MODERN HISTORY How and Why?

WHY STUDY MODERN HISTORY? Modern History helps students to understand why the world is the way it is today. Modern History develops the skills of critical thinking – this means students learn to question information they encounter Modern History helps students to refine their writing and research skills Modern History helps students to develop empathy for people of other cultures and lifestyles through an understanding of the historical background to those cultures

WHAT DO STUDENTS STUDY? o o Modern History is the study of people, places and events integral to understanding the formation of modern nation-states, contemporary ideas of democracy, the prevalence of technology in modern societies, and the conflicts that have shaped our contemporary world. Here are some of the things you might study in Senior Modern History: * * What is History? * The beginning of the Australian Nation – the process of Federation * Australia’s “Baptism by Fire” * Race Relations in Australia – “Has White Australia a Black History?” * World War I, the Peace Treaties, and the rise of Hitler and the Nazis. * People Power: * Industrialism and Globalisation Gandhi and Indian Independence * Democracy in the USA and Socialism in the USSR * Communism in China * Cold War Conflicts * The end of the Cold War and the ‘New World Order’ * The war against Terror

LEARNING IN MODERN HISTORY Research Skills Critical Thinking Analyse of relevant and current issues Social Skills Decision-Making Participation in a variety of group activities Information Processing and Categorisation Communication Skills

HOW IS MODERN HISTORY STUDIED? Modern History focuses on Student Inquiry – this means less note-taking and more focus on developing the skills of critical thinking and problem solving for students. In Modern History students are able to engage in a variety of learning experiences: - Students investigate relevant and current issues or controversies; - Students analyse viewpoints, learn to recognise bias and identify underlying values; - Students clarify and justify their views on historical problems and issues; - Students provide alternative explanations to the paradigms of history.

JOB SKILLS An ability to think logically Oral communication Skills Written communication skills A general knowledge of social, political, economic and world affairs and issues Research Skills General computer literacy Internet research skills

CAREER PATHS o o Historian o o School Teacher o o Researcher o o Librarian o o Museum Curator o o Archaeologist o o University Lecturer o o Biographer o o Writer o Journalist o Anthropologist o Bookseller o Lawyer o Archivist o Author o Diplomat o Editor o Political Scientist o Social Researcher

What is that Job Anyway? o o Researcher: someone who uses an active, diligent, and systematic process of inquiry in order to discover, interpret or revise facts, events, behaviours, or theories, or to make practical applications with the help of such facts, laws, or theories. o o Librarian: a person who organizes information and provides services that assist people in identifying and accessing any needed information or information resource (article, book, magazine, etc.). In a library, there are many other positions besides the librarian, including library associates, library technicians, library assistants, pages, shelvers, and volunteers. o o Museum Curator: A curator of a cultural heritage institution (e.g. archive, gallery, library or museum) is a person who cares for the institution's collections. o o Biographer: authors who write an account of another person's life, or, if you get famous enough you could be an an autobiographer and write a biography about yourself. Studying History develops many of the research skills that are needed when researching someone’s life. o o Lecturer: generally divided into Lecturers, Senior Lecturers, and Principal Lecturers/Readers and are permanent positions in a university which involve carrying out both teaching and research.

o o Writer: usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, or those who have written in many different forms. Skilled writers demonstrate skills in using language to portray ideas and images, whether producing fiction or non-fiction. The writing skills you learn in history complement what you will learn in Senior English and are especially useful for non-fiction. o o Archaeologist: Archaeologists and Prehistorians reconstruct cultures by studying material remains from archaeological excavations. o o Historian: If you choose to study Senior history you will be an historian, in terms of a career however, an historian is someone who professionally investigates and analyses competing ideas, facts, and purported facts to create coherent narratives that explain "what happened" and "why or how it happened." o o Anthropologist: Anthropologists gather and analyse data on social and cultural behaviour, artefacts, language and human biology of groups and societies o o Diplomat: Someone who practises the art and practice of conducting negotiations between groups or nations. o o Political Scientist: Someone who deals with the theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of political systems and political behaviour.