Personalizing History for Effective Student Learning
The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), based in the US, has introduced a new definition of social studies that emphasizes human experience and interaction, signifying a major shift in the educational paradigm. This approach advocates for a shift in classroom culture and teaching methods to align with the new approach. Personalized learning pathways, oral histories, and local history studies, as defined by NCSS, enable students to connect the past with their personal lives and comprehend the significance of history.
Focusing on human experiences in history enables greater attention to be paid to primary sources, such as the memories of historical events held by grandparents, neighbors, or community members. This approach transforms history into a personal story about real people. Oral history projects begin with training in the historical context, how to ask the right questions, and how to tell a first-hand story. Local history studies and interviews provide students with the opportunity to establish personal connections with primary sources. This enables them to develop their ability to analyze history and reflect on their own perspectives. This approach can transform the way student’s express history through oral histories, podcasts, films, interviews, and written work. Performance assessments can be presented to the class as if they were part of the event, and primary sources can be analyzed.
In conclusion, the new definition of social studies places greater emphasis on skills and analysis, allowing for more interactive and student-centered history teaching. This will increase, rather than decrease, the content and connections for students in social studies lessons. By allowing students to explore the broader narrative of history based on their own interests, teachers can provide them with an opportunity to experience history through the lives of actual individuals.