Analysing students' mastering of historical concepts and skills when using a number of given original primary documents

Abstract

This dissertation analyses how students master different historical concepts and skills when using a number of given original primary documents. Ten history option students (year 10 & year 11) from a Maltese secondary state school during this research were taken to the National Archives at Santo Spirito Rabat. After a small guided tour around the archives, the students were divided into five pairs and were given a primary document and worksheets with questions to answer in pairs. After completing the given worksheet, each student individually had to produce a report about the conclusions derived from the document under review. Moreover, this dissertation illustrated how teachers can use primary source fieldworks as an opportunity to encourage students to master and practice various different historical concepts and skills. As portrayed from the data gathered, the fieldwork generated a number of opportunities for students to apply and practice the historical concepts and skills of, cause and consequence, change and continuity, time and chronology, comprehension, historical terms, source analysis, perspective and interpretations, empathy, and the skill of communicating history. The students' responses during the fieldwork were satisfactory because they mirrored the use of various historical concepts and skills and were very similar to the model answers. Additionally, this dissertation through a number of questionnaires illustrated how primary source fieldworks set in archives can influence the students' awareness of archives.