An Evaluation of Ninth Grade History Curriculum with Respect to Procedural Concepts

Abstract

Knowing special methods of history as a discipline is an important tool to understand and evaluate the past. Next to focusing on study skills of the historian procedural concepts of history which have a great effect on historical thinking and understanding should be given as well. In this study outcomes/sample activities/explanations part of the 9th grade history curriculum has been analyzed according to procedural concepts of history as defined by Sexias (2006). The study has been conducted with document analysis method which is one of the qualitative research methodologies. Outcomes/sample activities/explanations part of the 9th grade history curriculum has been encoded by the researcher and a specialist in the area. As a result of the study is has been found that although concepts of historical significance, evidence, cause and consequence, change and continuity and historical perspective take place they have been emphasized quite less. Furthermore it has been specified that moral dimension of historical interpretations is given no place in the curriculum. Finally suggestions have been made in regard to emphasizing procedural concepts of the discipline of the history in the future updating of the history curriculum.