HI-132 "Games of History": Games and gaming as historical sources

The course is connected to the following study programs

• Bachelor's Programme in History
• History, One-year Programme
• Advanced Teacher Education level 8-13, 5-year Master's Programme

Teaching language

English

Course contents

The course offers an introduction to historical theory, the use of sources in History, and games and gaming as sources for the study of cultural, social, and political history. Historical cases of games and gaming are used to approach and reflect upon social, political, and cultural history. The implementation of theories will be based on games-and-gaming-cases from various periods and civilizations, with a special focus on European culture.

The students will be introduced to historical and cultural theory, the historical use of sources, and more specifically the use of games and gaming as sources for the historical study of political practices and development. The teaching will focus on Games and gaming as sources for studies of

• social life, economic development and cultural meetings

• the formation and development of social, political, and cultural identities

• gender history and changing patterns of erotic life

• the role of religion in social, political, and cultural development

• war and warfare in various periods

Learning outcomes

1. Knowledge

Upon completion of the course the students shall have basic knowledge of:

• basic historical theories and concepts, such as cultural history, gender history, historical sociology, Marxian historical theory, historical temporalities, historical identities

• how to analyze textual and non-textual historical sources

• values in European cultural identity and their historical development

• the use of games and gaming, as well as of relevant texts and objects, as historical sources on cultural, social, and political development

• the use of games and gaming as historical sources

2. Skills

Upon completion of the course the students shall be able to

• master central historical terms and approaches and apply cultural and social approaches to history

• recognize and analyse games and gaming as historical sources

• use textual and non-textual sources in historical research

 

3. General competence

Upon completion of the course the students shall be able to (independently and in cooperation with others)

• gather, analyse and present information on European cultural history and values

• analyse and discuss educational, social, cultural, and political aspects relevant to the subject of the course

• apply their theoretical knowledge of (a) European cultural history and values and (b) games and gaming as historical sources as a teacher or an employee of mass media

Examination requirements

Examination requirements

(a) Passing grade on a preliminary examination (teacher students are not obliged to take this examination, as they have to complete and pass a practice period). (b) Passing grade on four obligatory submissions of short texts (300-400 words). (c) Submission of a peer-review (at least 150 words) of four short texts by co-students. Please refer to Canvas for more information.

Teaching methods

Flipped classroom: (a) Web lessons in the form of videos, reading, work tasks, reflection and online discussion. (b) Self-study based on the online material and the reading material. (c) In-campus seminars, three of which are obligatory. (d) Students are expected to participate in colloquium groups, where they will discuss cases and theoretical approaches presented in the lectures.

Teacher-students are to have a two-weeks period of practice.

Language of instruction: English.

The total workload in the course is approximately 270 hours

Evaluation

The study programme manager, in consultation with the student representative, decides the method of evaluation and whether the courses will have a midterm- or end of term evaluation, see also the Quality System, section 4.1. Information about evaluation method for the course will be posted on Canvas.

Offered as Single Standing Module

Yes. Subject to avalibility or capacity.

Assessment methods and criteria

Submission of individual portfolio consisted of five short essays (450-550 words each, excluding references and literature) and one longer essay (900-1100 words, excluding references and literature). Each essay will be related to one of the subjects dealt with in the lectures and seminars. Graded assessment (A-F) according to ECTS grading scale. The students may submit their portfolio in English or Norwegian.