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THE USE OF MULTIPERSPECTIVITY WHEN TEACHING AND LEARNING HISTORY: ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES John Hamer Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
THE USE OF MULTIPERSPECTIVITY WHEN TEACHING AND LEARNING HISTORY:
ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES
John Hamer
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
MULTIPERSPECTIVITY:WHAT IS IT?
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
The history iceberg
The history iceberg
Past events
The historical record
History
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
MULTIPERSPECTIVITY
Viewing historical events from several
perspectives – alternative narratives
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
MULTIPERSPECTIVITY
Viewing historical events from several
perspectives – alternative narratives
Stems from the basic discipline of history –
weighing the evidence
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
MULTIPERSPECTIVITY
Viewing historical events from several
perspectives – alternative narratives
Stems from the basic discipline of history –
weighing the evidence
The use of primary sources from different -
and even opposing - groups
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
MULTIPERSPECTIVITY
Empathy – willingness to put oneself in another’s shoes
Viewing historical events from several perspectives
– alternative narratives
Stems from the basic discipline of history -
weighing the evidence
The use of primary sources from different -
and even opposing - groups
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
PERSPECTIVE
Pre-disposition
Purpose
Provenance Perception & misperceptio
n (error)
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Provenance
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Eyewitness
• How many people?• Male/female?• Age?• What were they wearing?• What were they doing?
Provenance
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Perception & misperception
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Perception & misperception
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Pre-disposition
Culture/education
Family/social background
Political views
Religious and other affiliations
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Pre-disposition
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
• What unites all these people?• Match each of these descriptions to people
shown on the slide:1) A university graduate2) Chief executive of a finance company3) Agreed to marry a person selected by their
parents (arranged marriage)4) A local politician
Pre-disposition
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
A
B
C
D
E
F
Pre-disposition
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
They’re all me!
Pre-disposition
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Purpose
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Purpose
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
PERSPECTIV
E
Pre-disposition
Purpose ProvenancePerception &
misperception (error)
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
PERSPECTIV
E
Pre-disposition
PurposeProvenancePerception &
misperception (error)
Practical limitations
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Multiperspectivity
ProcessConsidering
different narrativesGathering,
interpreting and evaluating a
variety of evidence
EmpathyLooking at the past
from alternative points of view –
individual and/or collective;
recognising that these may be
equally valid or equally biased
JourneyTentative
judgments based on the evidence
available and accessibleHistory = a discussion
without end
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Multiperspectivity: the advantages
Enriches historical understanding
Recognises diversity and inclusivity
Promotes the development of analytical and critical thinking skills
Helps when considering sensitive and controversial issues (eg recent conflict)
Advantages
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Multiperspectivity: the advantages
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Multiperspectivity: the advantagesMaking links, providing possible explanations
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Multiperspectivity: the advantagesMaking links, providing possible explanations
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Make as many connections as you can between these various sources. How do these connections help to explain the success of Hitler and Nazism in Germany during the inter-war years?
Multiperspectivity: the advantagesMaking links, providing possible explanations
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Multiperspectivity: the challenges
Challenges
PRACTICAL It’s impossible –
there are just too many
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Multiperspectivity: the challenges
Challenges
PRACTICALIt’s impossible – there
are just too many
PRACTICALThere aren’t the
resources
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Multiperspectivity: the challenges
Challenges
PRACTICALIt’s impossible – there are
just too many
PRACTICALThere aren’t the
resources
PRACTICALI don’t know enough!
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Multiperspectivity: the challenges
Challenges
PRACTICALIt’s impossible – there are
just too many
PRACTICALThere aren’t the
resources
PRACTICALI don’t know enough!
EDUCATIONALIt makes it too confusing
for the students
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Multiperspectivity: the challenges
Challenges
PRACTICALIt’s impossible –
there are just too many
PRACTICALThere aren’t the
resources
PRACTICLI don’t know
enough!EDUCATIONALIt makes it too
confusing for the students
EDUCATIONALHistory’s not like
that
Council of Europe, Tallinn, October 2011
Multiperspectivity: the challenges
Challenges
PRACTICALIt’s impossible –
there are just too many
PRACTICALThere aren’t the
resources
PRACTICALI don’t know
enough!EDUCATIONALIt makes it too
confusing for the students
EDUCATIONALHistory’s not like
that
IT’S DANGEROUS NONSENSE
You shouldn’t do it
