Projects for Teachers

On September 22, a seminar for teachers of history, civic education, and legal studies took place in Dnipro, titled “A Ukrainian Perspective on Modern History (1945–2026): Teaching Issues, Facts, and Trends of Historical Development in Ukrainian Schools.” The event, held in a hybrid format, was organized by the “Educational Trajectory” Center for Professional Development, an institution under the Dnipro City Council.

The seminar speakers included Nataliia Vlasova, Director of the Scientific Lyceum of International Relations at the University of Customs and Finance (UMSF), a history teacher, and co-author of textbooks; Iryna Piskarova, Head of Educational Programs at “Tkuma” Institute; Dr. Igor Shchupak; and representatives of the “Orion” Educational and Methodological Center.

One of the central issues addressed at the seminar was how to teach modern history so that students, looking beyond mere dates and events, can discern cause-and-effect relationships, understand historical processes, and formulate their own well-reasoned positions. A modern history lesson entails not only the assimilation of facts but also the analysis of sources and interpretations, engagement with complex questions, the development of critical thinking, and an exploration of the connections between the past and the present.

During the educational event, Dr. Shchupak presented modern teaching materials, including atlases for grades 5–11, history textbooks for grades 9 and 11, workbooks, and collections of exercises. Attention was devoted to new approaches to studying the history of Ukraine and the world, the formation of Ukrainian national identity, the role of the Ukrainian diaspora, as well as Ukrainian-Polish and other inter-ethnic relations.

The participants talked about updating history - understanding how the events and processes of the past affect the present and future of Ukraine and the world. In particular, the experience of democratization and economic development of South Korea and its significance for understanding modern challenges, as well as issues of international relations and ways of professional discussion of complex and debatable topics in history lessons were considered.

A specific segment of the meeting was dedicated to artificial intelligence – both as a tool and as a subject of study within the field of history. Nataliia Vlasova presented an integrated history course for the 9th grade, along with a digital supplement to the textbook hosted on the Faino platform. Using practical examples, she demonstrated how AI tools can be applied to complete tasks during history lessons, while also highlighting the challenges and risks associated with using such technologies in the educational process.

Such meetings provide an opportunity to discuss current methodological issues, present new educational materials, and – together with educators – explore approaches to teaching complex historical topics, helping students better understand the past and its connection to the present.