Higher History Strategies for facilitating learners six essential learning experiences as detailed in SQA arrangements document. Learning strategy templates provided in appendices to A Guide to the Teaching of Paper 2 of Higher History for Practitioners.
Essential learning experiences Extract from SQA arrangements document: Candidates should engage in wide-ranging, independent reading relevant to their historical studies. Suggestion on how to facilitate that experience: Learners could be directed to the relevant LTS subject guide for their topic as these contain core information, a recommended bibliography and a list of websites.
Essential learning experiences Extract from SQA arrangements document: Candidates should interpret and evaluate historical source material and set it in context. Suggestion on how to facilitate that experience: Learners could experience this through exposure to a variety of written, visual and audio sources. Questioning, empathetic analysis or jigsaw activities would be useful to give learners a different experience. Learners should also be made aware of the contexts historiographical debate and interpretation.
Essential learning experiences Extract from SQA arrangements document: Candidates should record systematically information derived from a variety of sources, such as books, notes, lectures, electronic media, audio-visual materials and site visits. Suggestion on how to facilitate that experience: Learners would benefit from being taught a logical note- taking system, which would be a useful life-long transferrable skill. It would be useful to share with learners how to reference, organise and record notes and useful quotes.
Essential learning experiences Extract from SQA arrangements document: Candidates should make use of relevant historical terms and concepts Suggestion on how to facilitate that experience: Learners will be exposed to such terms throughout the course but it is useful for learners to keep a glossary of terms and concepts in their notes. Interesting discussions on concepts such as identity can lead to higher-order thinking and a more secure understanding of the concept.
Essential learning experiences Extract from SQA arrangements document: Candidates should take part in formal and informal discussion and debate based on and informed by historical evidence and knowledge in order to develop the ability to think independently and make informed judgements Suggestion on how to facilitate that experience: Practitioners could initially use discussion structure cards, role plays and debates on current issues, which would then allow learners to apply those newly acquired skills to a more unfamiliar historical context. Tasks that incorporate revised Blooms taxonomy would allow learners to hone their higher- order thinking skills.
Essential learning experiences Extract from SQA arrangements document: Candidates should develop the skills of extended writing or producing an extended response for a variety of purposes, including descriptive and analytical essays or equivalent responses of differing lengths. Suggestion on how to facilitate that experience: Learners will have more opportunities to develop their extended writing skills in Paper 1 through their essay writing.