How to Study History

The How to Study History software package was designed as an introduction to history and provides a glimpse of how to work with historical dates and events, maps, and primary sources.

Historical Maps

Historical Maps The Historical Maps program is devoted to developing skills of working with historical maps. Here, pupils will learn how to distinguish between geographical and historical maps; they will learn of different kinds of historical maps and be able to use them in order to tell about past events.

Features

• Possibility to choose the studied topics according to objectives and goals
• Availability of practical assignments in each section for knowledge consolidation
• Compilation of a report on errors and recommendations on how to improve results
• Group and individual work in class
• Possibility of independent learning at home

Contents

1. "Historical Map"
2. "History of Making Maps"
3. "Traveling with a Map"
4. Lecture "How to Show on the Map"
5. Training "Make a map of an early man"

The hero of this program is the Globe who will strictly monitor pupils' success in acquiring knowledge and coping with assignments.

1. "Historical Map". This section tells pupils what kind of maps they are going to encounter in their future study of history and leads pupils to a conclusion that, having a historical map, they may learn:

• The location and plan of an ancient city
• Military campaigns and battles
• Change in the territory of the states
• Population distribution of our ancestors
• Population migration in the past

Additional theoretical sections:

2. "The History of Making Maps" is a section that depicts the changes in ancient people's knowledge of Earth. Assignments included in this section require pupils to first think of the problem independently, then analyze the materials and give an answer. Examples of maps to be studied:

• Ancient map (hunting place)
• Ancient Assyrian map (terrain and city topography)
• The map of the world by Hesiod
• The map of the world by Herodotus
• The map of the world by Ptolemy

3. "Traveling with a Map" is a small section for those who need clarification of the following concepts: globe, scale, cardinal directions and continents. This information leads to understanding the difference between a geographical and an historical map. The second and third sections can be used as additional material for explanation, depending on pupils' age and academic background.

4. "How to Show on the Map" is a lecture which tells pupils how to:

• Stand at the map
• Point at states
• Point at cities and settlements
• Point at rivers

5. "Read a Map of an Early Man" is a training assignment for knowledge consolidation. The essence of this training is to help an early man to make a map using ancient conventional symbols.

Application:

The contents of "How to Study History" software package allow for its use as a source of information for independent test preparation.

The superb quality of visual materials allows for effective application of program materials as visual aids for frontal class work. Using an interactive whiteboard may help to expand the teacher's facilities when working with the class.

Unconventional multi-level assignments and exercises allow for using this software package for knowledge consolidation and testing.