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Exploring transactional and historical distances in history education : an autoethnography

Thesis (PhD (Education))--University of Pretoria, 2023.

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Other Authors: Wassermann, Johannes Michiel
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2024
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Wassermann, Johannes Michiel
author_browse Wassermann, Johannes Michiel
author_facet Wassermann, Johannes Michiel
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Thesis (PhD (Education))--University of Pretoria, 2023.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:40:24.731Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2024
publishDateRange 2024
publishDateSort 2024
publisher University of Pretoria
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/94407 Exploring transactional and historical distances in history education : an autoethnography Wassermann, Johannes Michiel adriennevanas@gmail.com Van As, Adrienne Autoethnography History education Transactional distance Historical distance Cabinets of curiosities UCTD SDG-04: Quality education Education theses SDG-05 Thesis (PhD (Education))--University of Pretoria, 2023. I am Adrienne van As, a White Afrikaans-speaking South African. My upbringing in apartheid and post-apartheid Kraaifontein in the Western Cape and my lived experience in various educational settings profoundly influenced my interest in history and education. My career has spanned various educational roles, from being a student to teaching and lecturing, which shaped my understanding of some of the complexities of teaching history. This research has investigated the factors that shaped and affected the transactional and historical distances I experienced and the impact of my lived experience on these distances in history education. The methodology of this autoethnography is characterised by a blend of personal experience and cultural analysis, using qualitative research techniques within an interpretative framework, with a unique application of cabinets of curiosities. The research examined transactional and historical distance in history education, initially focusing on transactional distance theory and later incorporating historical distance. It used a metaphor of a concertina to describe how these theories interacted, suggesting that various factors influenced the distances in the educational experience, similar to how a musician controls a concertina to produce harmonious or disharmonious tunes. My research provides comprehensive insights into transactional and historical distances, demonstrating the influence of the effects of storytelling, dialogue, student autonomy, and pedagogical approaches on these distances, and how the personal and cultural backgrounds, educator interactions, and different educational settings influenced the students’ engagement with history and shaped their historical perspectives. The transactional and historical distances in this study varied based on factors influenced by my experiences in formal and informal educational environments, official and unofficial narratives, and how different types of history shaped my understanding of the past. The research highlights the importance of diverse perspectives, narrative techniques, and the integration of personal experiences in developing historical literacy and reducing detachment from history, ultimately offering a nuanced view of how various factors collectively impacted the students’ historical understanding and connection. My research on the distances in history education is significant for its deep insight into the learning experiences of individuals and the influence of personal and cultural backgrounds. It bridges the theoretical and practical aspects of education, emphasising the personal nature of learning history. The findings are particularly relevant for curriculum development, teaching strategies, and the evolution of history education, potentially reshaping how history is taught and understood. Humanities Education PhD (Education) Unrestricted Faculty of Education SDG-04: Quality education 2024-02-09T08:51:07Z 2024-02-09T08:51:07Z 2024-05-06 2023 Thesis * A2024 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/94407 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.24744975 en © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Autoethnography
History education
Transactional distance
Historical distance
Cabinets of curiosities
UCTD
SDG-04: Quality education
Education theses SDG-05
Exploring transactional and historical distances in history education : an autoethnography
title Exploring transactional and historical distances in history education : an autoethnography
title_full Exploring transactional and historical distances in history education : an autoethnography
title_fullStr Exploring transactional and historical distances in history education : an autoethnography
title_full_unstemmed Exploring transactional and historical distances in history education : an autoethnography
title_short Exploring transactional and historical distances in history education : an autoethnography
title_sort exploring transactional and historical distances in history education an autoethnography
topic Autoethnography
History education
Transactional distance
Historical distance
Cabinets of curiosities
UCTD
SDG-04: Quality education
Education theses SDG-05
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/94407
https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.24744975