Explains the value of encouraging social studies students to participate in National History Day contests. (FL)

Philography, or autograph collecting, is a good way to liven up social studies classes. For example, after watching the TV miniseries "Winds of War," students wrote to famous real life participants in the war asking them a variety of questions. The response rate was nearly 100 percent. (RM)

A conceptual framework and teaching guidelines for biographical history, i.e., centering the study of history in individual lives, are presented. Both the framework and guidelines were derived from a group of philosopher-historians representing a full monistic-pluralistic spectrum of theories: Marx, Weber, Toynbee, Ortega y Gasset, and Dilthey.…

Describes the usefulness of including historical fiction on reading lists in high school history courses. Lists criteria for selection and instructional use of historical fiction, and provides a list of historical fiction appropriate for use in studying certain topics in United States history. (KH)

History has previously been learned as a long parade; making it wider, not just a single file of great men, is certainly an improvement. But whole areas of life reflect patterns of change that are apart from the major concerns of political leaders. Humanizing history makes it memorable and gives children a sense of connection. (MT)

An excellent way to teach history is by focusing on the lives of individual historical figures. History is the story of living persons, who for good or ill have made history as it is. To understand history, students must learn about the men and women who shaped events. (RM)

Describes an approach to eliminating "map illiteracy" in college students. Map illiteracy is defined as the inability to read and draw meaning from simple maps used in history texts and teaching. (JDH)

Reviews the strengths of Kenneth Cooper's updated 1984 edition of Carl Becker's MODERN HISTORY. Contends that while other high school history textbooks sell better, that Becker's text does a better job of teaching European history while helping students develop the advanced academic skills needed for higher education. (JDH)

Describes the content of a "history of the future" course which was taught in grades 7 through 16 which stresses that the relation between the past, present, and future is dynamic and reciprocal. The course stresses inquiry, problem solving, and group projects as vehicles to foster a holistic view of history. (JDH)

Describes the rewards and difficulties encountered when an educator/administrator uses ApplePILOT to develop "higher-order" instructional software tailored to meet the needs of an existing history curriculum. Reports research results showing significant learning gains for the seventh graders who participated in the post-development…

A student's understanding of the methodology of history and his acquisition of research objectivity are just as important as his understanding of the content. Provided is an activity to help secondary students evaluate historical information. (RM)

Reviews the history of ideas about the proper role of history in high school curricula. Asserts that the acceptance of social efficiency as the touchstone of curricula, as well as history's absorption into social studies, proved disastrous. Calls for reassessment of the inherent values of studying history. (KH)

Presented are generic structures, called goal and problem/solution frames, for psychologically-based historical explanations. Although intended primarily to help authors write a history that can be easily understood and remembered, the frames can also be used by teachers to organize classroom presentations and by students for textbook study. (RM)

This bibliographic essay cites audiovisual aids for teaching English history from the mid-eighteenth century to the present at the secondary and college levels. Films, filmstrips, slides, maps, transparencies, records, tapes, and archival teaching units are cited. The arrangement is topical. (Author/RM)

Explores the use of simulation and role playing activities to teach students about lifestyles, ideologies, and political relationships in Asia. A short-term role playing technique and a long-term foreign policy simulation are described. (Author/DB)