8/1979 THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY ......2016/08/01 · Dr T . S . Brown (with A. Bryer and...
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• I Z- 1·8 · /b 8/1979 THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF ARTS MEDIAEVAL STUDIES ANNUAL REPORT 1978 General Comments Th ere has been some reconsiderabon of the role of Mediaeval Studies this year, largely caused by meetings of the review committee. Courses These have mostly continued as in previous years. One new event was the introduction of Mediaeval Studies III honours with two students. One of these however took a qualifyjng unit within the Cnglish Department. Enrolments and Examination Results See appendix. The system of a mixture of assessment procedures was continued in all courses, that is essays, tutorial papers and written examinations. By and large, students appeared to experience some difficulty in keeping up with the quantity of written 1 ork required in all their enrolled courses (in addition to Mediaeval Studies). It was a little dismaying nevertheless to have one or two students attempt, as l ate as October, 'to change the established method of testing by seeking cancellation of a written examination. This was cauc;ed partly I think by the heavy pressure of written work and also, more regrettably, by a feeling that agreed forms of assessment are still open to re-adjustment and manipulation at any stage. There are undesirable features about mal ing changes of this kind \vhen a course has been prepared and taught during the year to fit a particular form of assessment. Student Participation The classes in these subjects are small so that it is easy for all students to be well known to the lecturers. There is in consequence a large degree of cornmuni cation bet\vcen teachers and taught, which is al so fairly continuous. It is no doubt for this reason that the students have not found it necessary to establish this year a formal 'departmental' I should regard this as a very considerable advantage since matters of common interest have been dealt with easily and naturally as the occasion arose, and the formality and stiffness (and the occasional irrelevances) of organised round-table conferences ha !been avoided. With some minor exceptions attendance at classes this year has shown some improvement. I would expect attendances to be even better if it were not for 'semester' activities in June/July which clearly disrupt teaching and study for those whose courses operate by terms with annual examinations. It is much to be hoped that a standard term system will be re-introduced sooner rather than later. Work of Post-graduate Students There is one Ph.D. candidate who :is investigat:ing the legal status of women in Engbsh society from hefore the conquest t:ill about 1215 A.O. Another is being temporarily looked after while the regular supervisor (in the Englisl1 Department) :is on leave. I<
Transcript of 8/1979 THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY ......2016/08/01 · Dr T . S . Brown (with A. Bryer and...
• I Z - 1·8 · /b
8/1979
THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF ARTS
MEDIAEVAL STUDIES
ANNUAL REPORT 1978
General Comments
There has been some reconsiderabon of the role of Mediaeval Studies this year, largely caused by meetings of the review committee.
Courses
These have mostly continued as in previous years. One new event was the introduction of Mediaeval Studies III honours with two students. One of these however took a qualifyjng unit within the Cnglish Department.
Enrolments and Examination Results
See appendix. The system of a mixture of assessment procedures was continued in all courses, that is essays, tutorial papers and written examinations. By and large, students appeared to experience some difficulty in keeping up with the quantity of written 1 ork required in all their enrolled courses (in addition to Mediaeval Studies). It was a little dismaying nevertheless to have one or two students attempt, as l ate as October, 'to change the established method of testing by seeking cancellation of a written examination. This was cauc;ed partly I think by the heavy pressure of written work and also, more regrettably, by a feeling that agreed forms of assessment are still open to re-adjustment and manipulation at any stage. There are undesirable features about mal ing changes of this kind \vhen a course has been prepared and taught during the year to fit a particular form of assessment.
Student Participation
The classes in these subjects are small so that it is easy for all students to be well known to the lecturers. There is in consequence a large degree of cornmuni cation bet\vcen teachers and taught, which is al so fairly continuous. It is no doubt for this reason that the students have not found it necessary to establish this year a formal 'departmental' con~ittee. I should regard this as a very considerable advantage since matters of common interest have been dealt with easily and naturally as the occasion arose, and the formality and stiffness (and the occasional irrelevances) of organised round-table conferences ha !been avoided.
With some minor exceptions attendance at classes this year has shown some improvement. I would expect attendances to be even better if it were not for 'semester' activities in June/July which clearly disrupt teaching and study for those whose courses operate by terms with annual examinations. It is much to be hoped that a standard term system will be re-introduced sooner rather than later.
Work of Post-graduate Students
There is one Ph.D. candidate who :is investigat:ing the legal status of women in Engbsh society from hefore the conquest t:ill about 1215 A.O. Another is being temporarily looked after while the regular supervisor (in the Englisl1 Department) :is on leave.
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Visiting Lecturer
We were fortunate to have as a Faculty Visitor Professor C.W. Hollister of the University of California (Santa Barbara), who took classes in Mediaeval Studies II and III, and also delivered some special lectures, including two for the Hum~nities Research Centre . He was here from the beginning of July until the end of September .
Mediaeval Year, Humanities Research Centre
A series of conferences on mediaeval matters was conducted by the Humanities Research Centre, to our very great profit. S'taff members of A.N.U. with mediaeval interests pa'rticipated fully, but patronage by undergraduates was poor. Full details of these conferences are contained in Bulletins of the Humanities Research Centre published this year.
Staff Reader
Lecturing Fellow
L.J. Downer, M.A. (Oxen . ), B.A., LL.B. (Syd . ), F . R.1-:list .S., A.A.S.A . , A.C.I.S. Dr T .S . Brown, M.A. (Edin.), Ph . D. (Nott.)
Dr Brown is the second full-time appointment for Mediaeval Studies and arrived on the Sth June this year. The creation of the post has considerably improved our teaching strength. Part-time teaching assistance was also received during the year from Dr Moffatt (Classics Dept.), and Mr Stinson (C . C.A.E . ).
Publications
Dr T. S . Brown (with A. Bryer and D. Winfield) 'Cities of 1-:lcraclius, ' Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, IV (1978), 15-38 .
' Settlement and military policy in Byzantine Italy,' Papers in Italian Archaeology 1: the Lancaster Seminar, ed . H. Blake et al. (Oxford, 1978) ii, 323-338 .
The researcJ1 on the Year Book of 14 Edward II (1320) carried on jointly by Mr Downer and Professor Stoljar (Law Department, R. S . S .S.) has continued. It is near completion, and advice is awaited as to publication by the Selden Society (London) .
• · j ' L d" r:Y J ... -{•}1 · < L.J. Downer
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MEDIAEVAL STUDIES
Percentage of Number Enrolled Percentage of Number Sitting • r- f I l 1 2 I 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Subject Enrolled Sitting Wasta.ge Failure Sitting HD D Cr Pass with p N or Unit as at Merit
30.4.78
Mediaeval 33 30 3 3 30 2 3 13 N/A 9 3
Studies I lOOgo 90.9% 9.1% 9 . 1% 100% 6 . 7% 10% 43 . 3% 30% 10%
Mediaeval 9 9 9 5 N/A 4 Studies II lOOgo 100% 100% 55.6% 44.4%
Mediaeval Studies II 3 3 3 1 1 1 N/A Honours 100% 100% 100% 33-1-% 33.l.. % 33.J,... %
3 3 3
/\lediaeval 5 5 s 1 1 3 N/A Studies III 100% 100% 100% 20% 20% 60%
Mediaeval Studies III 2 2 2 1 1 N/A Honours 100% 100% 100% - 50% 50%
N.B. There were two Ph.D. students.
