Valletta : making history relevant to form III students by focusing on the concepts of change and continuity

Abstract

Having been a capital city for more than four centuries, Valletta has passed through different phases of change and continuity. The main aim of this research was to address the development of pupils' skills and concepts in relation to historical change and continuity in the Capital. An analysis of the local teaching situation with regards to change and continuity in the history curriculum took place. It was found that the local situation is in line with foreign countries, in that change and continuity are rather intangible in teaching. The researcher narrowed down the research to Form III participants who were given carefully-designed tasks meant to develop thinking about aspects of change and continuity in Valletta. In order to test the validity of the different tasks relating to change and continuity, the researcher carried out the tasks with four different classes. These were referred to as the experimental classes. After the intervention was completed, pupils were asked to write an essay commenting on the elements of change and continuity in Valletta. The same essay was given to another sample of pupils who had not carried out the same tasks. This was known as the control group. Through the correction of all essays by professional markers, as well as further in-depth analysis by the researcher, it was concluded that the pupils in the experimental classes had honed the concepts of change and continuity much better than the pupils in control classes. Through the findings of this research, the researcher aims to encourage teaching colleagues to give the required value to change and continuity in their teaching of history.