the use of multiperspectivity when teaching and learning history: advantages and challenges

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