Rachael

ABOUT ME:
I am a patient and friendly tutor currently employed as a Lecturer of History and Heritage at Aberystwyth University. I have considerable teaching experience at High-School, A-Level, and Degree levels.

EDUCATION:
- PhD, History, University of Leeds (2020).
- MA, Medieval Studies, University of Leeds (2015)
- BA, History, University of Leeds (2014)

MY APPROACH:
I aim to engender a calm, supportive environment conducive to active, respectful learning. Having taught students from a range of backgrounds, inclusivity is key to my teaching practice. I also believe in the importance of appealing to more than one learning style when teaching - for example, combining traditional style discussion with experiential and hands on learning. I am aware of the challenge of inspiring enthusiasm in my students. I use multimedia to enhance the learning process (such as PowerPoint presentations, handouts and music/video-clips); and, where possible, I connect seminar and lecture themes to contemporary events and popular culture, helping students to identify with the material they are studying.

SPECIALISMS:
My teaching specialisms include: History, Classical Civilisations, English Literature, and Art History.

Availability: I am flexible in my availability. Please feel free to contact me to organise a time that works for you.

Willing to travel: 2 miles

Experience: UNIVERSITY TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
1. Lecturer of History and Heritage, Department of History and Welsh History, Aberystwyth University (2020-Ongoing). In this role I convene the MA programme in Heritage and History, whilst also designing and teaching on the following modules:
- HYM5120: Concepts and Sources in Heritage Studies
- HYM9920: Working with History
- HY23320: Dread and Despair? Living with Disability in the Middle Ages
- HY20120: Making History
- HY11420: Medieval and Early Modern Britain and Europe, 1000-1800
- HY12420: Europe and the World, 1000-2000
I am also responsible for essay and exam marking at all levels, as well as supervising several students through their dissertation projects.

2. Postgraduate Tutor, School of History, University of Leeds (2015-2018). In this post, I taught the following modules. Responsibilities for each of these modules included lesson planning, delivery of seminars, essay marking, exam marking, and one-to-one student feedback:
- HIST1090: Medieval and Renaissance Europe
- HIST1060: Faith, Knowledge and Power, 1500-1750
- HIST1055: Historiography and Historical Skills
- HIST1300: Primary Sources for the Historian: An Introduction to Documentary Study. I received a teaching commendation from the School of History Module Review Committee for receiving excellent student feedback for this module in 2017.
- HIST2570: History in the Media
- MEDV3310: Magic and the Supernatural in the Middle Ages
- HIST5875M: Lifecycles - Birth, Death and Illness in the Middle Ages

WIDENING PARTICIPATION & OUTREACH
1. Education Outreach Fellow, Educational Outreach Department, University of Leeds (2014-2019). This role required me to develop lectures and seminars covering different aspects of research skills (e.g. referencing, notetaking, essay writing, plagiarism awareness, etc.) aimed at 16-18 year old students working towards their A-Levels.
2. IntoUniversity, Leeds South, WW2 Workshops (2016-2018). I developed two workshops for the IntoUniversity scheme (on rationing and air raids) aimed at key stage two children. I delivered these sessions for widening participation schools four times annually.

MENTORING EXPERIENCE
1. Access to Leeds Intern, School of History, University of Leeds (2017-2018)- This role involved liaising with university applicants via email, promoting the scheme at University open days; marking the applicants’ essay submissions, and providing support to successful applicants once they arrive at the University (in the form of drop-in office hours and quarterly ‘Historical Skills’ workshops).
2. Dissertation Mentor, School of History, University of Leeds (2016) - As a Dissertation Mentor, I was responsible for providing one-to-one advice to third
year undergraduates undertaking their final projects. I provided three mentees with supervision in the form of email contact, proof-reading services, and a series of hour long meetings throughout the academic year.

OTHER
1. I worked with Dr. Alaric Hall to record an open access ‘Beginners` MP3 Course in Modern Icelandic’ (at: https://alarichall.uk/teaching/modern_icelandic.php) (2014)
2. Early Years Care Assistant, Roseacre Nursery (Part Time 2009 – 2013). This role required me to plan and run creative activities in the ‘Messy Area’. I also assisted the children in their reading assessments, ran each morning’s ‘Wakey-Shakey’ fitness sessions, and supervised play-times.