From passive reading to interactive inquiry: the methodological potential of the new grade 8 history of Ukraine textbook

- Пометун, Олена Іванівна (orcid.org/0000-0002-4602-6383) and Гупан, Нестор Миколайович (orcid.org/0000-0001-8613-9705) (2025) From passive reading to interactive inquiry: the methodological potential of the new grade 8 history of Ukraine textbook Проблеми сучасного підручника (35). pp. 253-268. ISSN 2411-1309

Text ПСП+Пометун Гупан.pdf Download (1MB)

Abstract

The article analyses the methodological potential of the new Grade 8 History of Ukraine textbook as a tool for implementing activity-based and competence-oriented approaches in school history education. In the context of the modernisation of Ukrainian schooling and the requirements of the State Standard, the study emphasises the need to move from passive information transmission to an instructional model based on inquiry, interpretation, and student engagement. The purpose of the research is to investigate how the textbook’s structural components—introductory questions, narrative text, historical documents, visual sources, and system of tasks—shape students’ historical thinking, support the development of analytical and interpretive skills, and encourage work with historical questions. The methodological framework includes content analysis, structural-functional analysis, comparative didactic analysis, and expert evaluation of the textbook’s compliance with educational standards. The results demonstrate that the structure of the textbook reflects the logic of an activity-based learning cycle: formulating preliminary assumptions, engaging with the text through analytical actions, interpreting documents and images, constructing historical explanations, and performing reflection. The system of questions represents a gradual progression from basic comprehension to higher-order operations such as causal reasoning, perspective-taking, and evidential justification, thus supporting the formation of disciplinary historical thinking. The discussion highlights both the strengths and challenges of implementing such a textbook in school practice. Among the advantages are the promotion of learning autonomy, the development of critical and reflective skills, and the creation of conditions for active student participation in historical inquiry. Challenges include uneven levels of students’ analytical readiness, the need for methodological support for teachers, time limitations of the school lesson, and the necessity of adapting activity-based tasks for blended and distance learning environments. The study concludes that the textbook offers a coherent model for organising student activity and supports the shift from passive reading toward interactive historical investigation. Further research should explore the potential of the digital supplement and examine how teachers operationalise the textbook’s activity-based framework in various instructional settings.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	activity-based approach, history textbook, architecture and structure of the textbook, methodological potential
Subjects:	Science and knowledge. Organization. Computer science. Information. Documentation. Librarianship. Institutions. Publications > 3 Social Sciences > 37 Education > 37.01/.09 Special auxiliary table for theory, principles, methods and organization of education > 37.01 Fundamentals of education. Theory. Policy etc. Science and knowledge. Organization. Computer science. Information. Documentation. Librarianship. Institutions. Publications > 3 Social Sciences > 37 Education > 37.01/.09 Special auxiliary table for theory, principles, methods and organization of education > 37.02 General questions of didactics and method Science and knowledge. Organization. Computer science. Information. Documentation. Librarianship. Institutions. Publications > 3 Social Sciences > 37 Education > 373 Kinds of school providing general education Science and knowledge. Organization. Computer science. Information. Documentation. Librarianship. Institutions. Publications > 9 Geography. Biography. History > 93/94 History
Divisions:	Institute of Pedagogics > Department of Social Science Education
Depositing User:	с.н.с. Петро Володимирович Мороз
Date Deposited:	30 Mar 2026 07:37
Last Modified:	30 Mar 2026 07:37
URI:	https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/748697

Downloads

Actions (login required)

View Item