General Discussion

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[Anonymous]

How exciting! A Discussion area with no questions yet posed. O.K. I’m game… A few questions to spark discussion:

What can we do to remain competitive with STEM in continuing to attract students to a study of one or even two History subjects?

What are the most significant issues and challenges facing teachers of History in Australia today?

How might we all best support fellow history teachers?

[msletizia]

My feeling is that the most significant challenge for me as a history teacher is explicitly teaching the historical skills to students with fairly limited current literacy and critical thinking ability so that they reach the year level standard and they develop the “twenty-first century skills”. I don’t want to water down the curriculum whatsoever but I have found it tough as a first year teacher to put all the jigsaw pieces together in time to get my students over the line. I would benefit from: a way of testing students straight up so I understand where they are at in their history skills, a range of resources that I can use to engage students and build skills, and perhaps some differentiated resources so that I can get everyone achieving.

[msletizia]

And, if I might be forgiven for replying to myself :), this all ties in with what Geoff Masters has just posted over at ACER: the arbitrary and problematic nature of progressing students in age-bound groups. Yes, granted they will want to be with their peers, and I recognise that it might be humiliating to be the big kid in the room, but nevertheless, together I reckon we can find a way to implement a road-map based continuum of historical skills, a “time-free curriculum”, where students get choices and a sense of achievement. And also, get a report card where we describe what the kid can do, and what they will work towards next, and avoid the horrible Ds and Es when kids are graded against a standard they just aren’t up to yet. See: //www.teachermagazine.com.au/columnists/geoff-masters/the-school-curriculum-about-time

[Anonymous]

Hi, Msietzia

It is always difficult to cope with the different needs of mixed ability classes- especially when they are large.

I am currently working towards a Doctor of Education examining practical implementation of the Australian Curriculum and I do hope you respond to my survey when I get it up on the site- either later this year or early next year.

I’m a big fan of Peter Seixas (as many people know) and can recommend his Big Six book which has great ideas //www.nelson.com/thebigsix/components.html I can also recommend Russel Tarr’s //www.amazon.com/History-Teaching-Toolbox-Practical-strategies/dp/1508512051. Both are worth buying.

I agree it would be useful to be able to share resources- No doubt many of us have great stuff on various Depth Studies. Perhaps it would be possible to create a section in this Members area to post shared resources? I’ll bring it up at our next executive meeting. If not, I’m sure we can find a way to set up a sharing portal. I’m setting up my own web site soon to better share my own resources.

Finally- thanks for taking the time o comment. You may also like to jin the QHTA Discussion Group – while not restricted to QHTA Members, it is a great place to share requests for ideas. We have experienced teachers and academics on the list as well as QCSSA members. Go to google groups, search for qhta discussion group and ask to join. The link I get is //groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/qhta-discussion-group It may look different to you, though. If it doesn’t work for you. Perhaps send an email to QHTA and I’ll use your email to invite you.

It is great to hear your enthusiasm! I’m sure you are doing a great job. Hope to see you at the Conference in September

Sue Burvill-Shaw

[msletizia]

Thanks Sue! I have enjoyed using the Russell Tarr book this year and will try to get hold of the Seixias book too. Not sure if I will be at the conference this year but will try!
Pauline

[MichaelC]

Msletizia, I don’t know whether you have come across the HistorySkills.com website yet. I created it back in 2014 after being inspired at the QHTA Conference. I created it with the express purpose of helping students and teachers with learning all of the historical skills. Almost all of it is free to access and I give it to my students so that they can work at their own pace and work on the skills they need to develop the most. The following page on the website has been the most useful in regards to source criticism skills:
//www.historyskills.com/source-criticism/
I hope it is something that can help you in your classroom.

[msletizia]

Thanks Michael. I saw you speak at the conference last year and really appreciate all the sharing you are doing of your skills-based approach.

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