History definition and interpretation often excludes many groups. History education should teach learning habits and thinking skills that produce legitimate historical generalizations supported by reliable sources. Student historians must change from passive accepters of others' interpretations to historians grappling to define, interpret, and…

Discusses teaching about Christopher Columbus and the contact between the Americas and the Old World. Suggests that most history texts are correct in the information they include but leave much out. Describes a museum exhibit focusing on disease, corn, the potato, the horse, and sugar as agents of change resulting from the Columbian contact. (DK)

Argues against a graduate field of study in world history as too general. Suggests developing a specialization in comparative history to encompass major culture areas. Uses multiple elements to develop comparative history courses. Proposes graduate seminars where students discuss works in cross-cultural comparative history. (NL)

Illustrates improving map study by relating an unfamiliar location to the geographical area where the student lives. Explains the circles map and the transparency map comparison methods. Discovers that the two methods of using maps are effective when teaching about past events in distant places. (NL)

Reports on the effects of computer-assisted instruction on student achievement in U.S. history classes. Studies two groups of students: those who used the computer to learn the material and those who did not. Reports no difference in the two groups. Outlines recommendations for computer use in the classroom. (RW)

Describes experience of implementing new California History Social Science Framework at the tenth grade level at Edison High School, Huntington Beach, California. Discusses the anxieties felt by teachers as they omitted areas of world history to teach selected topics in greater depth. Presents the world history course structure that was developed…

Suggests that teachers can enliven their world history classroom through debates, plays, improvisations, readings, and drama. Describes how to use drama to enhance the study of the ordinary citizen of the Napoleonic era. (DB)

Presents a student research project in which students discover the history behind everyday kitchen inventions and popular food items. Pupils achieve the following objectives: (1) distinguish fact from opinion; (2) evaluate relevant information; (3) compare and contrast events; (4) locate and verify conflicting information; and (5) organize,…

Reviews criticism of history instruction and historical knowledge in the United States since 1939. Contends that critics have shared almost identical concerns during that period. Suggests that, although efforts must continually be made to strengthen history instruction, the "crisis" in history is ephemeral and usually linked to…

Observes that teaching undergraduates about the post-1989 economic and political transitions in Central and Eastern Europe has received little attention. Identifies challenges and problems of teaching about post-communist transitions, particularly low awareness of the region's communist history. Reports on a module to teach about transition in…

Discusses ways in which college instructors can use the Internet to share their teaching experiences, frustrations, and advice with colleagues. Reviews several electronic mail lists that address issues in teaching history and provides directions for joining them. Notes concerns and hopes regarding the use of the Internet by educators. (DSK)

Explores how social-studies student teachers think about and write about history through an examination of their historical thinking, use of sources, and writing. Focuses on constructing historical accounts from multiple sources. Discusses common patterns in thinking and writing. Suggests way to improve student teachers' engagement with historical…

Presents materials related to the United Nations Global Teach-In Project on landmines and their dangers. Includes a set of lessons prepared by the American Forum for Global Education and the UN CyberSchoolBus, e-mail exchanges between students and UN de-mining teams, and contact information for further information on the de-mining campaign. (DSK)

Argues that expanding the global perspectives of students requires strategies focusing on knowledge and point of view. Provides four exercises used in a Mexican high school to allow students to identify, express, and understand their own global perspectives. Includes a small-group exercise, two mapping exercises, and a political-cartoon exercise.…

Summarizes how teachers may implement the Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework as they design and teach courses in Western civilization and world history, focusing on the integration of history, geography, and the social sciences. Suggestions are given for approaches to common problems. (SLD)