Unit Outline
HAA003
Introduction to Family History
Term 1, 2024
Imogen Wegman
School of Humanities
College of Arts, Law and Education
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Imogen Wegman
Email: Imogen.Wegman@utas.edu.au
 
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
Introduction to Family History is designed for people interested in their own family histories or genealogy in general. You will learn how to efficiently plan and accurately record your family history using family history research principles and practices. The unit will teach you how to critically evaluate a range of online family history resources for accuracy and reliability. You will also learn how to communicate your findings in clear writing that is accurately referenced. Online discussion forums will enable you to communicate with fellow students as you embark upon your research journey.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of family history principles and planning
2.
Locate and use major family history repositories and records
3.
Critically evaluate sources for accuracy and reliability
4.
Present your genealogical work clearly and cogently, taking into account the contexts within which your ancestors lived
Alterations as a result of student feedback
This unit was updated in 2023, and no significant changes have been made for Term 1, 2024.
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
Online
Independent Learning
Weekly online learning materials (e.g. short video lectures, discussions, readings, activities)
3
Weekly
Online Class
Optional consultation hour
1
Study Period 2 times
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
All of the teaching and learning for this unit is facilitated through MyLO.
Weekly modules open at 9:00am on Monday of each week of unit delivery (there is no new material during break weeks – see the Unit Schedule for dates).
You work through the materials for the week at your own pace. You should expect to spend about 6 to 8 hours per week working through the module (including the Assessment Task 1 quizzes), and researching and completing Assessment Task 2.
We hold two (2) hour-long ‘live’ consultation sessions:
Wednesday evening in Module 2 (6:00pm AEDT on 14 February 2024)
Wednesday evening in Module 5 (6:00pm AEDT on 13 March 2024).
These sessions will be recorded and made available in MyLO if you are not able to attend. These live sessions are for consultation only and no new learning material is provided.
All assessment tasks are due at 5:00pm on Mondays, according to the schedule set out in ‘How Will I Be Assessed?’.
Please check our MyLO site at least weekly to ensure that you keep up with the learning materials and assessment tasks.
In this unit, your active engagement will be monitored in the following way:
  1. You must attempt the Module 2 Content Knowledge Quiz at least once 

    AND
     
  2. You must attempt the Module 3 Content Knowledge Quiz at least once.
If you do not demonstrate evidence of having engaged actively with this unit by completing these two activities by the end of Module 3, your enrolment may be cancelled or you may be withdrawn from the unit.
 
 
How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Online quizzes
Refer to Assessment Description
50 %
LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:
Research report
Refer to Assessment Description
50 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Online quizzes
Task Description:
Five (5) online quizzes relating to the content in Modules 2 to 6 (one quiz per Module).

Dates due:
19 February 2024 (Module 2 Quiz)
26 February 2024 (Module 3 Quiz)
11 March 2024 (Module 4 Quiz)
18 March 2024 (Module 5 Quiz)
25 March 2024 (Module 6 Quiz)
Task Length:
5 quizzes of 10 questions each (total 50 questions)
Due Date:
Refer to Assessment Description
Weight:
50 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Correct response to quiz questions
LO1, LO2
 
Assessment Task 2: Research report
Task Description:
Research report

For Assessment Task 2, you will prepare a genealogical research report. This assessment task involves:

• identifying a research question or problem particular to your own family history research (your research objective)
• undertaking historical research to find sources relevant to your research objective • analysing your sources
• writing a report on your research process.

As part of the assessment task you will need to prepare references for the sources you use. These references should be accurate and consistently follow the style set out in the UTAS Family History Referencing Guide.

Task Length:
1000 words (+/- 10%)
Due Date:
Refer to Assessment Description (01/Apr/2024)
Weight:
50 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify and describe a research objective relating to your family history
LO1
2
Undertake research to identify and analyse historical sources relevant to your research objective
LO2, LO3
3
Communicate your research findings through a genealogical research report
LO1, LO3, LO4
4
Demonstrate accuracy and consistency in referencing your sources
LO4
 
 
 
 
How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater.
 
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
 
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 
Required Resources
Required reading materials
All learning materials for this unit, including required readings, are provided on our MyLO site. You do not need to purchase a text book.
If you are looking for a general text about Australian family history research, we recommend:
Danny O’Neill (ed.), Family History for Beginners and Beyond, 16th edn, Heraldry & Genealogical Society of Canberra Inc., 2020.
 
Recommended reading materials
The Diploma of Family History provides a Reading List of optional and useful resources on a range of different topics relevant to your research. You will find this on the Reading Lists page on the University Library website or under Content > Research Materials in the Diploma of Family History Common Room on MyLO.
 
Other required resources
You will need access to a reliable internet connection and a computer (desktop or laptop). If you use a tablet or other mobile device (e.g. iPad, smart phone), you may encounter some difficulties using MyLO. For your internet browser, we recommend that you use Google Chrome.