Namn på abstract: Teaching the uses of history in contemporary controversies. Didactic opportunities and challenges in the classroom.
Since 2011, it has been mandatory in Sweden for history teachers to teach and assess their students on the uses of history.
However, there is little research on how teachers work or can work with the uses of history in the classroom. In addition, there is an ongoing conversation among scholars about the importance of making history teaching meaningful and relevant to students' orientation in contemporary society. The paper addresses some findings, from my doctoral dissertation, in particular on teaching the uses of history. With focus on Columbus statues and Black Lives Matter, 2020.
The research design involves an instrumental case study and some aspects of an intervention study. Data were collected through interviews with teachers and groups of students, classroom observations, group discussions during lessons, teaching materials, and student materials. Data analysis was aided by the theories of historiebruk, historical culture, the narrative competence, and didactic contract. [1] The results suggest the need for teacher-guided instruction towards the teacher when students work with historical sources that pose an unexpected and new perspective that does not match students' prior knowledge. The paper also discusses a possible relationship between the didactic contract and narrative competence.
Brousseau, G. (2007). Iniciación al estudio de la teoría de las situaciones didácticas/Introduction to study the theory of didactic situations: Didactico/Didactic to Algebra Study (Vol. 7). Libros del Zorzal.
Rüsen, J. (2005). Narrative Competence
The Ontogeny of Historical and Moral Consciousness. In History (1 ed., pp. 21-40). Berghahn Books. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1x76fc2.7
[1] Brousseau, G. (2007). Iniciación al estudio de la teoría de las situaciones didácticas/Introduction to study the theory of didactic situations: Didactico/Didactic to Algebra Study (Vol. 7). Libros del Zorzal. , Rüsen, J. (2005). Narrative Competence
The Ontogeny of Historical and Moral Consciousness. In History (1 ed., pp. 21-40). Berghahn Books. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1x76fc2.7
2025.
Learning, uses of history, historical consciousness, historical culture, didactical contract