This handbook provides secondary school history teachers with a broad range of strategies to keep active learning approaches at the forefront of their teaching. >

History is not a mere chronicle of facts, but a dialogue between competing interpretations of the past; it should be taught as such. Teaching history in this way makes it both intellectually demanding and more interesting, while at the same time helps students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to become functioning citizens in a democracy. The opening chapters provide the rationale for the study of history, its epistemological basis, and the logic of the discipline. The bulk of the book deals with practical ways to help students acquire, process, and apply information. In particular, it addresses the specific thinking skills required by the discipline, with many effective techniques for helping students to master them. The implications of this approach for teacher evaluation of student work are also addressed.

History is not a mere chronicle of facts, but a dialogue between competing interpretations of the past; it should be taught as such. The book includes the rationale for the study of history, the specific thinking skills required by the discipline, and methods for students acquiring, processing, and applying information.

This comprehensive handbook combines up-to-date research - including Ofsted reports and pupil surveys - with road-tested classroom techniques to suggest how you can make your classroom a dynamic and productive learning environment. Advice is given on all aspects of history teaching, from how to plan for successful outcomes and maximise meaningful assessment, through to exciting ways to examine evidence and develop pupil interest outside of the classroom. The chapter on making effective use of ICT to teach history tackles one of the biggest challenges for teachers today: how to ensure new technologies are utilised to improve learning, without allowing the technology to detract from the history being taught. This book is perfect for trainee teachers and NQTs, but will also help experienced history teachers to make lessons inspiring and accessible to pupils with a range of specific educational needs, including pupils for whom English is not their first language, and those who are regarded as being gifted and talented.