An Activity Theoretical Approach to Designing Curriculum and Instruction That Shift the Means and Ends of History Education

Reformers want history education to help students learn to engage in historical inquiry, read critically across conflicting sources, and engage in civil discussion of controversial issues. How can we help teachers and students shift the roles, norms, and activity in history classrooms to achieve these aims? An activity-theoretical framework suggests the value of explicitly attending to multiple aspects of human activity when designing and presenting reform-oriented pedagogies or curricula. Such attention increases the odds that teachers who implement new approaches or curriculum will achieve significant shifts in the means and ends of history education.

Phi Beta Kappa dissertation on the study of history at Harvard, by Daniel White and John Collins Warren, February 21, 1797

This dissertation, apparently delivered at a Phi Beta Kappa assembly on February 21, 1797 by Warren and White, concerns the study of history at Harvard College at the time they were students. In this manuscript version of their dissertation, Warren and White bemoan the insufficient attention paid to the discipline of history by the students and faculty at Harvard.

In the shadow of history. Romanian-Moldovan relations. OSW Studies 53, September 2015

Romania and Moldova have developed very strong ties, resulting mainly from many years of common history (including joint statehood), language and cultural heritage. On the one hand, this closeness fosters bilateral relations, but on the other hand it places a serious burden upon them. This is because Moldovan statehood and identity has in some way been built in opposition to Romanian statehood and identity. Part of Moldovan society (especially the Russian-speaking minority) fears closer cooperation with Bucharest, seeing it as threatening a loss of independence and the declaration of unification with its western neighbour. Historic sentiment is also reflected in Bucharest’s policy towards Moldova. Officially, relations with Chisinau are considered as exceptional, and representatives of the Romanian political class are full of declarations of assistance and support for their eastern neighbour, appealing to the national, cultural and linguistic community. In practice, however, Romanian policy towards Moldova (and hence also the two countries’ bilateral relations) is most often shaped not by sentiment but by political pragmatism, resulting among others from a desire to win the support of the Romanian electorate.

A bit of history, with some pictures.

Mode of access: Internet.

Beacon lights of history /

Includes index.

Index of History of Ottawa County, Michigan, Chicago, H.R. Page & Co., 1882.

Typescript (carbon copy).

From Plato to Hitler; interpretations of history,

Each of the ten chapters preceded by half-title not included in paging.

The history of history,

Bibliography: vol. I, p.[379]-392.

Theory and processes of history,

"Of the two books included in this volume, the first, entitled Theory of history, was originally published by the Yale university press in 1925; the second, The processes of history, was likewise issued by the Yale university press, but in 1918."-Pref.