History Education Research Journal
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histedresearch.bsky.social
History Education Research Journal
@histedresearch.bsky.social
790 followers 190 following 86 posts
HERJ, an international, diamond open-access, peer-reviewed journal focusing on the global significance and impact of history education. Published by UCL Press @ https://journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj
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histedresearch.bsky.social
On the HERJ blog, the authors of this paper discuss the implications of their findings and why they chose to publish in HERJ:
journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj/news/110/

Read the full paper here: doi.org/10.14324/HER...
The journal cover is shown on the right side of this image. On the left side, within a green speech box, there is text that reads 'Our findings have important implications for informing the future development/ revision of textbooks, so that they support teaching and learning history in ways that foster democratically conscious young people. Sara Karn, Kristina R. Llewellyn and Penney Clark, authors of "Never the two shall meet? Connecting historical and democratic consciousness in Canadian K-12 history textbooks"'. The UCL Press logo appears at the bottom of the image and the open access logo is displayed between the journal cover and text.
November 12, 2025 at 12:08 PM
histedresearch.bsky.social
Teachers, especially history teachers, are crucial to helping students realise their role as citizens within democratic society.

On the HERJ blog the authors of 'A vote for Australian democratic consciousness' discuss the intention behind their article: journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj/news/109/
November 11, 2025 at 10:48 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
On the HERJ blog Sarah Godsell discusses her article and explores how poetry can be used to learn and teach history:
journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj/news/108/

You can read the full #OpenAccess article here: doi.org/10.14324/HER...
The journal cover is shown on the right side of this image. On the left side is a quote from an author. It reads, 'Poems can let people learning history connect to historical moments and perspectives emotively, opening up a different way of learning history. Sarah Godsell, author of Poetry as a site of history education and exploration: learning history from and with poetry, on the HERJ blog'. The UCL Press logo appears at the bottom of the image and the open access logo is displayed between the journal cover and text.
November 7, 2025 at 10:14 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
What can be learned from the entrenched positioning of Indigenous peoples w/in a colonialist understanding of cultures?

This paper, part of the democratic resilience series, aims to contribute a framework for how historical consciousness can be guided by moral consciousness:
doi.org/10.14324/HER...
The journal cover is shown on the right side of this image. On the left side the article title and a brief summary is written in black text. It reads, 'A vote for Australian democratic consciousness: teaching civics through history. This article aims to demonstrate how historical consciousness can be cultivated in tandem with moral consciousness so that learning opportunities in schools can more authentically suit the characteristics of localised Australian context, including integrating Indigenous knowledges in Australian curricula'. The UCL Press logo appears at the bottom of the image and the open access logo is displayed between the journal cover and text.
November 6, 2025 at 12:21 PM
histedresearch.bsky.social
📢New publication, and the first from the HERJ series, 'Democratic resilience and regression in history education since 1945'.

This article explores the intersections of historical and democratic consciousness in education using history textbooks in Canada:
doi.org/10.14324/HER...
The journal cover is shown on the right side of this image. On the left side the article title and a brief summary is written in black text. It reads, 'Never the two shall meet? Connecting historical and democratic consciousness in Canadian K-12 history textbooks. "If we are to support students in becoming historically informed civic leaders, all history textbooks must pay greater attention to the connections between historical and democratic consciousness."'. The UCL Press logo appears at the bottom of the image and the open access logo is displayed between the journal cover and text.
November 5, 2025 at 9:06 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
The HERJ series 'Democratic Resilience & Regression in History Education since 1945' has started publishing.

Read the articles from the series: journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj/collect...

Sign up to the HERJ newsletter to receive updates from the journal: journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj/site/su...
An image showing the journal cover of History Education Research Journal on the right side, and text on the left side that reads, "Democratic resilience and regression in history education since 1945. This HERJ series provides an overview of intersections of historical and democratic consciousness by exploring how the understanding of democracy as an aim and as content in history education has developed, circa 1945 to the present'. Beneath the text the UCL Press logo is shown and an open access logo appears in between the journal cover and text.
November 4, 2025 at 12:56 PM
histedresearch.bsky.social
This article explores the relationship of family memory and children’s history learning, reporting on a broader qualitative study on how Greek-Cypriot survivors of 1974 build self-narratives for communicating their experiences to the younger generation:
doi.org/10.14324/HER...
August 15, 2025 at 9:46 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
How are women in the past represented in current history textbooks?

With specific attention paid to three consecutive waves of feminism, this paper examines the representation of women in Hungarian and Flemish history textbooks:
doi.org/10.14324/HER...
July 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
Museums are increasingly adopting sensorial technologies, challenging people to reconsider how immersive museum experiences may add to learning. This study, by Wouter Smets and Vincent Euser, explores emerging technologies in museum exhibits:
doi.org/10.14324/HER...
July 16, 2025 at 8:15 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
Religious beliefs and history education:

What impact does religious belief have on students' historical understanding? In this article authors explore the historical significance attributed to biblical stories among secular and religious Jewish adolescents:
doi.org/10.14324/HER...
July 4, 2025 at 4:20 PM
histedresearch.bsky.social
"Sticking to tradition: history content distribution in Czech school curricula"

This study assesses alignment between the National Curriculum and school curricula concerning history education in Czech schools.

A fascinating insight to history education in Czech classrooms:

doi.org/10.14324/HER...
June 30, 2025 at 9:57 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
HERJ has a new #CallForPapers: 'Truth-telling in history education: Truth and justice in a ‘post-truth’ era'.

For more information, including how to contribute, read the full call here:
journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj/news/25/

Articles will publish #OpenAccess and without APC
June 18, 2025 at 11:22 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
Since the increased emphasis on high-stakes testing in the USA, schools have prioritized professional development to enhance teaching methods. But is this a burden or benefit? Read more here:

The use of professional development in the middle grades history classroom
doi.org/10.14324/HER...
The abstract of the article is shown and reads: This study investigated middle school history teachers’ perceptions of professional development. The participants of this study included nine middle school history teachers in the United States. Using semi-structured interviews, a qualitative case study investigated four research questions: (1) What are middle school history teachers’ perceptions of professional development?; (2) What are middle school history teachers’ perceptions of professional development and its relation to the subject?; (3) What are middle school history teachers’ perceptions of pedagogy?; and (4) What are middle school history teachers’ perceptions of professional development and student achievement?
June 10, 2025 at 10:34 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
HERJ has a new #CallForPapers on Narrative Competence, History & Responsibility.

For more information, including how to contribute, read the full call here:
journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj/news/25/

Articles will publish #OpenAccess and without APC
June 9, 2025 at 11:49 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
Perceptions of historical significance are at the centre of history education.
This fascinating theory synthesis article aims at mapping frameworks and criteria used in the conceptual landscape of historical significance:
(Re)mapping the terrain of historical significance
doi.org/10.14324/HER...
The abstract of the article is shown. It reads, "This theory synthesis article aims at (re)mapping frameworks and criteria used in the conceptual landscape of historical significance. The analysis connects and unpacks a diverse range of conceptual frameworks, and concludes that these frameworks represent a broad spectrum of criteria, rather than a unified consensus. The mapping also results in two distinct areas within the landscape: the Research terrain, containing conceptual tools for research on students’ perspectives on historical significance, and the Education terrain, equipped with didactical frameworks developed for the classroom. A compilation of the criteria drawn from the included frameworks is also undertaken. In doing this, the concepts of objective and subjective dimensions of epistemic knowledge are used to sort, unpack and problematise the criteria. This study provides theoretical, didactical and methodological insights into the area of historical significance, offering a tentative atlas to facilitate researchers and educators in navigating this landscape."
June 4, 2025 at 9:40 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
What role should emotions play in the history classroom?
Based on how history teachers plan for teaching the Holocaust, this paper suggest that emotions can be used as
✔️an entrance point for learning
✔️a tool in teaching
✔️an educational goal

doi.org/10.14324/HER...
Title page of the History Education Research Journal article, "How we try to grasp genocide: emotions in Holocaust education"
June 2, 2025 at 8:41 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
Meaningful learning beyond the textbook

Using a case study of student experiences during an authentic historical inquiry on local heritage, this paper aims to explore how students actually perceive and work with meaningful historical inquiry:

doi.org/10.14324/HER...
May 28, 2025 at 12:57 PM
histedresearch.bsky.social
This study aims to identify similarities and differences in student teachers’ thinking about history and its purpose as a school subject, presenting findings on how best to support their development:

Student teacher perspectives on history education
doi.org/10.14324/HER...
The abstract of the paper is shown. It reads, "This study provides the first comparison of primary and secondary student teachers’ perspectives on history education and its purpose at the beginning of an Initial Teacher Education postgraduate diploma/certificate in education in England. It aims to identify similarities and differences in the student teachers’ thinking about history and its purpose as a school subject to foster discourse within the Initial Teacher Education community about how best to support their development. The findings are drawn from a small-scale inductive theory development study, conducted at a university in North West England. Qualitative data were collected from 35 participants, 19 primary Initial Teacher Education students and 16 secondary, using a questionnaire containing Likert scale questions and a ranking activity relating to statements about the purpose of history education. Overall, the data revealed significant commonalities and some divergence between primary and secondary student teacher views of the purpose of history, particularly regarding knowledge, perspectives and empathy. Divergence seemed to occur due to history education level rather than due to choice of phase-specific teacher education route, thus highlighting a need for Initial Teacher Education programmes to provide specific input on the purpose of history at the outset of all teacher education courses."
May 20, 2025 at 8:15 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
Teaching truth in a time of suppression.

How are White history teachers navigating the #CRT backlash? This fascinating article from Charley Brooks explores the efforts of award-winning White history teachers in the US against anti-CRT efforts:
doi.org/10.14324/HER...
May 8, 2025 at 12:58 PM
histedresearch.bsky.social
How do children develop a sense of history before formal schooling begins?

This article in HERJ explores how children between the ages of 7 and 12 engage with the past in informal contexts offering insight into informal “everyday historical thinking”:
doi.org/10.14324/HER...
April 25, 2025 at 10:09 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
How can historical consciousness catalyse a social justice approach to history?
This article explores Ahonen’s understandings of historical consciousness as a social justice approach to implementing history curricula, which counters post-truth conditions:
journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj/article...
April 3, 2025 at 12:15 PM
histedresearch.bsky.social
HERJ has a #CallForPapers on Shifting Practices in #HistoryEducation in Africa: Critical Perspectives and New Directions.

For more information, including how to contribute, read the full call here:
journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj/news/25/

Articles will publish #OpenAccess and without APC
The call for papers on Shifting Practices in History Education in Africa: Critical Perspectives and New Directions Edited by Abigail Branford, Denise Bentrovato, Johan Wasserman and Joanna Wojdon For publication from early 2026 Expressions of interest due: 1 May 2025 Due date for paper submission: 2 September 2025 Calls for improving the teaching of African history across the continent have been made by academics, activists, UNESCO, the popular press, and teachers and students themselves. These calls have identified issues such as the dominance of European history and the history of ‘great men’; the exclusion of marginalised groups; the lack of critical narratives; and the prevalence of rote-learning and teaching-to-test pedagogies. This special theme presents an opportunity to take stock of history education practices across African contexts, to identify shifts and resistance in addressing such issues. It also seeks to explore the role of different actors such as policy-makers, textbook authors, teachers and students in creating affordances and constraints in the history education space. The special theme also aspires to emphasise the voices of history teachers and students at all levels of education. Whilst curricula and policy play an important role in structuring history education, too often it is assumed rather than investigated how these are experienced by teachers and students. This special series seeks to ask how histories are navigated, internalised, ignored or resisted by teachers and students. This also includes teachers-in-training, as initial teacher education is a vital but under-emphasised arena which shapes later classroom interactions. Voices from these spaces can shed light on changing pedagogical interactions beyond the assumptions of official documents. Submit expressions of interest by May 1 2025.
March 21, 2025 at 11:24 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
Excting to see this Curriculum Journal article building on Dan Nuttall's previous work, published in HERJ - one of our most downloaded @uclpress.bsky.social HERJ articles! journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj/article...
March 18, 2025 at 9:29 PM
histedresearch.bsky.social
📢New publication!📢
HERJ is delighted to publish our latest #OpenAccess publication, 'Climate crisis, the Anthropocene and the future: historical thinking in the German climate movement', by @matthiassieberkrob.bsky.social and Nina Reusch.
doi.org/10.14324/HER...

Here's why you should read it 👇🏽
March 12, 2025 at 9:35 AM
histedresearch.bsky.social
This is 112th diamond open access article since we started with @uclpress.bsky.social in 2018 & our 3rd article online so far in 2025. Looking forward to what the year will bring! Warm appreciation to our authors, peer-reviwers &, of course, our readers! 2/2 journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj/articles/
February 20, 2025 at 6:34 AM