Promoting Historical Enquiry in the Classroom

Dates: 22 August – 15 September 2023 [two sessions per week and a panel discussion]

Time: 5.30 to 7.30 p.m.

Format: Online

Registration: Rs 1500/- for 7 sessions

Register here: https://bit.ly/3P4IIlj

Contrary to how History is presented via the school textbooks—a mere set of facts from the past—history is but a set of arguments that helps students inquire, evaluate, explain and construct a narrative about the events of the past. Historical inquiry is at the heart of history learning and teaching, leading to the establishment of historical evidence, which is the guiding force behind historical interpretations of pertinent socio-political questions.

Keeping this in mind, History for Peace, in association with a core group of teachers, has developed a professional development course on Promoting Historical Inquiry in the Classroom. This 4-week course is open to practising middle and high school teachers and B.Ed. students.

The course has two segments:

• Historians explaining historical methods used in scholarly work
• Devising and implementing pedagogical strategies for effectively incorporating these methods into teachers' lesson plans

Objective of the course:

To facilitate discussion between historians and history teachers on the methods of historical inquiry and how the same could be implemented at pedagogical levels across classrooms. By the end of the course, participants will:

1. Learn about different historical methods.
2. Learn about  strategies to implement different historical methods in their classroom practices
3. Collaborate with fellow history educators in creating a pool of resources which could be widely used by school teachers
4. Have access to resources given in different sessions of the course

Deliverables: Certificate and complete course material on completion of the entire module.

This course shall be offered virtually (on Zoom) over 4 weeks in August and September 2023.

SCHEDULE:

Session 1

22 August 2023 | 5.30–7.30 p.m.

The Historian’s Craft: Holding the Tension Between Narratives and Facts

Philipp Blom

Lecture followed by a conversation with Shivangi Jaiswal and audience Q&A

25 August 2023 | 5.30–7.30 p.m.

Classroom Practice: Workshop by Shivangi Jaiswal based on Dr Blom’s lecture

Session 2

28 August 2023 | 5.30–7.30 p.m.

Beyond Empires Teaching Local History: Examples from South India

Aloka Parasher Sen

Lecture followed by a conversation with Sunita Biswas and audience Q&A

1 September 2023 | 5.30–7.30 p.m.

Classroom Practice: Workshop by Sunita Biswas based on Prof Parasher’s lecture

Session 3

4 September 2023 | 5.30–7.30 p.m.

Title to be announced

Pankaj Jha

Lecture followed by a conversation with Madhushree Dutta and audience Q&A

8 September 2023 | 5.30–7.30 p.m.

Classroom Practice: Workshop by Madhushree Dutta based on speaker’s lecture

Session 4

15 September 2023 | 5.30 7.30 p.m.

Panel Discussion with all participants