About the NSW History Project

>> Background to the project

>> Management team

>> Project goals

>> Outcomes

>> Professional development program

>> Online contact dates

>> Consortium Members

Background to the Project (A Project funded by DETYA)

In 1999 the Federal Government commissioned an inquiry into the teaching and learning of history in Australian schools. The inquiry report, Future of the Past, released in October 2000, noted the declining status of history in schools, and the need for teacher professional renewal. In response, the Government has set up the National History Project (NHP) which has been allocated $2.3m over three years (2000-2003). To date the Commonwealth via the Quality Outcomes Program has funded the:

• establishment of a National Centre for History Education

• convening of 2 national seminars on the teaching of Australian and global history in schools

• development of curriculum resources for primary and secondary schools

• development and accreditation of a national postgraduate certificate/diploma in history education

• provisions of locally-based professional consortia projects for school teachers of history in each State/Territory.

The University of Sydney together with Macquarie University, the University of Western Sydney, and the History Teachers' Association of NSW were successful in securing the contract with DETYA to develop and manage the PD pilot project in NSW.

Management Team

Carmel Young - University of Sydney
Marnie Hughes Warrington/Judy Adnum - Macquarie University
Jennifer Lawless - University of Western Sydney
Kate Cameron - History Teachers' Association of NSW
John Gore - NSW Department of Education and Training
Tony McArthur - NSW Catholic Education Commission
Julie Thompson - Association of Independent Schools of NSW
Brent Corish - Director, Professional Development Unit, Faculty of Education, University of Sydney

Project Goals

• provide opportunities for upper primary HSIE teachers to extend their knowledge base in history teaching and learning

• provide opportunities for secondary history teachers to renew their discipline base and teaching skills in line with current thinking in history education

• articulate into the National History Education Certificate/Diploma Program now under development at Monash and Melbourne, providing credit equivalent to a standard M.Ed Unit of Study

• strengthen history networks to support teachers in rural and remote areas

• link teachers with history professionals working in different areas to draw on a range of expertise

• link teachers to the National Centre for History Education and other NHP initiatives.

Outcomes

• extend their understanding of education and discipline based trends affecting the teaching and learning of history nationally and internationally

• develop an understanding of various methodologies/conceptual frameworks underpinning practitioner research

• demonstrate an ability to apply these understandings to a critical examination of their own practice and educational setting.

Professional Development Program

Stage 1 - History Workshop held over two consecutive days focusing on key issues in contemporary historical and educational scholarship and involving participants in interactive learning. Areas to be adressed include:

• History and the Learner

• History Online - navigating the Website and ICT literacy

• Disciplined Inquiry in History - Focus on Australian History through a Case Study Approach (three case studies developed around the themes of Contact Migration and Citizenship)

• History through Biography - (venue - Jessie Street Library)

• Practitioner Research - Focus on Action Research

• History and Place

Stage 2 - School Based Research which follows directly on from Stage 1, carried out by participants over a ten to fifteen week period. Areas chosen for research should reflect issues raised in workshop sessions.

Coverage should include:

• rationale for choice

• outline and justification for research approach adopted

• outline of the research process

• research outcomes and implications.

Stage 3 - Research Workshop held over one day at which students present, share and discuss research findings.

The three stages are supported by online facilities comprising:

• materials related to workshops and school-based research

• links to other history sites, agencies and associations

• CHAT, SWAP rooms to ensure ongoing contact between participants and staff.

This Program is offered at city and rural locations in summer/winter school mode. It is managed through the Professional Development Division, Faculty of Education, University of Sydney.

Online Contact dates to a project advisor

Contact 1 11th February

Contact 2 11th March

Contact 3 15th April

Contact 4 13th May

Contact 5 24th June

Consortium Members

The consortium members for the NSW History Project include:

The University of Sydney Faculty of Education

The Faculty has several research centres that will comlement the work of the project. These include the Centre For Practitioner Research and the Teaching Resources and Textbook Research Unit ( TREAT ) . The Centre for Practitioner Research has developed strong professional partnerships with schools and offers seminars and workshops on teachers as researchers. TREAT conducts research into the use of textbooks and other teaching resources in all educational contexts. The Faculty has a strong research base in history education, and supports one of the largest primary HSIE and secondary teacher education programs in Australia. The Faculty has recently linked with the Training and Development Directorate, NSW DET, and offers units of study for teachers enrolled in its Certificate in Mentoring and Teacher Development.

Macquarie University

The Department of Modern History at Macquarie Univeristy offers a strong teaching and research program in Australian History and historiography. Its staff are experienced in the flexible delivery of education via the world wide web and digital media and enjoy close working relationship with the School of Education and professional organisations such as the AHA and the HTA of NSW.

University of Western Sydney

The College of Arts, Education and Social Sciences at UWS offers a strong teaching and research program in Australian History and History Education. Staff have considerable expertise in teacher training in History at both secondary and primary level and in related curriculum development. Staff are also experienced in flexible delivery of professional development courses, evaluation of educational professional development and continue to have an active participation in professional associations such as AHA and HTA of NSW.

History Teachers' Association of New South Wales

HTA of NSW offers an experienced and talented Executive committed to the promotion and support of school history and its teachers. Executive members, who represent all educational sectors, have expertise in the design and delivery of a range of professional development services through the conference program, publications and the Association's website. HTA is the main provider of of professional development for History teachers in New South Wales and has great credibility in education circles, reflected in HTA's partnership in the Discovering Democracy Secondary Professional Development Program.

>> History Teachers Association Website : http://www.htansw.asn.au/