It was less satisfying and much harder to combine old with new to make an inclusive, judiciously balanced (and far less novel) introductory course for high school or college students. African Studies are important to students who want to understand their neighbors -- and themselves. Publisher: Alpha History By Rachel White It is usable at all levels of academia as well which should be refreshing for graduate students who are in historiography courses grappling with the question of why history is important. They must develop and refine techniques to share their findings and conclusions. Ford’s negative view of history, while not uncommon, is narrow and misguided. For as long as human beings have studied history, cynics have dismissed it as a curious indulgence, a quaint but worthless fascination with vanished societies and dead people. Featured image: Erika Bsumek at the Mansfield Dam located in Austin, Texas. In fact, #everythinghasahistory. History can certainly make you more knowledgeable and interesting to talk to and can lead to all sorts of brilliant vocations, explorations, and careers – just take a look at all these former history majors, for example. Authors: Jennifer Llewellyn, Steve Thompson In history courses, we learn not just about other people and places but we learn from them. Research is the skill of locating and gathering information and historical evidence, from many different places. Anyone who has studied history at higher levels will tell you there is much more involved. Some believe history has little or no bearing on their lives or on the world today. Most students who study history, select a focus, whether that be art history, ancient history, education history, military history, or based on a region, like European history. Sacha Baron Cohen (British actor/comedian), Winston Churchill (British prime minister), Dwight D. Eisenhower (US general and president), Chris Hughes (American entrepreneur and co-founder of Facebook), Kareem Abdul Jabbar (American basketballer), Henry Kissinger (American politician and diplomat), Samuel Palmisano (American executive, CEO of IBM), Franklin D. Roosevelt (American president), Antonin Scalia (US Supreme Court Justice), Howard Stringer (Welsh executive, CEO of Sony), Louis Theroux (British documentary maker), Gough Whitlam (Australian prime minister). Anyone considering enrolling in a history course must think about this question. A recent article by the American Historical Association reports that “two national studies that show that college students who do not succeed in even one of their foundational-­level [history] courses are the least likely to complete a degree at any institution over the 11-year period covered by the studies.” Why? To forget those lessons makes us more prone to overlook the way we, as a society, need to continue to support the policies that made clean water a possibility. Today, studying history remains as popular as ever. These skills and knowledge can be extremely useful, both in employment and in the study of other subjects. The study of history helps instruct one in skills that have universal application, no matter what one’s life work might become. History shows us models of good and responsible citizenship. In today’s world, where people often cherry pick facts about the past to prove points, it helps to place current events in historical context. Many stories of different types of people and situations from the past, allows each student to develop their own morals; also to compare it to the difficulties that they will go through (Stearns, 2008). History also draws on and utilises knowledge and ideas from many other disciplines, including politics, legal studies, economics, sociology, philosophy, psychology, the sciences and the arts. This isn't always the case, however. I first began to appreciate the study of history as an undergraduate studying political philosophy at Boston University. Some question the relevance and usefulness of studying things that happened long ago. Performance in history courses can also be a good indicator of a student’s overall ability to succeed in college. It requires a great deal of detective work, careful thought and problem-solving. Philosophy makes a central contribution to the educational enterprise through its demands upon intellectual activity. Many of our students combine studying philosophy with studying other disciplines. To be a successful history student or historian, you must first become a good researcher. Some of these career options include: Archivists 1. Alpha History is an Australian-based site with writers and editors around the world. Studying history also creates thoughtful and active citizens who are willing to participate in the political process or in their own communities.Â. They learn the value of things like ethics, empathy, diversity and social justice. In short, the study of the past helps lead to greater personal insight and comprehension of each person’s place in the grand sweep of the human story. Curators run the educational, research, and public service activities of museums, zoos, and … Many prominent historians publish the findings of their research as books. The historian must weigh up their evidence, think logically and laterally, then develop credible and justifiable arguments or theories. Bsumek, who also teaches Native American and Environmental history, strives to help all of her students see the world around them in new ways. History provides identity. Copyright: Content on this page may not be republished without our express permission. They must be adept at contextualisation, analysis, problem-solving and critical thinking. Curators 1. You should know your reasons for choosing to study history. Historians can also articulate their findings in newspaper or magazine articles, interviews, lectures, symposiums and conferences or on the Internet. Studying History provides you with skills that aren't confined to the study of the past. Many history graduates also complete additional study to become lawyers, diplomats and public officials. Date accessed: November 26, 2020 Why study history? We read the documents or materials that were produced at the time or listen to the oral histories people tell in order to convey the meaning of the past to successive generations. Date published: April 10, 2019 facebook twitter email. Emphasizing social and protest movements in the making of history gives students a feeling that they as citizens are the most important actors in history. How to Study History: Key Data Retention. This is an unfair representation of how useful and highly regarded history qualifications are. The skills and knowledge acquired from studying history are valued by many professions. They learn about the timeless issues and problems that affect human societies, both past and present. History certainly does require study of the past – but this only enhances your understanding of the modern world. It is, they believe, simply knowing what happened in the past. They think critically about every piece of evidence, testing and evaluating its reliability, credibility, usefulness and significance. It helps us understand how our time is different from or similar to other periods. From time to time, students update … One of these topics will be studied with a particular focus on documents Military censorship of journalist’s report, 1915 18. Studying the events of … While the class is covering the usual World History content, students are working on their own interest on the side. Studying history and other humanities can not only pique one’s imagination and engage students, history courses can also help students learn how to take in vast amounts of information, how to write and communicate those ideas effectively, and, most importantly, to accept the fact that many problems have no clear-cut answer. They learn the risks and dangers of certain ideas. Erika Bsumek, an associate professor of history in the College of Liberal Arts and a 2018 recipient of the Regent’s Outstanding Teaching Awards, wants to help students see how different disciplines are connected. We produce free history content for teachers and students worldwide. In doing so, we learn that there is just not one past, but a pluralism of pasts. Politics is another career path for history graduates, some of whom have risen to high office. The more history they learn, the better prepared they will be to solve the biggest challenges society faces now and in the future. As they delve deeper into the past, historians almost always find unanswered questions, unclear information or missing pieces of evidence.