Teaching history with hypertext: theoretical and practical assumptions

This discussion draws the reader’s attention to the possibilities that the new information technologies (such as hypertext, hypermedia, multimedia and the Internet) offer when used in various learning contexts. Although these new technologies differ in the ways of presenting information, they have one feature in common which is simply known as nonlinearity or hypertext. In information society, the idea of hypertext becomes the key to presentation of information and access to it. Hypertext systems are reader-controlled interactive technologies, these applications displaying data in multiple formats simultaneously, thus enabling people with various learning styles to examine material in their preferred mode of communication. Technology is undoubtedly a major instrument of change in information. Although much of the excitement surrounding hypertext systems is based on its ability to meet the needs of various users, what evidence is there that technology is helping the educational process? Despite the fact that many hypertexts for teaching history exist as autonomous (i.c. stand-alone) educational programmes, and are also running on the Internet, numerous experiments with these systems point to the issue that individualised access to information does not automatically expand the learner’s knowledge. This discussion suggests that careful design of educational hypertext as well as selection of learning tasks are needed to guide learners in the process of meaningful knowledge construction. Therefore this discussion comprises two major parts, theoretical and practical. In the first part, the theoretical foundations of presenting information on history with hypertext will be elaborated. Moreover, several available educational hypertexts for teaching history will be introduced. Afterwards, in the second part (which is focused on practical design of usable educational hypertext), the basic principles of the Cognitive Flexibility Theory (developed by Rand Spiro and colleagues) will be presented. Furthermore, the hypertext programme The Chronicle of the Gediminaičiai Dynasty will be used to illustrate one practical application of the main principles of the Theory