LOVED this READING- 6 elements

Peter Seixas and Carla Peck have authored a rich narrative about historical thinking. Their big idea is to try and examine the role of historical thinking in Social Studies practice. Ideas involve sharpening our senses and imagining traces and accounts of history through conceptualized rigor and analyses. By addressing what we “do” when we think historically, the authors suggest that we can understand and know the past more deeply. They are adamant that imparting knowledge on youth ought to be taught through 6 different lenses of imagination and only then we have experienced history; “by defining the kind of sense making that is particular to understanding the past, it becomes possible to make it an explicit part of history curriculum and assessment” (Seixas, P., Peck, C. pg. 111).

The six elements of historical thinking; significance, epistemology and evidence, continuity and change, progress and decline, empathy, historical agency; all have connections to innovation, creativity, teaching and learning.

Innovation (according to my working definition) is the ignition to recognize and study the past, present and future to think about possibilities. The 6 elements include a rigorous questioning and searching process that may allow for breakthroughs in innovations for society.

When I consider creativity, it also fits into the framework. It is the harnessing of ideas that have come before us in other peoples’ experiences and translations. It is recognizing that things can be done differently and challenging the status quo to push ideas beyond our comfort zones. For this it could be working on newer iterations stemming from the past. It’s also about that imagination that the authors mentioned.

Teaching in this context is about using the tools to fit the job- in this case the 6 elements.

“Learning is a process, a tapestry. Learning is active, and results in new meaning every time a learner builds upon their knowledge. Learning allows people to build and adjust schema to form new understandings every time they engage with situations or content. Learning never stops.” (Enzie, H. 2018).

Learning is present everywhere in application of the 6 elements of historical thinking. The elements, assist us in weaving a tapestry for the students so that THEY can make their sense and engage in social studies content the way it should be.

Sources:

Enzie, H. (2018). Learning & Working Glossary for End of Module Two.https://onq.queensu.ca/d2l/le/172931/discussions/threads/2018398/View

Seixas, P., & Peck, C. (2004). Teaching historical thinking. In A. Sears & I. Wright (Eds.), Challenges and prospects for Canadian social studies (pp. 109 – 117). Vancouver: Pacific Educational Press.