Source: Digital Access Key Image; Morgue File; http://mrg.bz/xJqkIW
Hello, ladies and gentlemen. I hope you're having a great day today. Today, we're going to be looking at Understanding the Historical Thinking Standards. And for today's lesson, I've chosen a quote by Confucius which says, "study the past if you would define the future." I think it's a wonderful quote that really emphasizes the importance of history in our education.
By the end of today's lesson, you will be able to review the origin of the historical thinking standards, as well as analyze the historical thinking standards. First, let's focus in on the history of these historical thinking standards. These standards were actually developed by the University of California in Los Angeles. The intent here was to develop historical thinking in students, really focusing in on helping their understanding of historical events and people through asking questions, seeking evidence, referring to primary and secondary sources, evaluating that data, and then really considering the historical context of this information, all of this helping to focus in and broaden the historical mindset of our students.
Now, let's focus in on these standards. These standards are to align history, social studies, and geography standards, and really promoting those skills necessary to think like a historian. The goal here is that they are connecting all of those standards directly to the content so that students are able to investigate key areas, as well as think like a historian to unpack those areas. The standards are in place to help support teachers in unit and lesson development within a social studies classroom.
They can be found at the following website. Now, I want to note that it's really important to see that the dimensions of historical thinking connect the content being studied, but they are not to be studied independently of the content. All of these elements in the historical thinking standards should be used to help enhance the content of a social studies classroom.
Now, let's focus in on the five interconnected dimensions of historical thinking. First, we want to focus in on chronological thinking, looking at the way in which history developed over time, rather than this moment, then that moment, then let's jump forward to this moment, and back over to this one. Really, history happens as a result of what came before, and focusing in on the chronological thinking of that.
Focusing in on historical comprehension. Are we really understanding the elements that were put in place and when they existed in that time period? Historical analysis and interpretation of the events we're looking at, historical research capabilities, how to go back to original source material and find information that is historically accurate to the information we're looking at. And finally, historical issues analysis and decision-making.
As with any standards that are developed, there are positives and negatives. So unlike other content areas, history, social studies, and geography have multiple standard sources from which to select, this is why UCLA went into creating the historical thinking standards framework, so that we are able to really connect all of these multiple source material and able to give students a unified way of investigating that material. Although we've reached the end of our lesson today, you have been able to review the origin of historical thinking standards, as well as analyze the various areas of the historical thinking standards.
I'd like to take just a moment now for reflection. Now that you've learned about the historical thinking standards, what would be the first step you might take to begin implementing this in your classroom and encouraging your students to think historically? Now, to dive a little deeper and learn how to apply this information, be sure that you check out the Additional Resources section associated with this video. This is where you'll find the links targeted toward helping you discover more ways to apply this course material.
(00:00-00:23) Intro
(00:24-00:34) Objectives
(00:35-01:17) History of Historical Thinking Standards
(01:18-02:24) The Standards
(02:25-03:25) 5 Interconnected Dimensions
(03:26-03:58) Positives & Negatives
(03:59-04:10) Review
(04:11-04:56) Reflection
Introduction to Standards in Historical Thinking
This is UCLA's History site, the official site of the historical thinking standards. These standards can be used with any history, social studies or geography standards and emphasize the skills necessary for students to think like an historian. By clicking on the history standards tab, you will find the national history standards. In addition, you will find a valuable resource aligning the history standards with the CCSS.
https://phi.history.ucla.edu/nchs/historical-thinking-standards/
What is Historical Thinking?
There are so many history standards. Combine that the addition of the historical thinking standards and the related CCSS and aligning lessons and curriculum can become overwhelming. TeachingHistory.Org offers practical strategies on incorporating the standards lessons and curriculum. Of particular interest, scroll down to watch videos of historical thinking in action in classrooms.
http://teachinghistory.org/nhec-blog/24434