Periodical evaluation of NFI2120/4111 - Old Norse Palaeography, Codicology and Medieval Manuscript Culture, Spring 2019

Bildet kan inneholde: tekst, svart, linje, font, nummer.

The NFI2120-students that answered the survey were all happy with the learning outcome and were happy with the examination format. Pictured here are the results from the NFI4111 survey.

The course Old Norse Palaeography, Codicology and Medieval Manuscript Culture is given both on BA and MA level. It is a practical course with a focus on method in analysing and describing palaeographic and codicological aspects of the medieval manuscript. This year the number of MA students was larger than the number of BA students, but usually the BA students are the dominating group.

There are always challenges in combining BA and MA level in the same course, but in this specific subject with its focus on practical work with the medieval manuscript it is generally more easy than in more theoretical subjects. Never the less we must expect that the MA students have more back-ground knowledge and experience and find ways to meet the expectations of both groups. This year the percentage of BA students finishing their exams in the subject could possibly indicate that the students of this group have had more difficulties than the MA students. This is not, however, supported by the student evaluations from the BA course.

 

The students took active part in the course and throughout the semester most of them attended the lectures and seminars on a regular basis. In the lectures I treated the general palaeographic and codicological aspects of the manuscript culture. Here the students were to learn the general tendencies i the development of script as well as the codicological form, production of parchment, and writing tools, layout of pages, illumination and text as well as binding of books, codices. In the seminars the students themselves were asked to read and analyse medieval script. They were expected to learn both how to read and transcribe medieval text as well as analysing it in relation to dating and provenance. In order to help the students in their own work a number of optional assignments were handed out during the course where various aspects of working with medieval manuscripts and their script/texts were highlighted. The assignments are designed to form the base for the semester assignment.

 

As mentioned the students were generally taking part in lectures and seminars. The group worked well and there was a relaxed situation in the seminar room. I think there was a small division between BA students and MA students which can perhaps be explained by the different experience of studies between the groups, but also by the fact that many of the MA students had spent longer time together in various courses before attended this one.

 

The student evaluations are generally positive to the course, the planning of teaching and seminars. It is often the case with this kind of evaluations that they are only providing the positive comments. These evaluations therefore often provides few suggestions for improvements or changes. There is one suggestion that the optional assignments that are provided during the course in order for the students to prepare for their semester assignment should be made obligatory to some extent. This is a suggestion that will be taken into consideration in the future. The students seem to be generally positive to the exam in the form of a semester assignment and considering the nature of the course it is hard to see any more suitable form of examination.

 

Publisert 17. sep. 2019 12:46 - Sist endret 17. sep. 2019 12:46