Foundations of a history course : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)
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Abstract
For incoming high school students, history education is commonly hindered by limiting misconceptions that skew the potential of such courses. Students routinely perceive a history course as a collection of dry facts and countless dates. If an instructor does not take the time to address these misconceptions, students enter the class without a fair appreciation for the value of a history course. This twenty-four minute film introduces students to the incredible potential of history education. By addressing such topics as historical perspectives, the connections between the past and the present, global interactions, history's relevancy to all career paths, and entertaining approaches to history, students obtain a well-rounded understanding for what a history course offers. Nine different history instructors, ranging from junior high and high school teachers to collegiate professors, reinforce the advantages of taking a history course. This film is grounded in the realization that history is first and foremost a story about people. Upon establishing this foundation, students become more aware of their personal connection with history. Designed to serve as an orientation video for students new to a high school history setting, Foundations of a History Course showcases how the principles of history education have a direct impact on students' everyday lives. In order to better distribute this film, it has been uploaded to the Internet at "foundationsofhistory.org."