Presentation by Kate Cooper and Jamie Wood at a seminar on Generative Learning Objects at the University of Manchester, February, 2010.

1. Greek and Latin papyri as generative learning objects Kate Cooper and Jamie Wood University of Manchester

2. Collaborative project between Religions and Theology at the University of Manchester & the CILASS at the University of Sheffield Funded by the HEA Subject Centre for History, Classics and Archaeology John Rylands Library, Greek Papyrus 8, Liturgical Fragment (recto), 5th century John Rylands Library, Greek Papyrus 6, Nicene Creed, 6th century

4. Consider how the learning design could be adapted for other year groups & other objects;

5. Disseminate the learning design and findings;

6. Encourage students to understand papyri as both objects and texts and develop research skills;

7. Support the use for teaching/research training of an outstanding collection;

8. Provide a user-friendly student portal for an existing image database (LUNA) and expand the digitisation of material in the collections to overlap better with the needs and interests of MA-level students at Manchester;

11. Examined teaching methods on The History of the Book module;

12. Explored pedagogies for supporting engagement with physical objects;

14. These may be desirable features at lower levels, but less well-suited to engaging students in the ‘open’ enquiries of MA-level IBL.

15. LUNA image database potentially very useful for promoting and supporting IBL using papyri/ MS. By offering a user-friendly interface to guide students in using the existing digitised images from the Rylands, we can support students in familiarizing themselves with seemingly ‘foreign’ objects such as papyri and MSS, in generating their own questions about these ancient sources – the key starting point for IBL.

16. The new Blackboard site – 2009

20. LUNA database

21. Evaluation Questionnaire in December 2009 All of the students used the materials on the Blackboard site, with usage increasing across the semester For the following purposes: Research for presentations/ essays Browsing manuscripts to select for research Comparing manuscripts

22. Questionnaire Results Students all thought that the resources were helpful They found the new interface very useful, and suggested that it be expanded, with additional images made available Remote access was useful The interface was valuable not only for exploring research ropics but also for reviewing class discussions LUNA was also appreciated John Rylands Library, Greek Papyrus 112, Certificates of Pagan Sacrifice

23. Using the interface to support the link between class discussion and individual study (whether revision or independent reasearch) Allows students to examine and discuss features otherwise difficult to view as a group Allows students to follow up issues that arise in class, with built-in link to bibliographical and other information for more in-depth study Allows students to explore their own insights and questions arising from class discussion

24. Outcomes The new interface. Presentation at joint workshop between MA courses in medieval history at the universities of Manchester and Sheffield (University of Sheffield, 2008). Poster presentation at the Learning Through Enquiry Alliance Conference (University of Reading, 2009). Some of the digital material is now being used by one of the MA students to develop a GLO for use with first years in Combined Studies at Manchester. This presentation…

25. Further thoughts What next? Resource implications of further expansion Who next? Can the platform be made available to students outside the Manchester Blackboard environment? Latin MS 104: Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict, 110R