This document summarizes a module in the BA Humanities program at University College Dublin that incorporates the university's Special Collections. The module aims to develop students' critical thinking, research, teamwork, and presentation skills through hands-on research projects using primary sources from the Special Collections. Students work in groups to research and create digital exhibits on assigned topics, using sources from the Collections. The module is delivered over 11 weeks through lectures, tutorials, and assignments. While challenging due to its scale and interdisciplinary nature, preliminary reviews found the module strengthened students' research, analytical, and primary source literacy skills.

1. The authentic research
experience: UCD Special
Collections in the BA Humanities
Evelyn Flanagan
Naomi McAreavey

2. About HUM20040: UCD Special Collections
1. Context
2. Rationale
3. Literature
4. Design
5. Delivery
6. Spotlight:
1. Resources
2. Library input
3. Tutorials
4. Group assessment
7. Complexities
8. Outcomes

3. Programme Context

4. Rationale
• Build critical thinking and
research skills
• Strengthen teamwork skills
• Develop presentation skills
• Engender an understanding
of primary sources
• Develop Information and
digital literacy skills
• Foster greater use of our
collections

5. What the literature tells us

6. Module Design
Project description
Your group will be assigned a topic and a related item from UCD
Special Collections. Your task is to elucidate the topic to an interested
but non-specialist audience using the centrepiece item and other
relevant material from UCD Special Collections, which you should
situate in their social, cultural and historical context/s. You should use
either StoryMap JS or Timeline JS to tell your story, and you will
receive training and support in using these digital tools. Your aim is to
educate your audience on the assigned topic and excite their interest
in relevant Special Collections materials. Your group should prepare a
ten-minute oral presentation to present your work and explain your
choices. Prizes will be awarded for the very best work and they will
also be displayed on the UCD Special Collections website.

7. Module Delivery
• Orientation – 2 weeks
(2 lectures and
tutorials)
• Research – 4 weeks (4
lectures and tutorials)
• Planning – 4 weeks (2
lectures and 4 tutorials)
• Product and Review - 1
week - 1 tutorial

8. Spotlight 1: Selection of resources

10. Spotlight 2: Library
Input

11. Spotlight 3: Tutorial Activities

12. Spotlight 4: Group Assessment
50% Group Project
• 25% Digital exhibition
• 25% Oral presentation
50% Individual
assignments, including:
• contributions to
discussion forum
• annotations on
readings
• reflections on learning

13. Challenges and complexities
Scale
Range of disciplines
Number of people involved (directly and
indirectly)
Resources: Suitability, equity, copyright

14. Preliminary Review
Research skills Critical thinking Teamwork
Analytical skills
Conceptualization
skills
Presentation skills
Primary source
literacy
Problem-solving
skills

15. Thank you
• evelyn.flanagan@ucd.ie
• naomi.mcareavey@ucd.ie