Bringing the Digital into the First World War Classroom
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21838241 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jenny Macleod (0000-0001-5277-7063, University of Hull, corresponding author), Daniel Todman (0000-0002-5240-8185, Queen Mary University of London) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 1-2 |
| Pages | 25-36 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-04 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | First World War Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1947-5020 • E-ISSN: 1947-5039 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/19475020.2026.2656155 |
| OpenAlex | W7165775344 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 6 |
How should we teach the First World War in the 21st century? We know that the research interests in the field continuously update as scholars seek out new evidence and pose new questions. We filter some of those new interests into the classroom through the reading lists we set for our students. But even whilst our thoughts are focused on what happened in the early 20th century, around about us in the 21st century a technological revolution has been ongoing. Does that facilitate or require change in the classroom that goes beyond the annual minor revisions of yore? In this discussion, two historians of similar pre-internet vintage reflect on their teaching. Their discussion encompasses how they first began to emphasise digital skills and sources in teaching, other historians who inspired new approaches, different ways of organising enquiry-based learning, and the challenges and limitations in trying to teach in this way. Among the specific techniques and topics discussed are digital mapping using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), computer games, Twitter conferences, designing a walking tour app, and alternative forms for assignments. We conclude with reflections on how the First World War is the ideal subject matter to study through digitised sources and techniques
Digital Revolution · First world war · Subject matter · History of Computing Technologies · Philosophy, History, and Historiography · World Wars: History, Literature, and Impact
| Highly cited | No |
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