This Pestalozzi training session plan engages teachers in an analytical and comparative exercise to help them identify what criteria they should use to evaluate history textbooks and choose the ones they wish to use in the classroom. Giving the opportunity to teachers to choose textbooks, according to their teaching goals and methodologies, should be one of the democratic attributes of every educational system. However, this choice is difficult considering the variety of resources available and the different student needs according to age, level and learning styles. Catering for the diversity of student needs is a matter of intercultural competence. Teachers often wonder about the questions “Which textbook is better for me and why is it better?” This unit will help them identify their own criteria for this difficult and important pedagogical choice.
To cite this resource: Bitlieriūtė, S. (2012). What constitutes a good history textbook? In Council of Europe Pestalozzi Programme Training Units.
