Welcome to the Teaching Portal
A Resource for Students and TeachersThe Royal Historical Society’s Teaching Portal offers ideas, advice and guidance for teachers and students of History in Higher Education.
Launched in 2020, and now with more than 60 articles, the Portal seeks to: provide guidance on good practice and innovative methods of teaching;
- offer posts for undergraduate and postgraduate History students;
- address transitions through Higher Education from BA to PhD;
- discuss career progression for History teachers in HE;
- give advice to history graduates on careers to which a History degree may lead;
- serve as a hub for online resources useful for research and teaching.
Use the links below to browse the six categories. The articles express a range of perspectives and views, written by current History students, researchers and teachers. The Portal is also an evolving resource: we very much welcome suggestions for additional articles and resources, reflecting new initiatives and resources in HE History teaching.
Recent additions to the Teaching Portal
‘Historical Research in the Digital Age’, Part 5: ‘Digitising History from a Global Perspective; and what this tells us about access and inequality’
In this post we continue our series — ‘Historical Research in the Digital Age’ — which explores historians’ use and understanding of the digital tools and sources that shape modern research culture. The series explores the impact and implications of digital...
‘Historical Research in the Digital Age’, Part 4: ‘Researching with Big Data; and how historians can work collaboratively’
In this post we continue our new series — ‘Historical Research in the Digital Age’ — which explores historians’ use and understanding of the digital tools and sources that shape modern research culture. The series explores the impact and implications of digital...
Teaching the early modern Islamic World
In July 2022, Peter Good received one of two Jinty Nelson Teaching Awards given annually by the Royal Historical Society. In this post, for the Society's 'Teaching Portal', Peter reflects on his classroom practice, and how he seeks to communicate the histories...
‘Historical Research in the Digital Age’, Part 2: ‘Tools for the Trade: And how historians can make the most of them’
In this post we continue our new series -- 'Historical Research in the Digital Age' -- which explores historians' use and understanding of the digital tools and sources that shape modern research culture. The series explores the impact and implications of...
Futures for the History Journal
ABOUT THIS EVENT Journals have long been, and remain, central to the communication of historical research. As a publishing form, History journals have proved remarkably durable, with developments typically taking place within an established framework of...
Disability History Month 2022: reflections on recent research
To mark this year's Disability History Month (16 November-16 December), Beckie Rutherford considers three recent monographs that have significantly contributed to the field of disability history: charting experience in the Soviet Union, the coal industry during...
Historical Research in the Digital Age – Part 1: ‘We Are All Digital Now’
With this post we begin a new six-part series -- 'Historical Research in the Digital Age' -- which explores historians' use and understanding of the digital resources and sources that shape modern research culture. The series is hosted by Professor Ian Milligan...
Studying history in a secure environment: legacies, challenges, opportunities
In July, Rosalind Crone was awarded this year's Royal Historical Society's Innovation in Teaching Prize, for the creation of Exploring the History of Prisoner Education, an open online course for the Open University which launched in October 2022. The 8-session...
New to Teaching History 2022: An Interactive Workshop, Part 8 – ‘Assessment and Feedback in History’
In September 2022 the Royal Historical Society, in partnership with History UK, organised an interactive workshop hosted by Professor Jamie Wood (Lincoln). This workshop aimed to open discussions on the challenges and opportunities of teaching History at UK...
New to Teaching History 2022: An Interactive Workshop, Part 7 – ‘Coordinating Large Classes in History’
In September 2022 the Royal Historical Society, in partnership with History UK, hosted 'New to Teaching, 2022': an online Workshop in which 8 university lecturers provided seminars for those new to teaching History in UK Higher Education. The Workshop explored...
New to Teaching History 2022: An Interactive Workshop, Part 6 – ‘Creativity in History Curricula’
In September 2022 the Royal Historical Society, in partnership with History UK, organised an interactive workshop hosted by Professor Jamie Wood (Lincoln). This workshop aimed to open discussions on the challenges and opportunities of teaching History at UK...
New to Teaching History 2022: An Interactive Workshop, Part 5 – ‘Module Design and Delivery: Challenges and Opportunities’
In September 2022 the Royal Historical Society, in partnership with History UK, organised an interactive workshop hosted by Professor Jamie Wood (Lincoln). This workshop aimed to open discussions on the challenges and opportunities of teaching History at UK...
New to Teaching History 2022: An Interactive Workshop, Part 4 – ‘Online Teaching in History’
In September 2022 the Royal Historical Society, in partnership with History UK, organised an interactive workshop hosted by Professor Jamie Wood (Lincoln). This workshop aimed to open discussions on the challenges and opportunities of teaching History at UK...
New to Teaching History 2022: An Interactive Workshop, Part 3 – ‘Small Group Teaching in History’
In September 2022 the Royal Historical Society, in partnership with History UK, organised an interactive workshop hosted by Professor Jamie Wood (Lincoln). This workshop aimed to open discussions on the challenges and opportunities of teaching History at UK...
New to Teaching History 2022: An Interactive Workshop, Part 2 – ‘The History Lecture’
In September 2022 the Royal Historical Society, in partnership with History UK, organised an interactive workshop hosted by Professor Jamie Wood (Lincoln). This workshop aimed to open discussions on the challenges and opportunities of teaching History at UK...
New to Teaching History 2022: An Interactive Workshop, Part 1 – ‘Decoding the Discipline’
In September 2022 the Royal Historical Society, in partnership with History UK, organised an interactive workshop hosted by Professor Jamie Wood (Lincoln). This workshop aimed to open discussions on the challenges and opportunities of teaching History at UK...
Working with History outside HE: a Guide to Professions beyond Academia
About this event ‘Working with History outside Higher Education: a Guide to Professions beyond Academia’ is is part in the Royal Historical Society’s series of online training events designed for early career historians. This session was held online in...
Supporting History teaching and research in UK universities: a toolkit
SUPPORTING HISTORY TEACHING AND RESEARCH IN UK UNIVERSITIES: A TOOLKIT A number of UK History departments have recently been faced with, or are experiencing, cuts to programmes and staff, or mergers with other disciplines. As part of its advocacy role, the...
Becoming a Historian: an Informal Guide
How do we undertake a major historical research project for the first time? What should we do to ensure that a project's completed? How do we best engage in debate about our own, and others', work? How can we apply historical understanding to our...
REF 2021: Reflections from the History sub-panel chairs
The Research Excellence Framework (REF), undertaken by the UK's four HE funding bodies, provides a review and assessment of research in higher education. The results of the latest assessment (REF2021) were published on 12 May 2022. Here, Professors Mark...
UKRI Open Access Policy for the Arts and Humanities: FAQs
In August 2021 UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) announced its future policy regarding Open Access publishing. UKRI is the overarching body responsible for government research strategy and funding for universities in the UK. It brings together the...
Applying and Interviewing for your First History Lectureship
About this event ‘Applying for your First Job: a Guide to Preparing and Interviewing for a History Teaching Post’ is part in the Royal Historical Society’s series of online training events designed for early career historians. This session was...
Creating Public History: a Guide to Co-production and Community Engagement
About this event ‘Creating Public History: a Guide to Co-production and Community Engagement’ is part in the Royal Historical Society’s series of online training events designed for early career historians. This session was held online in December 2021 and the...
Facing current challenges can be a vital part of our curriculum
At a time of already great disruption, historians at Aston University this year faced the threat of departmental closure and redundancy. Public and private support for Aston historians led to the programme's survival, though colleagues at Aston and historians...