History Lab Plus

Musings from an Early Career Historian on teaching:The Socratic Dilemma

2011-04-22T07:54:00.000-07:00

Melodee Beals is currently an early career historican who works for the History Subject Centre.
Here are some of her thoughts on teaching in Higher Education.

New Facebook Page

2011-03-27T03:46:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
We have created a new Facebook page. Go to the link and click 'Like'.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/History-Lab-Plus-Institute-of-Historical-Research/150808581649489

Postdoctoral Research Postitions

2011-03-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

Teaching in Primary or Secondary Education

2011-01-21T08:06:00.000-08:00

The University of Glasgow is looking for any former PhD students who may have gone into secondary or primary teaching. Is this you? Contact me and let me know!

Benjamin Weber, Teaching the Crusades: Round table held at the International Medieval in Leeds – July 2010

2010-11-11T07:01:00.000-08:00

The round table “Teaching the crusades” was organized after the great success of a session on this same topic in July 2009. As a young scholar on crusades and a teacher in French university, I was invited to speak of my own experience of teaching the crusades in France. I found this thematic seducing, since I’ve always been interested by the complex relations between historical research, history classes and the current social and political situation of a given country. How much are historians influenced by the broad political and social situation of their time and the country they live in? How are these influences echoed in teaching history? Teaching is a mix between scientific research and necessary vulgarization, but is also strongly dependant on the wills and expectations of a given society. One must be aware of theses three parameters and their respective importance.

The goal of this round table was confronting the point of view from teachers and scholars from various countries: besides France, scholars from the USA, England, and Finland were contributing in order to put side by side as different situation as possible. I was really interested in doing so, because it seems the best way –or even the only way- to really understand the specificity of each national experience and situation. Research and teaching on crusades seemmed strongly linked to the events in the Near East. I hoped that the parallel between the English, the American, the Finish and the French situation would help us understand how much and to what extent. The various papers showed the difficulty of simplifying the complex debates about crusades at school and the problem faced by every scholar when he comes to teach his own research. They enhanced too the importance of various attitudes toward war in the Neat East on the way crusades are perceived by a society and, hence, taught in schools or universities. The importance of September 11^th, for example, was stressed by all speakers as an important factor for the current popularity of crusading classes.

The round table was thus very instructive, for it explained national situations in the light of others. Even if our teaching can not be completely revised by this confrontation, understanding how far our classer can be from the idealistic “pure transmission of knowledge” is very helpful. We must remain aware of all various social and political factors that can transform our way of considering past events, and thus teaching them.

Such an experience is really important for a young scholar. In this kind of round tables, an older and more experimented scholar do not only brings you more –or more precise- information, it helps understanding the very meaning of your research and teaching experience. The discussion over the influence of September 11th on the interest and reception of history classes in UK, Finland, USA and France was enlightening. Contrary to what one may think –and what is often said-, the current situation (wars in the East, growing Muslim fundamentalism…) doesn’t make teaching the crusades more difficult: every speaker agreed it had strengthened the curiosity of children and students about cultural encounters and confrontations. Teaching the crusades may be easier in the 21^st century than thirty years ago. But crusades aren’t understood, and thus taught, in the same way as they used to. The importance of religious factors in the crusading movement and in the Muslim Jihad has been stressed in recent years, as a consequence of the growing interests for these questions nowadays. The national situation has a strong influence too: French teaching seems to be much more interested by the peaceful confrontation between East and West than English or American teaching. This is partly a consequence of the minor French involvement in the East, especially in the war in Iraq.

For a crusading scholar and teacher these outcomes are very interesting for they offer a new perspective on the so-called “historical truth.” But what is clear about crusading is true in every historical field. Teachers as well as scholars should never forget it. What we teach is not only the result of scientific research. It is transformed and simplified (one would say oversimplified) because of academic necessities (programs, time-tables…). Most of all, it is strongly influenced by the society we’re living in, the events we’re involved in, and our own citizen experience. We shall not conclude that our teaching is relative and worth noting. On the contrary, it is this integration of history in a social environment that makes it living and interesting for children and students alike.

History Lab Plus Workshop

2010-10-06T03:47:00.000-07:00

MAKING THE MOST OF TEN MINUTES
PRESENTATION SKILLS FOR JOB INTERVIEWS

2-5pm, Mon 22 Nov, Wolfson Room, IHR

Preparing for job interviews? Want to grab the panel’s attention?

Join us for an afternoon workshop, discussing and experimenting with presentation styles for job interviews.

Sessions will include:
- Designing and presenting a course guide
- Presenting yourself and your research
- Practical workshop to hone your own presenting style

LIMITED NUMBER OF PLACES AVAILABLE.
Contact emily.robinson@uea.ac.uk to reserve yours.
Registration deadline: Fri 5 Nov

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship Applications open

2010-08-23T06:19:00.000-07:00

Application forms for the 2011 Outline Stage of the Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme are now available on e-GAP:https://egap.britac.ac.uk

The British Academy’s aim in making these awards is to offer opportunities for outstanding early career researchers to strengthen their experience of research and teaching in a university environment which will develop their curriculum vitae and improve their prospects of obtaining permanent lecturing posts by the end of the Fellowship. The primary emphasis is on completion of a significant piece of publishable research, which will be assisted by full membership of an academic community of established scholars working in similar fields.

Potential applicants should note the eligibility requirements before applying:

1. Applicants must be supported by the UK host institution in which they wish to hold the Fellowship

2. Applicants must either already have been awarded a doctoral degree following a viva voce examination held on or after 1 April 2008; or have a reasonable expectation that they will have submitted and had their thesis examined by 1 April 2011

3. Applicants awarded a PhD following a viva voce examination held prior to 1 April 2008 who are unable to offer extenuating circumstances, such as interruption to their academic career for maternity leave or illness, will not be considered

4. Applicants must be a UK or EEA national, or have completed a doctorate at a UK university. Any applicant who does not fall into one of these categories must demonstrate a strong prior association with the UK academic community, for example through already having been employed in a temporary capacity (longer than six months) at a UK university.

The closing date for completed applications is 6th October 2010

Funding opportunities: Gradfunding through Charities

2010-08-23T06:17:00.000-07:00

Facing an unfunded fourth year of a PhD? This useful guide to finding funding beyond such sources as the IHR junior fellowships and the research councils is available as a handy PDF - individual copies can be bought at £6.95 or you can get your institution to subscribe.

What next...and how to get there - 5 July

2010-06-18T06:44:00.000-07:00

What next... and how to get there: A Workshop for Early-Career Historians

5 July 2010, 1–4.45pm
Wolfson Room, Institute of Historical Research,
University of London, Senate House, London WC1E 7HU

Programme

1pm Welcome and Housekeeping - Dr Alex Bamji (University of Leeds)

1.10pm The academic job application process - Professor Virginia Davis (Head of Department, Queen Mary University of London), Dr Alex Bamji, Dr Kate Bradley (University of Kent)
This session will provide an insider's perspective on appointments (from advert and job specifications to shortlisting), consider what you should put in your application, and provide insights into presentations and interviews on interview day.

2.20pm Demystifying acronyms - Dr Alex Bamji
Don’t know your subject benchmarks from your VLE? This session will familiarise you with common acronyms you may encounter when applying for academic jobs, including REF, QAA, PGCLTHE, LTC, and a variety of HE institutions from AHRC to UCU.

2.40pm Coffee/tea

3.00pm CV workshop - Professor Virginia Davis
A brief introduction on ‘what makes a good CV’ will be followed by small group work to help you enhance and polish your own CV.

3.50pm Career opportunities beyond academia - Dr Michelle Johansen (Havering Museum) and Dr Simon Griffiths (British Academy Policy Centre and Goldsmiths, University of London)
This session will explore alternative or complementary routes to a career in academia, with a particular focus on public policy and museums.

4.30pm Questions and feedback

4.45pm Close

The workshop is aimed at early-career historians, especially postdocs but also those nearing completion of their PhDs. The event is free and financial assistance may be available to those travelling from outside London (please ask about this when reserving your place). Places are limited to 25 and, although PhD students are welcome to apply, priority may be given to those of postdoctoral status. Please RSVP to Alex Bamji (a.bamji@leeds.ac.uk) including details of current status.

Check out our Wordle!

2010-05-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

Click on the title of this post to see a word cloud based on our blog - does it say HL+ to you?

To make your own, go to http://www.wordle.net/

Jargon buster: HASS and STEM

2010-05-30T06:34:00.000-07:00

Two rather common acronyms floating around in the academic word cloud are HASS and STEM. You would be forgiven for thinking that the former refers to a type of avocado, and the latter to a key part of a plant... but instead they refer to the two main tribes of academic research and teaching:

HASS = Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences

STEM = Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Debate currently rages over which type of subject is better for the economy in a time of recession, and thus which type should attract greater resources. Lord Mandelson (late of DBIS, the Department for Business, Industry and Skills, where higher education also resides) was known to favour STEM subjects over HASS ones because of their economic impact...

Make your own word cloud: http://www.wordle.net/

Key resources: UCU guides to establishing your career

2010-05-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

Click on the title to link to the University and College Union (UCU) pages on careers and professional development for early career academics - worth bookmarking!

History Lab and History Lab Plus members should consider joining UCU - this is the largest trade union for academics in the UK. Join for as little as £2.23 per month, based on your earnings. See www.ucu.org.uk for more information.

Key reading: UCU Early Careers Guide

2010-05-27T07:55:00.000-07:00

Working in post-school education is one of the most rewarding professions there is but starting a new career can be daunting. The UCU early careers guide is for those who are new to or considering a career in further or higher education.

finding the right job
what to expect when you start work
tips on getting the most from your career
practical advice on what to do if you have a problem at work.

This is an invaluable resource which will assist you throughout the early stages of your career.
In addition to material provided by trade union and education professionals there are contributions from younger members, so the guide is based on the real experience of staff in further and higher education.

We've publicised this guide here on our blog, but please do draw this guide to the attention of anyone who may be interested.

Lectureships in Modern History, Birkbeck, University of London

2010-05-11T02:26:00.000-07:00

Birkbeck

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

Birkbeck is a world class research and teaching institution, a vibrant centre of academic excellence and London's only specialist provider of evening higher education.

Department of History, Classics and Archaeology

School of Social Sciences, History and Philosophy

(British and/or European post 1800)

full time and fixed-term for 1 year Ref: 10382

The Department of History, Classics and Archaeology is one of the leading centres of historical research in the UK and performed exceptionally well in the 2008 Research Assessment exercise. 90% of the research activities of our staff were deemed to be of international significance, of these 35% were judged internationally excellent and 35% world-leading. The department is and has been home to numerous prestigious research projects including the AHRC-funded project on concentration camps in Nazi Germany, the Balzan prize-funded project on Reconstruction in post-war Europe, and the ESRC/AHRC-funded project on Cultures of Consumption. The Department has close ties to the Wiener Library.

The Department is seeking to appoint to a five-year Lectureship and a one year Lectureship in Modern History (British and/or European). A specialist in British History would be expected to contribute particularly to the BA in History, the MA in British History and the MA in Victorian Studies, a specialist in European History to the BA in History and the MA in European History. Specialists in either might contribute to the MA in Contemporary History and Politics.

Applications from outstanding candidates working in any field of Modern British or European History are encouraged.

2010 sees the launch of the Pears Institute for the Study of Anti-Semitism (Director, Prof. David Feldman). We welcome applications from candidates with a research interest in anti-Semitism and/or other forms of racism and prejudice.

You should have a good first degree and have ideally completed, or be near to completion of, a PhD in History, and show evidence of published research or exceptional potential. Teaching experience at degree level is desirable.

Salary: £33,669 per annum inclusive of London Allowance.

The closing date for completed applications is Tuesday 8 June 2010.

Interview date: Monday 28 June 2010.

To apply for this post and for further information please visit: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/jobs (search using the appropriate reference number as above).

If you have difficulties accessing this site please email, humanresources@bbk.ac.uk, quoting the appropriate reference in the subject header.

Birkbeck is an equal opportunities employer.

Early-Career Historians: Come and Join Us! Young History Workshop Project

2010-05-09T07:58:00.000-07:00

An exciting opportunity has arisen for early-career historians (including doctoral students) to work with school students as ‘historian-mentors’ in a London-wide history project. Young History Workshop (YHW) is a strategic education project run by the Raphael Samuel History Centre* in collaboration with the Historical Association, and funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

YHW will involve students from eight state secondary schools in the Greater London area. The students will research, write and present historical projects of their choice relating to the broad theme of ‘Them and Us’. They will receive hands-on guidance at workshop sessions facilitated by at least one volunteer historian-mentor and the YHW Project Officer. Archive and museum visits will support and complement the students’ research, which will be presented at a day-long event (Young History Workshop Day) in March 2011.

YHW provides an excellent opportunity for academic historians to gain experience and skills in widening participation and public engagement, as well as forging collaborations with history teachers and workers in the archives and heritage sectors. The project will require a maximum of three school visits, an internet-based presence, and attendance at Young History Workshop Day.

For more information and/or to express an interest in taking part in this project, please contact Anna Gust, a.gust@ucl.ac.uk, before the end of May.

*The RSHC is a partnership between the University of East London, Birkbeck College, and Bishopsgate Institute. Visit www.raphael-samuel.org.uk

Minor tweak to our email

2010-05-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

Following the resolution of Google's dispute over the use of Gmail.com in the UK, we've tweaked our email to historylabplus@gmail.com. You can still use our googlemail.com email address, but this is several characters shorter!

Kent e-PDP and employability event 10 May 2010

2010-04-16T01:32:00.000-07:00

History Lab Plus members who are interested in developing e-learning objectives with their undergraduate and postgraduate students may wish to attend the following event, which will be held on Monday 10 May at the University of Kent's Medway campus.

Click on the title of this post to go to the event web page for more information and to register.

New History Lab blog!

2010-03-06T09:06:00.000-08:00

History Lab Plus blogreaders may be interested to note that History Lab has a new address for its blog - http://the-history-lab.blogspot.com. Why not check out their blog as well as ours?

Event: Knowledge Exchange, Friday 19 March 2010, Wolfson Room, Institute of Historical Research 1.15pm-5pm

2010-02-14T11:41:00.000-08:00

This free workshop, aimed at advanced PhD students and early career researchers, explores ways in which historians can collaborate with bodies outside universities and engage with a wider public.

Our speakers are: Pat Thane (Centre for Contemporary British History), Barbara Taylor (Raphael Samuel History Centre), Anna Gust (UCL), Jane Hamlett (RHUL), Michelle Johansen (Havering Museum) and Mel Porter (History and Policy)

The event will cover : designing major projects and applying for ESRC funding; collaborating with museums; and making an impact on communities and policy-making. It seeks to provide participants with insights into key skills needed by academics for successful collaboration with bodies outside academia. To reserve a place, email historylabplus@googlemail.com.

Details of how to find the IHR can be found here: http://www.history.ac.uk/about/visitus

Getting Published Workshop, University of Leeds, Fri 19 Feb

2010-01-31T13:40:00.000-08:00

We are now accepting RSVPs for our Getting Published event on Friday 19 February 2010 at the University of Leeds from 2-5pm. This exciting event will focus on three main areas: books, journals, and publication strategies for the Research Excellence Framework (REF). Get the inside story on selecting your publisher/journal, preparing submissions, peer review, and how to impress an editor. This event aims to help you to transform your PhD into publications, and enhance your publication profile for the forthcoming REF so you can impress on the job market.

Confirmed speakers include Emma Brennan (Commissioning Editor, Manchester University Press), Dr Louise Jackson (Reviews Editor, Cultural and Social History), Dr Gordon Johnston (Editorial Board, Social History) and Professor Edward Spiers (Pro-Dean for Research, Faculty of Arts, University of Leeds).

The event will take place in the Grant Room, School of History, University of Leeds (Room 311, 3rd floor, Michael Sadler Building). For directions, see: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/visitors/getting_here.htm

To RSVP for this event, please email Dr Alex Bamji at a.bamji@leeds.ac.uk

Getting into academia - Friday 6 November 2009

2009-09-12T11:24:00.000-07:00

This workshop will cover all aspects of getting into a career in academia:

Building up your CV
Demystifying the recruitment processes
Case studies of academic roles - research assistantships, teaching posts, fellowships and lectureships
Advice on what you should be doing during your PhD and after
Support for early career researchers

This event is open to both postgraduates and early career researchers in history and related disciplines. To reserve a place, email historylabplus@googlemail.com. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis so act quickly to avoid disappointment!

New events: Advanced Teaching Skills, 25 September 2009

2009-07-16T03:25:00.000-07:00

Please find details of the forthcoming HL+ Advanced Teaching Skills workshop on Successful Lecturing, which will be held at the Institute of
Historical Research on the afternoon of 25 September 2009.

The workshop aims to support early career historians making the transition from postgraduate teaching to the responsibilities of a lectureship or other postdoctoral teaching post. The workshop will cover:

• What makes for an effective lecture or lecture series
• How to plan, write and deliver a lecture or lecture series
• Developing a lecturing style
• Utilising technology
• Dealing with unexpected challenges
• Evaluation and progression

The workshop will be facilitated by Professor John Arnold (Birkbeck) and Dr Alex Bamji (Leeds) and will provide opportunities for participants to try out their own lecturing skills through a small group exercise, for which some pre-workshop preparation will be required.

Places are limited to 25 and, although PhD students are welcome to apply, priority may be given to those of postdoctoral status. Please RSVP to Helen McCarthy (hm234@cam.ac.uk) including details of current status and any previous lecturing experience.

Reviews in History - call for reviews

2009-03-12T04:38:00.000-07:00

Reviews in History is the Institute of Historical Research (IHR)’s e-journal, publishing weekly reviews of significant publications and electronic resources in all fields of historical interest.

The reviews are of significantly greater length than usually found in scholarly journals (2-3000 words), with a right of reply for authors and editors, and due to the online nature of the journal the delay between submission and publication is much reduced.

All the reviews are free to access, and can be found at http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/. If you wish to be notified when new reviews appear just sign up for the email alert at http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/subscribe.html.

Reviews in History welcomes contributions from postgraduates and postdoctoral researchers – anyone interested in writing a review or with a suggestion as to a book or digital resource that should be reviewed should contact Danny Millum at danny.millum@sas.ac.uk or on 020 7862 8812.

HEA Subject Centre for History, Classics and Archaeology: Day for Probationary Lecturers

2009-01-20T07:56:00.000-08:00

Click the title to go to the relevant HEA pages.

Further info:

This no-charge, one-day event focuses on the needs of History, Classics and Archaeology Probationary Staff with regard to achieving Professional Status. The event will be led by HCA staff and provide the kinds of 'hints and tips' for teaching which do not generally appear in HEI's provision, as well as revealing sources of discipline-specific Scholarship of Learning and Teaching. Attention will be paid to the disciplinary use/uses of technology because most probationary staff will need to formulate a statement on their approach to e-Learning, before concluding with a plenary discussion of work/life balance as regards to achieving Professional Status. The specific needs of each discipline's practitioners will be served by parallel sessions in subject groups following generic components.

To book your place (including lunch) please email Marion Cochrane with the Subject Line 'Probationary Staff Day', remembering to include your discipline and state any dietary requirements by 4.00pm on 30th January 2009. It will still be possible to book after that date, although lunch cannot be gauranteed.

NB: Because we expect this to be a high-demand event, there will be a charge of £15 (to cover catering and materials) in the case of cancellations after 4.00pm 5th February 2009. No charge will be made for cancellations before that date. By booking a place you agree to these terms.

Presentation Skills Masterclass: 27 February 2009, 1.30pm onwards, Institute of Historical Research

2009-01-06T02:30:00.000-08:00

Are you on the job market for an academic post? Would you like to practise your high-impact presentation in a challenging but supportive environment? Would you like feedback on your presentation from academics experienced in interviewing candidates? If so, the History Lab Plus Presentation Skills Masterclass 2009 is for you.

If you would like to take part in this event, please send your CV and a 200 word abstract/summary of your research to Dr Kate Bradley at k.bradley@kent.ac.uk.

Applications may also be sent by post to Dr Kate Bradley, History Lab Plus, Institute of Historical Research, University of London, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU. The closing date for applications is Friday 30 January 2009.

Applications from postgraduate and early career researchers in history and related disciplines are welcome. We also warmly encourage PhD students and others who are looking for academic posts to attend as audience members. If you would like to attend the event, please email as above.

The debate on the future of higher education

2008-11-13T05:23:00.000-08:00

Click on the link to access the DIUS pages on the debate on the future of higher education. Also see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7725000.stm and http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/nov/13/education-universities-review-degrees-higher for more comment.

Some radical changes have been mooted - such as changes to the academic year as a means of tying higher education more closely to the working world, so that part-time students may study more easily alongside working; scrapping the traditional degree classifications in favour of report cards; and introducing general 'pick and mix' degrees.

DIUS have come under attack from UCU, who have pointed to the fact that these reports have not had input from the widest range of staff working in higher education. Indeed, whilst students have been consulted through the National Student Forum, the views of those entering the profession - us, the people who will need to work in any reformed HE environment - have not.

It is far too easy to accuse people of being afraid of change if they happen not to like what you have suggested; but you should not change things for the sake of changing them!

Interview presentations masterclass

2008-11-03T04:34:00.000-08:00

The date for the 2009 Interview presentations masterclass has been finalised: Friday 27 February from 1pm at the Institute of Historical Research.

The masterclass is an ideal opportunity for academic job hunters to hone their skills in the high impact presentations that are needed for interviews. The presentations will be given in front of an audience of senior academics, including a panel of experienced interviewers who will lead the questions session. There will be places for postgraduates and early career historians who would like to get a sense of how interview presentations can be run.

A call for papers will be issued shortly - for more information, email historylabplus@googlemail.com.

What does academic practice mean to you?

2008-10-20T03:46:00.000-07:00

History Lab Plus members may be interested in an event being held by the Social Policy Association, Social Work and Policy (SWAP) and the University of Oxford on 27 January 2009. For more info, click on the title to go to their page.

UCU Supporting Early Careers

2008-10-16T08:11:00.000-07:00

The University and College Union (UCU) is launching a campaign to encourage more early career academics to join. They are currently researching what people at the beginning of their academic careers want from a trade union. Check out the website and fill in the survey to have your say about how the UCU should support early career academics http://www.ucu.org.uk/earlycareers

According to Ed Bailey, the UCU National Organiser, the aims of the campaign are to:

develop guidance materials specifically designed to support younger and ‘early career’ members
establish a nationwide ‘early careers’ network, for the purposes of sharing experiences, debating and discussing areas of shared interest and networking both socially and professionally
provide training for members who would like to develop their skills, become more active in UCU and to assist with career planning/professional development
design a programme of activities that are relevant and useful to younger members. This could include opportunities to meet socially and also working with other campaigns and organisations that may be of interest – such as environmental issues, the campaign for global justice and human rights, the anti-war movement, etc.

Don't forget to book for the Getting a Lectureship session!

2008-10-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

Time is running out to book a place at Getting a Lectureship on 3 November! (2-4.30pm, Wolfson Room, Institute of Historical Research, University of London, Senate House, Malet St, London WC1E 7HU). Email historylabplus@googlemail.com.

We have a top list of speakers, including Alex Bamji, William Gallois, Jane Hamlett and Peter Mandler, who will be reflecting upon their experiences of getting lectureships, surviving said lectureships, promotion and recruiting lecturers. I will also be providing attendees with a quick guide to demystifying all the things you have seen on application forms or have heard lecturers talk about but were afraid to ask about...

Speakers at Getting a Lectureship

2008-09-16T05:05:00.001-07:00

We are pleased to confirm the following speakers at Getting a Lectureship:

Alex Bamji, University of Leeds
William Gallois, Roehampton University
Jane Hamlett, Royal Holloway, University of London
Peter Mandler, University of Cambridge

Chair: Kate Bradley, University of Kent

The event promises to be an exciting and informative one for all of you who are currently looking for academic posts as well as for those starting lectureships this autumn. In addition to providing advice on how to manage the job hunting process, this event will also cover your development as an academic in the early career stages as well as the realities of life as a lecturer from clearing duty to getting your own postgrad students...

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY - Getting a Lectureship 3 November 2008

2008-09-02T07:36:00.000-07:00

History Lab Plus will be holding a session on 'Getting a Lectureship' on 3 November 2008 (2-4.30pm) at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London. Further details will be posted here when confirmed.

The session will include advice on how to prepare an academic CV, the qualities university departments are looking for, how to handle interviews as well as how to get through your first year in post. To reserve a place, please email historylabplus@googlemail.com.

Escape goats and academic break-outs: howlers from exam scripts

2008-09-02T07:31:00.000-07:00

Click on the title to go to some of the highlights of the THES Exam Howlers competition.

Academic careers and parenthood

2008-08-16T06:34:00.000-07:00

Mary Beard, Cambridge classics don and Times blogger, reflects upon the politics of motherhood and combining maternity leave with academic careers: http://timesonline.typepad.com/dons_life/2008/08/what-working-mo.html

From a different angle, Jennie Bristow, writing for spiked-online.com, explores the view that maternity leave is not all that it is cracked up to be...
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/5474

PhDs by Publication

2008-08-12T05:07:00.000-07:00

Tuesday's Guardian Education (12 Aug) is carrying a piece on PhD by publication:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/aug/09/postgraduates.highereducation

This article raises some interesting points about what the PhD should stand for, and the preparation it gives. Julie Ferry puts the case for awarding the PhD in respect of a series of good, peer-reviewed articles in (presumably) well-ranked and respected journals. This certainly has its advantages in encouraging early research that is accessible to wider academic audiences, and for training PhD students in writing to publication standards. And a handful of decent articles will certainly do no harm to a job hunter's prospects.

But is a PhD by publication the way to go? More specifically, is it the way to go in History?

Judging by conversations I have had over the years, the common model for PhD historians is to spend the first and second years working on archival research - in some cases having to make extended trips around the UK or overseas in order to achieve this - before writing up towards the end of the period of study. A lot depends on what you are working on - if your research relies upon findings from a database, then it is going to be difficult to write anything of significance until you have gathered a critical mass of data. Likewise, we all know the mixed delights of using archival sources, namely thinking you have got through all the letters/diaries/whatever in a collection, only to discover that another set has cropped up somewhere else. There is also the serendipitious find that changes your views. So, whilst there is plenty of scope for good conference and seminar papers - and indeed some work-in-progress articles, early publication is not always appropriate for historians by virtue of the nature of work we undertake.

A PhD is not the best training in how to write a good journal article - for that, you will need to go through the process of writing a good journal article and getting it through peer review and into print (more on that in a minute). But a PhD by thesis is an excellent training in undertaking an extended period of research, managing your findings and writing to book length. Although theses by definition come with much clunky apparatus that wouldn't necessarily be included in a monograph, good ones are well-written. This is for much the same reasons that good essays get the marks they do - the argument is clearly and persuasively put forward. That theses linger on dusty shelves in university archives is no fault of the student, but rather of the ways in which universities and libraries have managed these collections over time. Technological innovations - such as scanning theses or converting them into PDF versions - will mean that such work can be more widely accessed in the future, in much the same way that JSTOR, EBSCO et al have done for journals (praise be for no longer having to go through the indexes of journals manually...)

The main problem as I see it with publishing your thesis through journals is the nature of peer review itself. I have been fortunate over the last couple of years in having my work read by some really helpful, supportive and sage peer reviewers, who have been instrumental in helping me iron out cr@ppy paragraphs, suggesting further reading and encouraging me to draw out the finer points of my arguments. But not all reviewers are willing (or able through pressure of time) to give articles by early career researchers that bit extra work, especially if there are methodological or theoretical issues with the material. Why should they? Although in an ideal world peer reviewers agree to read papers for the good of academia, in reality, many do not have the time to give the kinds of in-depth, constructive feedback that is needed by postgraduates who are learning their trade. This is the kind of role that falls to the PhD supervisor, through the construction of the thesis, when ideas are tried out, reflected upon and revised. This kind of risk taking and exploration is best done within the confines of the supervisory relationship, rather than in the more public arena of peer review. After all, supervisors (and examiners) are paid to undertake their roles, whilst peer review operates through good will.

The other issue about the PhD by publication is this. Although PhD students may well have suitable cases to write up, and may have an appropriate writing style, there are issues about how your conclusions and ideas about your materials may change, often dramatically, in the course of your doctoral study. Again, there is the series of archival documents that come out of nowhere to change your ideas about the subject, or that with time and extra reading you gradually adapt your interpretations of the material. In a way, despite the peer review process of an article, early articles are very much a 'first draft'. Your conclusions may change, or you might want to be associated with different aspects of your research. I held out on publishing during my PhD - I wrote a book chapter as I was editing ahead of handing in, and then worked up a journal article just after my viva. I have mixed feelings about these articles - I am happy with them, but they still seem far removed from what I am working on now and, two years down the line, I wouldn't come up with those same conclusions, mainly because I would be asking different questions. I think there is a lot to be said to waiting until you have a critical mass of material - and ideas - before committing yourself to something in the public realm. Thesis drafts will go away: published articles have a habit of hanging around...

The final issue is that the direction of publications has a real disciplinary bias. History is a single or small-team researcher discipline, where journal publication can take up to two years and it is common for early career researchers to produce a monograph based on their thesis. Although having skills in writing articles is desirable - highly desirable - writing a series of articles is by no means the same as writing a book. The writing skills will hold you in good stead, but producing a monograph is a long, hard slog. Even if it is based on your thesis, you will doubtless have to re-write material in order to de-thesify it for an undergraduate upwards audience, and you may also add additional research. The stamina to write or rewrite 90,000 words of sustained argument in a coherent style comes from churning out a thesis over three or however many years.

To my mind, a PhD by publication is not the best option for researchers in monograph-heavy disciplines. I would also agree with points made by people interviewed by Ferry that PhDs by publication tend to drive students into academic careers, and exclude those who may wish to undertake a PhD for pleasure (if such a thing exists). But there is a very real question of preparing those who do want to enter into academic careers from a PhD by thesis with skills in article writing. If there is not the time or scope for this to be incorporated properly within PhD training - by which I mean putting time aside from finishing to work on an article under the guidance of your supervisor - how should people be prepared for this? Should this be learned by trial and error (as it often is)? Would it be desirable to retain the PhD by thesis, but to introduce an element of publication within it, or other methods of dissemination, such as curating an exhibition, preparing schools materials or collaborations with business or government.

Thoughts welcome...

Tips for surviving the early career years #1: honorary research fellowships/associate posts

2008-08-05T08:49:00.000-07:00

In the immediate aftermath of your PhD viva, it can feel very much as though your university rips your library card out of your hand, your books and papers are flung out of the postgrad office and your locker already has someone else's stuff in it. Similar experiences can be had if short-term contract posts - fellowships, research assistantships, teaching posts etc - come to an end, although you will be given a P45 form...

But is it inevitable that you will be thrown out on your ear

into the land of the 'unaffiliated scholar'?

An option to explore with your department as your studies come to an end is the honorary research affiliation. These tend not to be widely advertised, but they are worth exploring as they have a number of benefits. At the very least, you will have the right to affiliate yourself with a particular institution if you do not immediately find yourself in a fellowship or teaching job; institutions may also offer a research space, library privileges, computing facilities and office consumables, and for some very lucky types, financial support for attending conferences and some research expenses. In return for this, you should be willing to be active within the department, which could involve helping to run the department seminar, mentoring PhD students etc.

Honorary research affiliations are just that - honorary - but in those very early postdoctoral days when you may not have teaching lined up or are waiting for an ESRC application to go through its many stages, it can be a real life-line. If they aren't already familiar with you, it can help conference organisers establish that you are not a random person sending in abstracts; and having access to a desk and a quiet place to work can be a real boon if you don't have a suitable space at home.

The best way to begin to arrange such an affiliation is often with your PhD supervisor, if you are coming to the end of your PhD (others may wish to discuss this with the project supervisor or other suitable person). Find out what previous students have done; if they applied for an honorary research affiliation, what did it entail? Who did they have to apply to, and how? How did they state their case? What did they offer in return to the university? After an initial discussion with your supervisor, you will doubtless need to take your case to the head of department or equivalent. It is also a good idea to ask department administrators - they are often a brilliant source of information on what could be offered and how formal arrangements should be.

If your attempts to secure an honorary research affiliation don't work out, don't forget to explore options open to alumni and former staff. Universities often offer discounted rates on library membership to ex-students, and in some cases, to former staff.

Have you successfully applied for an honorary research affiliation? If so, please add your comments below or email us at historylabplus@googlemail.com and we'll post your comments on your behalf.

Social History Society Conference 2009

2008-08-05T08:40:00.001-07:00

The call for papers for the 2009 Social History Society conference is now open. The conference will be held at the University of Warwick on 3-5 April.

History Lab Plus members may also like to note that there is a new conference strand for 2009 - Global Markets and Social Orders. Also, you are reminded that the Society's journal, Cultural and Social History, welcomes article submissions based on papers given at the conference.

For more information on the conference or to submit a pape, see http://www.socialhistory.org.uk/annualconference.htm.

Early career historians and journal articles/books

2008-08-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

Have you recently had an article published, or is your book on its way into print? Would you be interested in discussing your work with other early career historians? History Lab Plus is starting a round up of new publications by early career historians, available through this blog.

Unlike more traditional forms of book reviews, this is your opportunity to talk about the ideas and inspiration behind your publication, and how this relates to your broader research agenda. It's also a good way to make people aware of what you do at the early stages. There are no delays in publishing the final version of the reviews - it's straight up onto the blog! You can also add links to journal home pages and the like. This blog is also picked up by google, so things that are imminently forthcoming or in Advance Access can be publicized here.

It's easy to take part in this - email us at historylabplus@googlemail.com with the reference of your publication and we will be in touch to interview you by email or phone about your work. If you are interested in being an interviewer, we'd be delighted to hear from you as well.

Applications open for Wingate Scholarships

2008-07-31T07:59:00.001-07:00

History Lab Plus members may be interested in the following Harold Hyam Wingate Scholarships, which ARE open to doctoral and postdoctoral researchers in the arts, humanities and social sciences.

For more information, go to http://www.wingatescholarships.org.uk/overview.php

Lectureships advertised - July 2008

2008-07-12T03:51:00.000-07:00

Three lectureships have been advertised this week on the IHR news pages - two at Swansea and one at Newcastle...

Two lectureships at Swansea

The History Department at Swansea University is seeking to fill two lectureship posts:

Lecturer in Medieval History. The Department welcomes applications from historians in any field of medieval history, but may prioritise those from specialists in the period before 1250. This will be a fixed term contract for 10 months from October 2008. Salary: £29,138pa. See the full details (rtf file, 24KB). Closing Date: 23 July 2008.
Lecturer in Modern History. Candidates may research and teach in any field of non-British history after 1850. Salary: £29,138. See the full details (rtf file, 27KB). Closing Date: 25 July 2008.

Informal enquiries are encouraged and can be directed to Professor John Spurr, Head of the Department of History (j.spurr@swansea.ac.uk).

Lecturer in Modern European History (3 years fixed term)

The Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences Department of the School of Historical Studies is seeking to appoint a three year fixed-term full-time Lectureship in Modern European History commencing 22 September 2008 until 31 August 2011. Salary: £30,013.

The School welcomes applications in any field of mainland modern European History since 1850. Candidates with a specialisation in modern Austrian or German history will be especially welcomed. You will be expected to contribute to all stages of the undergraduate degree programme at Newcastle. You will also be expected to teach on the new MA in European History.

Informal enquiries should be made to Professor Jeremy Boulton, Head of School (tel: 0191 222 6492, email: j.p.boulton@ncl.ac.uk), Professor David Saunders (tel: 0191 222 6493, email: d.b.saunders@ncl.ac.uk) or Professor Tim Kirk (email: t.b.kirk@ncl.ac.uk). The closing date for applications is 23 July 2008.

Advanced Teaching, Skills Workshop 8 July 2008

2008-07-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

History Lab Plus will be hosting its first advanced teaching skills session at the Institute of Historical Research on Tuesday 8 July 2008 from 2-4.30pm. This session is now full, but for information includes:

The History BA - Professor Matthew Cragoe, University of Hertfordshire

Overview of the structure of a typical History BA programme
Variations and current trends
Quality assurance and assessment regimes
Administrative responsibilities

The Survey Course - Dr Kate Bradley, University of Kent

What are survey courses? What is their purpose
Course (re)design
Planning, writing and delivering a lecture series
Assessment

The Special Subject - Dr Jon Lawrence, University of Cambridge

What are special subjects?
Designing a special subject - where to begin; how to draw upon your specialist knowledge
Curriculum design and approval
Course organisation
Assessment

Welcome to History Lab Plus

2008-07-07T11:44:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the site for History Lab Plus, a new initiative of the History Lab. Like History Lab, HL+ operates under the aegis of the Institute of Historical Research, University of London. HL+ is aimed at people who are about to complete their PhDs through to those who have completed their PhDs up to three years previously.

What does HL+ do? In the first instance, we act as a support network for those who are establishing themselves as academic researchers in the field of History and related disciplines. We provide training in key skills in a wide range of areas, from honing high-impact research presentations to course design. We also aim to be a voice for early career historians within the academic profession, raising awareness of their needs and creating solutions.

Want to know more about HL+? Bookmark this page and come back for comment, tips and advice, as well as notices about what is going on in the world of early career academics. You can also contact us via our email address, historylabplus@googlemail.com or by post at History Lab Plus, c/o Institute of Historical Research, University of London, Senate House, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HU.

With best wishes, the History Lab Plus Team