More than facts: teaching complexity in history
You know history is complex. How do you teach that in the classroom?
In this episode, we unpack what ‘complexity’ in history really means and how to bring it to life for your students.
As history educator Jonathon Dallimore puts it, “Factual information… is not sufficient. Information doesn’t guarantee that you actually have insight.”
Because there’s the past: everything that’s happened.
And then there’s history: the way we interpret, debate and make meaning of the past.
You’ll hear from experienced teachers and Jonathon Dallimore, on why history is complex, with examples, and how to teach contestability and historical thinking skills to junior and secondary students.
Students are already debating the world around them. This is about helping them bring those skills into history.
Resources and tipsheet
A Practical Guide for Secondary School Teachers. By Jonathon Dallimore
Teaching history, teaching complexity: Agora, Vol. 53, No. 3, Dec 2018, 36-39 (free download for members of the History Teachers Association of Victoria)
‘Historical time’ helps students truly understand the complexity of the past – and how they fit into it: The Conversation https://doi.org/10.64628/AAO.nfmakjwre
Free professional development tipsheet for this episode (in Teacher Downloads)
Voices
Educators: Christine Abadier (New South Wales), Sarah Coleman (Queensland), Jonathon Dallimore (New South Wales).
Host: Professor Anna Clark
Credits
Hey History Teacher! is supported by the History Teachers Association of NSW.
Executive Producer is Professor Anna Clark.
Producer is Jane Curtis at UTS Impact Studios.
Sound engineering by John Jacobs.
Made on Gadigal Country in Sydney Australia.
Transcripts
More than facts: teaching complexity in history episode transcript in Word
More than facts: teaching complexity in history episode transcript PDF