The Great History Conundrum

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TheGreatHistoryConundrum
Course Design and Development Unit
Alex Moseley Course Design and Development Unit
www.le.ac.uk
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Introducing ARG Features

• Problem solving at varying levels (graded
  challenge)
• Progress and rewards (leaderboard, grand prize)
• Narrative devices (characters/plot/story)
• Influence on outcomes
• Regular delivery of new problems/events
• Potential for large, active community
• Based on simple, existing technologies/media

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Not available until the live presentation (ie. No
cheating!)
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Range of Problems
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Motivation Automated Marking Return
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Assessment Discussion Posts
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Community Group Wiki
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Results

• 190/200 students took part over 4 weeks
• They solved 3301 puzzles (average 17 each)
• They posted 4387 messages in the forums(average
  23 each)
• Visited over 50 online/offline resources, covered
  wide range of topics during discussions
• 181 passed the course (90), 92 achieved 60

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Activity
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Student Feedback
it introduced me to a variety of new resources
and a new way of learning aboutthe past a
way Id not thought of before
63 claimed toknow more people on their course
as a result of the GHC
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Issues and Futures

• Swaps caused problems and admin load
• Wiki / group work caused most complaints
• Transfer to another subject (Archaeology)
• Form generic pack for transfer to all disciplines
• Develop problem solving/ARG elements furtherfor
  progression to year 2/3/PG

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We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the
bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness
and travel and explore and tell the world the
glories of our journey.
John Hope Franklin (US Historian researching
Black American history).
alex.moseley_at_le.ac.uk