research focus

• Research into teacher training
• Environmental history as a subject

PhD project
Topic and title:

‘Environmental History – I’ve Never Taught It Before.’ Teachers’ Perceptions of the Dimension of Environmental History. An Empirical Study. (A Contribution to Didactic Reconstruction)

The statement quoted from a history teacher in the context of this interview study underlines the view held in history didactics research that environmental history topics lead a ‘shadowy existence’ in history lessons. Yet they should be an integral part of the curriculum and treated on an equal footing with political, economic, social or everyday history, given that the environmental dimension constitutes a determining factor in human action:

The aim of this study is to gain insight into history teachers’ perceptions of ‘environmental history as a subject of teaching’ and to refine the findings obtained to date by comparing them with the scholarly and didactic discussions on environmental history. The aim is to develop guidelines for initial, in-service and continuing professional development programmes for history teachers on the topic of ‘teaching environmental history’.

As no empirical data on history teachers’ perceptions of this topic has yet been available in history education research, this is an exploratory study. It contributes to the examination of a key issue characteristic of our era by broadening the debate on the integration of the environmental dimension into history teaching.

Bibliography

Conrad, Franziska: ‘Sustainability’ as a topic in history teaching. A contribution to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). In: Geschichte lernen 34, 2021, No. 201, pp. 2–9.

Grewe, Bernd-Stefan: Teaching environmental history: frustrations and pitfalls, rewarding perspectives and guidelines, 2006.

Herrmann, Bernd: Nature and Humankind in Central Europe over the Last Millennium: An Interdisciplinary Environmental History. In: Bavarian Academy of Sciences (ed.): Nature and Humankind in Central Europe over the Last Millennium (Roundtable Discussions of the Commission for Ecology, 32). Munich 2007, pp. 125–136.

Kattmann, Ulrich: ‘Human Beings in Nature. The Dual Role of Human Beings as the Key to Animal and Environmental Ethics’. In: Ethics and Social Sciences 8, 1997, No. 2, pp. 123–131.

Klafki, Wolfgang: ‘Key Problems’ as a Thematic Dimension of a Future-Oriented ‘General Education’ – Twelve Theses. In: Wolfgang Münzinger/Wolfgang Klafki: Key Issues in the Classroom. Thematic Dimensions of a Future-Oriented General Education (Journal of Educational Science, Educational Policy and Pedagogical Practice, Supplement 3). Weinheim 1995.

Leidinger, Paul: Environmental Education in History Lessons. In: Jörg Calließ/Reinhold Lob (eds.): Handbook of Environmental and Peace Education in Practice. Vol. 2: Environmental Education. Düsseldorf 1987, pp. 281–292.

Radkau, Joachim: Environmental History. In: Klaus Bergmann et al. (eds.): Handbook of History Didactics. Seelze-Velber 5th ed. 1997, pp. 227–232.
von Borries, Bodo: How is environmental history taught in schools? In: Patrick Masius, Ole Sparenberg and Jana Sprenger (eds.): Environmental History and the Future of the Environment. On the social relevance of a young discipline. Göttingen 2009, pp. 241–258.

von Reeken, Dietmar / Döpcke, Indre / Wehen-Behrens, Britta (eds.): Teaching and Learning Environmental History. Not a Disaster! Schwalbach/Ts. 2015.

Winiwarter, Verena / Bork, Hans-Rudolf: The History of Our Environment. 66 Journeys Through Time. Darmstadt, 3rd ed., 2019.

Publications

Monographs

(2009) Gut Grün! On the Pleasures and Benefits of Allotment Gardens in Hanover. A companion volume to the exhibition at the Hanover Historical Museum from 18 March to 26 July 2009. Hanover 2009, 80 pp., numerous colour and black-and-white illustrations (Publications of the Hanover Historical Museum, 35).

(2008) Freshly Painted! Painters and the Painting Trade in the 20th Century. Catalogue accompanying the exhibition at the Cloppenburg Museum Village – Lower Saxony Open-Air Museum, 16 March to 14 September 2008. Cloppenburg 2008, 76 pp., numerous colour and black-and-white illustrations (Catalogues and Publications of the Cloppenburg Museum Village, 24).

Editors

(2015) Teaching and Learning Environmental History – Not a Disaster! Fundamentals, Experiences and Suggestions for Interdisciplinary Teaching, edited by Dietmar von Reeken, Indre Döpcke, Britta Wehen-Behrens, Schwalbach/Ts.

Article

(2024) Addressing Human–Environment Relationships in History Lessons. A Model for the Didactics of Environmental History, in: Geschichte in Wissenschaft und Unterricht, 75, 7/8, pp. 373–392.

(2021) The framework for the ‘Global Development’ learning area. Suggestions for ESD in history lessons?, in: Geschichte Lernen 201/2021, pp. 10–11.

(2015) “Humanity, Nature, Environment: Why it is worthwhile to reflect on completely clear concepts before planning environmental history teaching sequences.” In: see editors, pp. 104–114.

(2015) “Teaching Perspectives: Didactic Considerations and Materials on Environmental History. Topic: Agriculture and Food from Antiquity to the Present Day.” In: see editors, pp. 184–213.

(2014) “Environmental History – I’ve Never Taught It Before.” Lecturers’ perceptions of a relevant dimension of the subject of history. In: New Paths – New Topics – New Methods? A cross-section of research in history didactics by early-career academics, edited by Tobias Arand and Manfred Seidenfuß, Göttingen, pp. 117–132 (supplement to the *Zeitschrift für Geschichtsdidaktik*, 7)

(2014) Teaching environmental history: An empirical study of teachers’ perceptions. In: Environmental History. Research and Teaching in Universities, Museums and Schools, edited by Heike Düselder, Annika Schmitt and Siegrid Westphal, Vienna et al., pp. 175–189.

(2013) Environmental History: A Relevant Dimension of History Teaching. In: *Historica et Didactica*. Special issue: Continuing professional development in history. Ideas and materials for teaching and learning. Volume 4: Environment and Climate in History Teaching, edited by Bärbel Kuhn and Astrid Windus, St. Ingbert, pp. 6–16.

(2009) Head, Heart and Hand – Museum Clubs for Children and Young People. Museum Education and Experimental Outreach Work with Long-Term Impact. In: Newsletter of the Lower Saxony and Bremen Museum Association, No. 70, 2009, pp. 65–70. (in press)

(2007) A Sign on Parkstraße. Traces in the Clinker Pavement. Theodor Mügge and the Peat-Moss Spreading Factory in Hude. In: People, Pictures and Stories. Yearbook of the Oldenburg District 2008, published in collaboration with the Oldenburg District, District Administrator Frank Eger, edited by Bernd Oeljeschläger. Wildeshausen and Berlin 2007, pp. 32–39.

(2006) Do you like snacking? Explanatory notes on the audio station in the exhibition. In: Sweet Temptation – On Sugar, Chocolate and Other Delights, edited by Hermann Heidrich and Sigune Kussek, Kiel 2007 (Arbeit und Leben; Vol. 11), pp. 193–200.

(2006) Contentment and Modesty. The carpenter and master builder Adolf Sanders from Vielstedt. In: People, Pictures and Stories. Yearbook of the Oldenburg District 2007, edited in collaboration with the Oldenburg District and District Administrator Frank Eger, compiled by Bernd Oeljeschläger. Wildeshausen 2006, pp. 49–54.

(2005) A New Use for Old Burdens? On the Concept of ‘Industrial Culture’ and Its Use in the Ruhr Region. In: Forum for the Preservation of Industrial Heritage and Historical Culture, 1/2005, pp. 29–33.

Lectures

21–23 February 2020

European Academy of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania e.V., Waren, in collaboration with the University of Greifswald / Conference seminar on teacher training: Climate Policy – A Future Without a Beginning?

• Evening lecture: Living with the Dynamics of Nature – Potentials and Limits of Environmental-Historical Perspectives in Educational Work (e.g. in History Lessons)
• Workshop: The relationship between humans and nature in medieval agrarian society

11 February 2014

Darmstadt University of Technology, Institute of History, lecture as part of the advanced seminar led by Professors Dieter Schott, Jens Ivo Engels and Mikael Hard. Presentation of the PhD thesis project

23/01/2013

Series of lectures as part of the ProfaS doctoral programme at the CvO University of Oldenburg, lecture: “Teaching environmental history: relevance or a marginal existence?”

2 October 2012

Conference on History Didactics – Association of History Didacticians in Germany e. V. – Young Researchers’ Conference, University of Ludwigsburg; presentation of initial findings from the doctoral research and a poster presentation on the doctoral project

6 July 2012

Meeting of Lower Saxony History Educators, Department of History, Leibniz University Hannover; lecture on environmental history – “I’ve never taught that before.” Lecturers’ perceptions of a relevant dimension of the subject of history

22 June 2012

Symposium: Environmental History in Rural Areas in Academia, Museums and Schools, University of Osnabrück; Lecture: ‘Teaching Environmental History – Teachers’ Views on the Didactic Structuring of Environmental History Topics’

5 June 2012

Freiburg University of Education, Institute of Social Sciences, Department of History, History and its Didactics, Prof. Dr Bernd Grewe;
Presentation of the doctoral thesis project at the Freiburg History Didactics Colloquium

28/01/2012

Teacher training: Environment and climate in history lessons; University of Siegen, History Didactics, Prof. Dr Bärbel Kuhn; Lecture topic: Teaching environmental history. The current state of research on the dimension of environmental history in history didactics

6 September 2011

76th Conference of the Working Group for Empirical Educational Research (AEPF), Klagenfurt; Theme: Teacher Training – A Work in Progress; Presentation topic: ‘History teachers’ views on the didactic structuring of environmental history topics’

07–09 June 2010

Summer workshop on environmental history PhD projects organised by the Rachel Carson Centre, Munich; presentation of the PhD project

27 September 2009

Opening lecture for the exhibition “Sweet Temptation: Sugar, Chocolate and Other Delights”, Lower Saxony Open-Air Museum – Cloppenburg Museum Village

18 March 2009

Opening lecture for the exhibition “Good Green: On the Pleasures and Benefits of Allotments in Hanover” at the Hanover Historical Museum

22 May 2008

Further training for trainees on research and exhibition work at the Cloppenburg Museum Village – Lower Saxony Open-Air Museum, Cloppenburg; lecture: experiences from the exhibition project ‘Freshly Painted! Painters and the Painting Trade in the 20th Century’

16 March 2008

Opening lecture for the exhibition “Freshly Painted! Painters and the Painting Trade in the 20th Century” at the Lower Saxony Open-Air Museum – Cloppenburg Museum Village