Teaching
History Online
Number
2: December, 2000
Historical Association Training Consortium
Alf
Wilkinson
The Historical
Association (HA) training will respond to the specifically identified
needs of teachers themselves. Those who initially feel that they have
a low level of ICT skills will benefit particularly from the optional
'face to face' sessions, which will be staged at appropriate times
and venues. All our materials are available via our History Online
website, so our training costs include a one-year free subscription
to this service.
Phase 1. Face
to face sessions.
Face-to-face
sessions will be optional, and will combine hands-on skills training
and a focus on the curricular benefits and historical applications
of ICT. In overview, a typical one day session might give the teacher
a choice of three main sessions, with the option to remain in one
of these sessions more than once to practise and develop particular
areas of interest, skill or weakness.
Session 1:
An overview of the value of ICT in developing teaching and learning
in history.
This will provide the theoretical and pedagogical framework within
which the rest of the training takes place. It will involve presentation
and discussion of such issues as:
· How word processing can help lower attaining
students to produce structured analytical writing and how it can help
to make the use of resources such as CD-Rom more focused on specific
learning aims and objectives.
· How data handling software can support
teachers in delivering overviews of historical periods and how it
can support students in the process of generating and testing hypotheses.
· How the Internet offers the chance to improve
communication skills and access to a range of interpretations.
Session 2:
A practical hands-on session based on managing the computer, files
and software.
This will be determined by the teachers' identified needs. Teachers
would opt for a range of exercises based on their needs. Options include:
· Moving a computer - disconnecting and reconnecting
relevant leads etc.
· Connecting a computer to Internet, projectors,
video conferencing equipment etc.
· File management - This exercise will involve
giving teachers a collection of files of different types. Their task
will be to create a directory structure in which the files provided
are reorganised into a logical structure of directories based on file
types, historical content, relevance to age groups taught.
· Introduction to types of software - Exploring
the value of generic software in the teaching of history e.g. presentation
software as an alternative form of student presentation; drawing software
as a device for analysing visual propaganda.
Session 3: A practical session on getting connected
to the Internet. The aim of this session is to enable trainees to
communicate with their on-line mentor via email. The session will
finish with the practical task of logging onto NOF training materials
on History
Online, the HA's website for history teachers.
(For those not attending the face-to-face sessions
this will be their first exercise in the training scheme. If they
do not have the skills to do this, they will need to come on a face-to-face
day!)
Phase 2. On-line Tuition
This phase
is designed to take approximately two hours per week for six weeks.
The training will take the form of a number of stages, in which trainees
will have to perform a number of tasks to the satisfaction of their
on-line mentor. The on-line tuition is structured at two levels, and
if the trainee starts with the Beginners level (level 1) the option
is available of repeating this phase at the Improvers level (level
2) before progressing with the training.
Both levels
at this phase cover the essential software tools for the historian
- word processing and data handling and using the Internet. Depending
on their experience levels, teachers will be introduced to the NCET
(BECTA) resources, and materials available on the History
Online website, which will form the core of the HA's training.
For those new to the materials, the emphasis will be on Beginners
exercises. Those already familiar with the materials can explore the
possibilities of creating their own versions of the materials for
different historical contexts. This will be the most readily accessible
format for assessing the true extent of progress made by trainees.
Level 1: Beginners
activities.
Stage 1:
The word processor and desk top publishing in the history classroom.
Simple cutting
and pasting activities.
Stage 2:
The database in the history classroom. Simple searching and graphing
activities.
Stage 3:
The spreadsheet in the history classroom. Entry level spreadsheet
activities.
Stage 4:
The Internet in the history classroom. Beginning to use resources
on the web.
Level 2: Improvers'
activities.
Stage 1: The word processor in the history classroom
· Week
1: An introduction to the theory of using word processing in the classroom.
· Complete one of the simple exercises in
the NCET/HA booklet 'Writing in History' or use an exercise using
one of the Sourcebooks to be posted on History
Online.
· Week 2: Create an equivalent exercise using
a different historical context, perhaps using one of the suggestions
in 'Improving Students Writing,' pp49-53. Mail as attachment to mentor.
Stage 2: The database in the history classroom
· Week
3: An introduction to using databases and spreadsheets in the classroom.
· Complete one of the exercises in the NCET/HA
booklet 'Using Datahandling in History,' or work based on 'Coalbrookdale'
from History
Online.
· Week 4: Create an equivalent exercise using
a different historical context, e.g. monarchs database for the 1066-1500
period.
Stage 3:
The spreadsheet in the history classroom
· Week 5: An introduction to using spreadsheets
in the classroom.
· Complete spreadsheet exercise in the NCET/HA
booklet 'Using Datahandling in History,' or use one of the spreadsheet
exercises to be posted on History Online.
· Week 6: Create a spreadsheet in historical
context, e.g. comparative size of key sea-going ships from 16th Century
onwards.
Phase 3. On-line
Mentoring.
This phase
is designed to take approximately two hours per week for twelve weeks.
Its aim is twofold: 1) to introduce history teachers to a wide range
of ICT applications of relevance to their work; and 2) to encourage
them to become active members of an Internet community of their peers.
There will also be opportunities to re-visit the modules in phase
2 if desired. It is expected that most trainees will follow the schedule
below:
· Week
1: Simulations in the history classroom. An introduction to the range
of simulations for use in the history classroom, and of their pros
and cons. Teachers select, evaluate and plan a lesson around a simulation.
· Week
2: Sources on disk. An introduction to the use of electronically provided
historical sources, based on History Online's Sourcebook series. Teachers
select and plan the use of text-based electronic material in the classroom
situation.
· Week
3: Multimedia packages. A look at the various history multimedia packages,
and of their pros and cons. After reviewing a piece of multimedia
software teacher's plan and try out software in a classroom situation
or create their own resource.
· Week
4: The World Wide Web. An introduction to basic web navigation. Teachers
locate, review and paste a review of chosen site to history Online.
· Week
5: The World Wide Web. An introduction to the use of the Internet
in history. Teachers evaluate and adapt a pre-prepared lesson plan
using an Internet site.
· Weeks
6 - 10: Personal assignment. By definition this will be an open-ended
piece of work. The assumption is that this is likely to develop out
of work previously undertaken during the NOF training, or will involve
something using the Internet. A possible template will be a lesson
or sequence of lessons on a given topic, written as a manual for the
other members of the department but also including the actual resources
to be used with students.
We
emphasise that this scheme will be operated in a flexible manner,
taking account of the specific requirements of the individuals and
of on-going feedback from participants as a whole.
COSTS:
Phase 1:
Voluntary face-to-face sessions £100 per teacher
Phase 2: On Line tuition £150 per teacher
Phase 3: On Line mentoring £150 per teacher
Please note
that VAT will be added to the above costs.
For more
information contact us in any of the following ways:
Via our website
History Online, where
you can find a registration form to submit online
By Telephone: 01529 460553 or 01773 534000
By Email: alf.wilkinson@actis.co.uk
By Post: HA NOF training, 33 Hall Road, Great Hale, Sleaford, Lincs,
NG34 9LJ.
