Decision time

Don't be put off by history's book-heavy reputation. The course is changing

What do Chris Martin, Ali G and Anita Roddick have in common? History degrees. History is one of those subjects that can take you anywhere. For some students, however, the idea of taking history for the Leaving Certificate is daunting: the subject has a reputation for being book heavy, and the five-essay history exam is notoriously taxing.

It's still one of the more popular Leaving Cert subjects, with 11,826 candidates last year, and it's set to increase in popularity if the new syllabus delivers on its promises. Due to be examined for the first time next year, the revised history course means less reading, more researching and a shorter exam in June. It is also designed to train students in skills other than learning off the dates of significant wars.

"The new syllabus has only been in operation for a month, so it's a bit early to give a full appraisal, but so far it looks good," says Skoool.ie subject expert Gerry Moore. A teacher at St Columba's Comprehensive School in Glenties, Co Donegal, Moore says his students are enjoying the new emphasis on research and evaluation of evidence, which gives them a chance to judge the material they are reading rather than just accept it as fact.

"Every historical document, whether it is an eye-witness account, a newspaper report, a website or a textbook, has to be examined for bias and propaganda. The new history syllabus is training students to think critically about the information they receive. They are also encouraged to do their own research, using the Internet and other sources."

This is the first time that students have been put in charge of their own learning in history - in fact it's a departure for the Leaving Cert syllabus as a whole. The other

major shift in emphasis is the perspective from which the

new syllabus examines historical events. "It used to all about wars, politics and leaders," says Moore. "The new syllabus widens the focus, looking at the events that were happening in art, music, science, religion, economics and sociology."

Twenty per cent of the overall mark for history now goes on a research topic that students submit during sixth year. The revised exam

consists of four essays, which are expected to be shorter than in the past. One of the essay questions relates to document analysis. This takes some of the heavy learning

and memorisation out of the process.

For more information on Leaving Cert history, check out www.templehistory.dna.ie. A guide to the subject will be available on the site from this weekend. For a look at the course outline, visit www.education.ie.

For an archive of the Decision time series, go to the transition-year section of www.skoool.ie.