and delivery
tab2html: 

Welcome week: Before the course starts

Courses are delivered online via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A week before your course starts you will receive an email from our Teaching & Learning (TEL) team confirming your VLE login details. Once you have logged into the VLE, you should:

  • Access the ‘Course Information’ and ‘Welcome to the course’ areas.
  • Carry out any technical checks, including video checks.
  • View the VLE ’Online course tour’ and familiarise yourself with your learning environment.
  • Watch the Course Director’s welcome video.
  • Introduce yourself to the Course Director and other students using the general forum.
  • Access and carry out any pre-reading or activities for the course provided in the ‘Welcome to the course’ area.

Study week: Course delivery, video content and study time

  • You will be taught largely through a series of pre-recorded course videos.
  • Course videos will be released on a daily basis, Monday to Friday.
  • We suggest that you set aside around 1.5 hours each day to watch the course videos, view course materials and resources and complete any related reading, activities and discussions in the daily forums. This does not need to be done in one sitting, you have the flexibility to access content when and where you want, and to go back and review it as often as you wish.

At the end of the course

  • Content for each course will remain available on the VLE for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • Course forums will close for postings on the Monday after the course, but existing messages will still be visible for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • You will receive a certificate of participation via email within a week of your course finishing

Pre-recorded course videos

Courses include one or two videos per day, these are designed by the Course Director to help you address different aspects of the main topic. All of our course videos are subtitled.

Course discussion forums

There will also be the opportunity to engage in written form with other course participants and discuss questions set by the Course Director on the discussion forums. Your Course Director will launch a number of discussions on the daily forums and will generally respond to a selection of key questions and comments on a daily basis. You are encouraged to actively take part in these discussions to get the most out of the course and to add to your overall enjoyment.

Resources, reading lists and activities

During the course and up until 5 weeks after the course has finished you will have access to a number of learning resources which may include links to websites, readings and research papers. These are provided by the Course Director to support the teaching and will be available on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

tab3name: 
Requirements
tab3html: 

Who can book?

Our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning is open to students aged 18-80+. Courses are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level. Unless otherwise stated, you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject. Unfortunately we cannot accept bookings from anyone under the age of 18. However we are also running a Virtual Pre-University Programme for 16-18 years olds in July. 

English Language requirements:

To ensure that all participants are able to enjoy studying with us, you will need to be confident understanding and following arguments presented in written and spoken English at University level. 

If English is not your native language, you will need to satisfy yourself that you have an appropriate level of English language proficiency in line with the following recommended tests (achieved in the same sitting and no more than 2 years before the date of booking): 

  • IELTS Academic or IELTS Academic for UKVI: Overall band score of 6.5 or above (with no less than 6.5 in each of the four individual components) 
  • CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency): Grade C or above or 200 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 
  • CAE (Cambridge English Advanced): Grade A or B or 193 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 

Alternatively, you may have undertaken all, or part, of your education in English and/or may have extensive experience using English on a regular basis in your professional life. On this basis, you could reasonably expect to fully participate in our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning. 

Technical requirements:

All of our courses will be delivered via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will receive access to the VLE a week before your course starts (see the Course schedule and delivery tab). Here you can study and learn online, access resources and activities, and interact with your Course Director and fellow students via the forums. 

You will need to have access to: 

  • the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device  
  • speakers or headphones in order to hear pre-recorded course videos provided by the Course Director 
  • a webcam and microphone for any interactive Zoom sessions which may be available  

 When you first log into the VLE we recommend that you view the Online course tour. This will help you to familiarise yourself with the learning environment.  

Full instructions and support on how to use the VLE is available on request.  

Test Video

By playing the video below you can test your home set up to ensure you are able to access our pre-recorded course videos. 

Accessibility and additional support for students 

We make every effort to meet the requirements of those students with additional needs. Please let us know about any additional requirements as soon as possible so that we can offer you the support and advice you require before and during the Festival. Please note that all of our courses are subtitled.

tab4name: 
Related courses
tab4html: 

You may wish to consider these additional related courses on offer in the Festival:

If you are able to study more than one course or for more than one week, you may wish to consider streams of related course subjects.  There will be many other options – this is just an illustration of possible course combinations:

Week 1: 28 June - 2 July  Roman Britain
Week 2: 5 July - 9 July  The landscape history of Britain
Week 4: 19 July - 23 July Illuminated manuscript masterpieces of medieval England

And don’t forget to watch the series of talks included in your course booking (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab5name: 
How to book
tab5html: 

Booking a course

To book a Festival course please click the Book Now button at the top of the course page. You will be taken to our secure bookings portal where you can set up an account using your email address, and pay for your course by credit or debit card.

All of our courses are limited to 50 places, in order to allow students and Course Directors the opportunity for interaction via the discussion forums on the VLE.

Bookings will remain open until midnight the day before the course starts. If your preferred course is full at the time of booking you can add yourself to a waiting list. You will be notified, by email, if a place becomes available. We recommend that you book early to avoid missing out.

Please note that if you book a place the weekend before a course starts, it may take up to 48 hours to process your application and notify you of your VLE log in details. You may therefore not have access until the end of the second day of the course, but can go back and review sessions which have already been released.

‘How to book a course’ video

Our short video below talks you through the necessary steps to register and create an account before booking on to your chosen course(s) via our secure payment portal.

Before booking, please ensure that you have read and understood our Booking terms and conditions

Talks

As part of our Summer Festival we will also be offering a series of talks showcasing the variety of subjects on offer here at the University, as well as research, global current affairs and a range of other topics.

By booking a Summer Festival course, you automatically qualify for free access to these talks (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab1order: 
1
tab2order: 
2
tab3order: 
3
tab4order: 
4
tab5order: 
5
Course Image version: 
100003
Study level ref: 

Read more at: Illuminated manuscript masterpieces of medieval England

Illuminated manuscript masterpieces of medieval England

Short description: 

The illuminated manuscripts of medieval England are not only outstanding works of art – each one an art gallery in itself – they give us an invaluable insight into the lives of those who made and used them, and into the age in which they were made. The books that form the focus are chosen to help us understand the contexts for book production in different periods and circumstances. The politics, people, environments and techniques behind the projects will be introduced by a study of each of the works in question. These case studies are set between an introduction to the medieval book trade, in which women also participated, and a concluding discussion.

Course code: 
2021SFL410
Start date: 
Monday, 19 July, 2021 - 01:00 to Friday, 23 July, 2021 - 01:00
Apply by: 
Sunday, 18 July, 2021 - 01:00
Course tutor id: 
2852
Meetings: 
0
Course ID: 
30368
Tuition fee: 
£149
Course programme: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Duration description: 
1 week
Non-accredited
Course photo: 
Address lines: 
Online
City or Town: 
Postcode: 
Venue: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Single capacity: 
0
Double capacity: 
0
Twin capacity: 
0
Single usage: 
0
Double usage: 
0
Twin usage: 
0
Maximum places: 
50
Booked places: 
16
Course cancelled: 
false
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Tutor role ref: 
Course Director
Purpose ref: 
Study mode ref: 
tab1name: 
Overview
tab1html: 

Learning outcomes:

This course has been designed to enable you to:

  • Gain an overview of the manufacturing technique of medieval illuminated manuscripts from c.700-1400
  • Gain insight into the project dynamics between patrons and makers of medieval books
  • Explore a number of case studies that populate the themes above with real people and projects which serve as portals into the mind-sets and historical contexts of their age

Course sessions:

1. Introduction
Commissioning and Making Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts.

2. The Hermit-Scribe’s Book
The Lindisfarne Gospels (Holy Island, Northumbria, c.720).

3. The Lord of the Manor and his Family’s Book
The Luttrell Psalter (Norwich and Irnham Manor, Lincs., 1330s).

4. The Urban Artist’s Book
The Holkham Bible Picture Book (Pater Noster Row, London, 1320s).

5. The Corporate Monastic Book
The Sherborne Missal (Sherborne Abbey, Dorset, early 15th century). Conclusion.

Non-credit bearing

Please note that our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning courses are non-credit bearing.

Certificate of Participation

A certificate of participation will be sent to you electronically within a week of your Summer Festival course(s) finishing.

tab2name: 
Schedule and delivery
tab2html: 

Welcome week: Before the course starts

Courses are delivered online via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A week before your course starts you will receive an email from our Teaching & Learning (TEL) team confirming your VLE login details. Once you have logged into the VLE, you should:

  • Access the ‘Course Information’ and ‘Welcome to the course’ areas.
  • Carry out any technical checks, including video checks.
  • View the VLE ’Online course tour’ and familiarise yourself with your learning environment.
  • Watch the Course Director’s welcome video.
  • Introduce yourself to the Course Director and other students using the general forum.
  • Access and carry out any pre-reading or activities for the course provided in the ‘Welcome to the course’ area.

Study week: Course delivery, video content and study time

  • You will be taught largely through a series of pre-recorded course videos.
  • Course videos will be released on a daily basis, Monday to Friday.
  • We suggest that you set aside around 1.5 hours each day to watch the course videos, view course materials and resources and complete any related reading, activities and discussions in the daily forums. This does not need to be done in one sitting, you have the flexibility to access content when and where you want, and to go back and review it as often as you wish.

At the end of the course

  • Content for each course will remain available on the VLE for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • Course forums will close for postings on the Monday after the course, but existing messages will still be visible for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • You will receive a certificate of participation via email within a week of your course finishing

Pre-recorded course videos

Courses include one or two videos per day, these are designed by the Course Director to help you address different aspects of the main topic. All of our course videos are subtitled.

Course discussion forums

There will also be the opportunity to engage in written form with other course participants and discuss questions set by the Course Director on the discussion forums. Your Course Director will launch a number of discussions on the daily forums and will generally respond to a selection of key questions and comments on a daily basis. You are encouraged to actively take part in these discussions to get the most out of the course and to add to your overall enjoyment.

Resources, reading lists and activities

During the course and up until 5 weeks after the course has finished you will have access to a number of learning resources which may include links to websites, readings and research papers. These are provided by the Course Director to support the teaching and will be available on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

tab3name: 
Requirements
tab3html: 

Who can book?

Our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning is open to students aged 18-80+. Courses are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level. Unless otherwise stated, you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject. Unfortunately we cannot accept bookings from anyone under the age of 18. However we are also running a Virtual Pre-University Programme for 16-18 years olds in July. 

English Language requirements:

To ensure that all participants are able to enjoy studying with us, you will need to be confident understanding and following arguments presented in written and spoken English at University level. 

If English is not your native language, you will need to satisfy yourself that you have an appropriate level of English language proficiency in line with the following recommended tests (achieved in the same sitting and no more than 2 years before the date of booking): 

  • IELTS Academic or IELTS Academic for UKVI: Overall band score of 6.5 or above (with no less than 6.5 in each of the four individual components) 
  • CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency): Grade C or above or 200 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 
  • CAE (Cambridge English Advanced): Grade A or B or 193 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 

Alternatively, you may have undertaken all, or part, of your education in English and/or may have extensive experience using English on a regular basis in your professional life. On this basis, you could reasonably expect to fully participate in our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning. 

Technical requirements:

All of our courses will be delivered via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will receive access to the VLE a week before your course starts (see the Course schedule and delivery tab). Here you can study and learn online, access resources and activities, and interact with your Course Director and fellow students via the forums. 

You will need to have access to: 

  • the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device  
  • speakers or headphones in order to hear pre-recorded course videos provided by the Course Director 
  • a webcam and microphone for any interactive Zoom sessions which may be available  

 When you first log into the VLE we recommend that you view the Online course tour. This will help you to familiarise yourself with the learning environment.  

Full instructions and support on how to use the VLE is available on request.  

Test Video

By playing the video below you can test your home set up to ensure you are able to access our pre-recorded course videos. 

Accessibility and additional support for students 

We make every effort to meet the requirements of those students with additional needs. Please let us know about any additional requirements as soon as possible so that we can offer you the support and advice you require before and during the Festival. Please note that all of our courses are subtitled.

tab4name: 
Related courses
tab4html: 

You may wish to consider these additional related courses on offer in the Festival:

If you are able to study more than one course or for more than one week, you may wish to consider streams of related course subjects.  There will be many other options – this is just an illustration of possible course combinations:

Week 1: 28 June - 2 July  Five more English cathedrals
Week 2: 5 July - 9 July  The landscape history of Britain
Week 3: 12 July - 16 July The Dig: exploring the cultural and artistic context of Sutton Hoo

And don’t forget to watch the series of talks included in your course booking (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab5name: 
How to book
tab5html: 

Booking a course

To book a Festival course please click the Book Now button at the top of the course page. You will be taken to our secure bookings portal where you can set up an account using your email address, and pay for your course by credit or debit card.

All of our courses are limited to 50 places, in order to allow students and Course Directors the opportunity for interaction via the discussion forums on the VLE.

Bookings will remain open until midnight the day before the course starts. If your preferred course is full at the time of booking you can add yourself to a waiting list. You will be notified, by email, if a place becomes available. We recommend that you book early to avoid missing out.

Please note that if you book a place the weekend before a course starts, it may take up to 48 hours to process your application and notify you of your VLE log in details. You may therefore not have access until the end of the second day of the course, but can go back and review sessions which have already been released.

‘How to book a course’ video

Our short video below talks you through the necessary steps to register and create an account before booking on to your chosen course(s) via our secure payment portal.

Before booking, please ensure that you have read and understood our Booking terms and conditions

Talks

As part of our Summer Festival we will also be offering a series of talks showcasing the variety of subjects on offer here at the University, as well as research, global current affairs and a range of other topics.

By booking a Summer Festival course, you automatically qualify for free access to these talks (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

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1
tab2order: 
2
tab3order: 
3
tab4order: 
4
tab5order: 
5
Course Image version: 
100003
Study level ref: 

Read more at: Challenges to the global order week 3 (12 - 16 July)

Challenges to the global order week 3 (12 - 16 July)

Short description: 

The end of the Cold War brought ‘Liberal International Order’ and, with no real competition to US domination, a period of rapid globalisation, the spread of democracy, and shared international approaches to problems such as climate change. Now that rival powers – notably Russia and China – have emerged, and Islamism has shattered peace in the Middle East and elsewhere, shared approaches to world problems have faltered. What has gone wrong, and what next for world order?

Not to be taken with Challenges to the global order in Week 1

Course code: 
2021SFL316
Start date: 
Monday, 12 July, 2021 - 01:00 to Friday, 16 July, 2021 - 01:00
Apply by: 
Sunday, 11 July, 2021 - 01:00
Course tutor id: 
2241
Course ID: 
30359
Tuition fee: 
£149
Course programme: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Duration description: 
1 week
Non-accredited
Course photo: 
Address lines: 
Online
City or Town: 
Postcode: 
Venue: 
Virtual Festival of Learning
Single capacity: 
0
Double capacity: 
0
Twin capacity: 
0
Single usage: 
0
Double usage: 
0
Twin usage: 
0
Maximum places: 
50
Booked places: 
15
Course cancelled: 
false
course status ref: 
booking destination ref: 
Tutor role ref: 
Course Director
Purpose ref: 
Study mode ref: 
tab1name: 
Overview
tab1html: 

Learning outcomes:

This course has been designed to enable you to:

  • gain an understanding of what the Liberal World Order is, and how it evolved
  • gain an understanding of the threats it now faces
  • gain some insight into the developments to look out for over the next few years

Course sessions:

The course comprises a welcome talk followed by five lectures (listed below) each of which will be followed by a zoom session to discuss the key issues raised.

1. The Rise of the Liberal World Order
We look at the evolution of the international system in its classical form of unfettered state sovereignty and the various efforts through history to limit this. These culminate at the end of the Cold War with the establishment of the US as sole superpower, the very fast rise of globalisation, multilateral governance, and the spread of democracy and human rights. What follows however is populism, the 2008 financial crash and the rise of challengers in the form of China and Russia.

2. China
We look at China in history, for a long time dominant in East Asia and the world’s largest economy until brought low by Western intervention in the “Century of Humiliation” and then Mao’s catastrophic rule. But then, following Mao’s death, very fast economic growth and increasing political assertiveness to the point where China is now the major challenger to US global dominance with the real prospect of a “New Cold War”.

3. Russia
We look at Russia’s special role in European history leading to the post-Cold War collapse, national anarchy and the rise of Putin; his resentment at what he sees as Western interference and hostility, culminating in military interventions in Georgia, Ukraine and Syria. Relations with the West are now in deep freeze, and Russia is growing increasingly close to China.

4. Global Challenges
We look at how well the international system has responded to three of the big challenges facing mankind as a whole. Climate change poses a huge threat to the sustainability of mankind’s current way of life. Nuclear proliferation, if uncontrolled, contains the increasing likelihood of devastating nuclear war. And the COVID pandemic has been a demanding test of the ability of countries to cooperate to meet a global medical emergency.

5. The Sheriff Hands in his Star
We summarise previous lectures and note the threats to the Liberal World Order posed by the US itself under President Trump – rejection of multilateral governance, humiliation of allies, nationalistic response to global challenges, in particular the virus, and growing confrontation with China. How much difference will Biden make?

Non-credit bearing

Please note that our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning courses are non-credit bearing.

Certificate of Participation

A certificate of participation will be sent to you electronically within a week of your Summer Festival course(s) finishing.

tab2name: 
Schedule and delivery
tab2html: 

Welcome week: Before the course starts

Courses are delivered online via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A week before your course starts you will receive an email from our Teaching & Learning (TEL) team confirming your VLE login details. Once you have logged into the VLE, you should:

  • Access the ‘Course Information’ and ‘Welcome to the course’ areas.
  • Carry out any technical checks, including video checks.
  • View the VLE ’Online course tour’ and familiarise yourself with your learning environment.
  • Watch the Course Director’s welcome video.
  • Introduce yourself to the Course Director and other students using the general forum.
  • Access and carry out any pre-reading or activities for the course provided in the ‘Welcome to the course’ area.

Study week: Course delivery, video content and study time

  • You will be taught largely through a series of pre-recorded course videos.
  • Course videos will be released on a daily basis, Monday to Friday.
  • We suggest that you set aside around 1.5 hours each day to watch the course videos, view course materials and resources and complete any related reading, activities and discussions in the daily forums. This does not need to be done in one sitting, you have the flexibility to access content when and where you want, and to go back and review it as often as you wish.

Zoom Sessions

  • Sir Tony Brenton will be hosting daily Zoom sessions Monday to Friday at 3pm BST (GMT + 1). Each session will last approximately 30 minutes. Access via the VLE.

At the end of the course

  • Content for each course will remain available on the VLE for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • Course forums will close for postings on the Monday after the course, but existing messages will still be visible for 5 weeks after the course has finished
  • You will receive a certificate of participation via email within a week of your course finishing

Pre-recorded course videos

Courses include one or two videos per day, these are designed by the Course Director to help you address different aspects of the main topic. All of our course videos are subtitled.

Course discussion forums

There will also be the opportunity to engage in written form with other course participants and discuss questions set by the Course Director on the discussion forums. Your Course Director will launch a number of discussions on the daily forums and will generally respond to a selection of key questions and comments on a daily basis. You are encouraged to actively take part in these discussions to get the most out of the course and to add to your overall enjoyment.

Resources, reading lists and activities

During the course and up until 5 weeks after the course has finished you will have access to a number of learning resources which may include links to websites, readings and research papers. These are provided by the Course Director to support the teaching and will be available on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

tab3name: 
Requirements
tab3html: 

Who can book?

Our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning is open to students aged 18-80+. Courses are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level. Unless otherwise stated, you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject. Unfortunately we cannot accept bookings from anyone under the age of 18. However we are also running a Virtual Pre-University Programme for 16-18 years olds in July. 

English Language requirements:

To ensure that all participants are able to enjoy studying with us, you will need to be confident understanding and following arguments presented in written and spoken English at University level. 

If English is not your native language, you will need to satisfy yourself that you have an appropriate level of English language proficiency in line with the following recommended tests (achieved in the same sitting and no more than 2 years before the date of booking): 

  • IELTS Academic or IELTS Academic for UKVI: Overall band score of 6.5 or above (with no less than 6.5 in each of the four individual components) 
  • CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency): Grade C or above or 200 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 
  • CAE (Cambridge English Advanced): Grade A or B or 193 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale 

Alternatively, you may have undertaken all, or part, of your education in English and/or may have extensive experience using English on a regular basis in your professional life. On this basis, you could reasonably expect to fully participate in our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning. 

Technical requirements:

All of our courses will be delivered via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will receive access to the VLE a week before your course starts (see the Course schedule and delivery tab). Here you can study and learn online, access resources and activities, and interact with your Course Director and fellow students via the forums. 

You will need to have access to: 

  • the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device  
  • speakers or headphones in order to hear pre-recorded course videos provided by the Course Director 
  • a webcam and microphone for any interactive Zoom sessions which may be available  

 When you first log into the VLE we recommend that you view the Online course tour. This will help you to familiarise yourself with the learning environment.  

Full instructions and support on how to use the VLE is available on request.  

Test Video

By playing the video below you can test your home set up to ensure you are able to access our pre-recorded course videos. 

Accessibility and additional support for students 

We make every effort to meet the requirements of those students with additional needs. Please let us know about any additional requirements as soon as possible so that we can offer you the support and advice you require before and during the Festival. Please note that all of our courses are subtitled.

tab4name: 
Related courses
tab4html: 

You may wish to consider these additional related courses on offer in the Festival:

If you are able to study more than one course or for more than one week, you may wish to consider streams of related course subjects.  There will be many other options – this is just an illustration of possible course combinations:

Week 2: 5 July - 9 July  International Human rights: war, conflict and the responsibility to protect
Week 4: 19 July - 23 July Making sense of international migration

And don’t forget to watch the series of talks included in your course booking (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab5name: 
How to book
tab5html: 

Booking a course

To book a Festival course please click the Book Now button at the top of the course page. You will be taken to our secure bookings portal where you can set up an account using your email address, and pay for your course by credit or debit card.

All of our courses are limited to 50 places, in order to allow students and Course Directors the opportunity for interaction via the discussion forums on the VLE.

Bookings will remain open until midnight the day before the course starts. If your preferred course is full at the time of booking you can add yourself to a waiting list. You will be notified, by email, if a place becomes available. We recommend that you book early to avoid missing out.

Please note that if you book a place the weekend before a course starts, it may take up to 48 hours to process your application and notify you of your VLE log in details. You may therefore not have access until the end of the second day of the course, but can go back and review sessions which have already been released.

‘How to book a course’ video

Our short video below talks you through the necessary steps to register and create an account before booking on to your chosen course(s) via our secure payment portal.

Before booking, please ensure that you have read and understood our Booking terms and conditions

Talks

As part of our Summer Festival we will also be offering a series of talks showcasing the variety of subjects on offer here at the University, as well as research, global current affairs and a range of other topics.

By booking a Summer Festival course, you automatically qualify for free access to these talks (usually charged at £50). Further details and a link to access the talks will be sent to you a week before the Festival starts.

tab1order: 
1
tab2order: 
2
tab3order: 
3
tab4order: 
4
tab5order: 
5
Course Image version: 
100003
Study level ref: