Welcome!
In this course, veteran history educator Wes Callihan traces the history of history, explores its purpose and value in the classical tradition, and discusses the best means for growing as a student of history—and so becoming an effective teacher of history. You will also enjoy interviews and discussions between Christopher Perrin and Wes Callihan in addition to the course lectures.
Wes Callihan is the featured instructor of the Old Western Culture Great Books curriculum produced by Roman Roads Media.
Instructional Hours: 11.25, CEU Credits: 1
- Lesson 1: What Is History and Why Study It?
- Discussion 1: How to Teach History
- Lesson 2: History and the Liberal Arts
- Discussion 2: How to Teach History
- Lesson 3: The Role of History in Classical Education
- Discussion 3: How to Teach History
- Lesson 4: Problems in the Study of History
- Discussion 4: How to Teach History
- Lesson 5: Developing as a Student of History
- Discussion 5: How to Teach History
- Lesson 6: Essential Qualities and Practices of a History Teacher
- Discussion 6: How to Teach History
- Lesson 7: Important Books for the Study of History
- Lesson 8: Major Historians Teachers Should Know
- Lesson 9: Two Ancient Historians—Livy
- Lesson 10: Two Ancient Historians—Bede
- Discussion 10: How to Teach History

Wes and his wife, Dani, have 6 children, 4 of them married, and 5 grandchildren. Wes and Dani live in an old farmhouse in northern Idaho near Wes’s parents, where they all use the cold winters as an excuse to read, and the hot summers as another excuse to read. Wes likes to read, garden, watch movies, fish and hunt, travel (he offers tours most summers for his students and their families to Greece and Turkey), write, and read some more.
To obtain a certification credit for this course, simply complete each presentation lesson or discussion in the course (by marking it complete or by taking the quiz) and then also take the certification test at the end of the course. The quizzes are designed to ensure that you have understood the essential content of each presentation, and they can be taken more than once if necessary. The cumulative certification test at the end of the course is given as a pass/fail test and requires that you upload one or more essays demonstrating your understanding of the course. (Please note that essays are simply evaluated by word count.) When you have completed the course, a certificate that you can print or email will become available within “My Courses” (accessible under “Courses” in the main menu when you are signed in as an active subscriber).
We recommend previewing the essay question within the end of course test before starting the course. This will help in guiding your note taking as you progress through the course. Please allow approximately 2 weeks for essay submissions to be reviewed.
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Lessons

Lesson 1: What Is History and Why Study It?
Preview
Discussion 1: How to Teach History
Preview
Lesson 2: History and the Liberal Arts
Preview
Discussion 2: How to Teach History
Discussion 2: How to Teach History Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 3: The Role of History in Classical Education
Lesson 3: The Role of History in Classical Education Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Discussion 3: How to Teach History
Discussion 3: How to Teach History Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 4: Problems in the Study of History
Lesson 4: Problems in the Study of History Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Discussion 4: How to Teach History
Discussion 4: How to Teach History Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 5: Developing as a Student of History
Lesson 5: Developing as a Student of History Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Discussion 5: How to Teach History
Preview
Lesson 6: Essential Qualities and Practices of a History Teacher
Lesson 6: Essential Qualities and Practices of a History Teacher Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Discussion 6: How to Teach History
Discussion 6: How to Teach History Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 7: Important Books for the Study of History
Lesson 7: Important Books for the Study of History Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 8: Major Historians Teachers Should Know
Lesson 8: Major Historians Teachers Should Know Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 9: Two Ancient Historians—Livy
Lesson 9: Two Ancient Historians—Livy Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 10: Two Ancient Historians—Bede
Lesson 10: Two Ancient Historians—Bede Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Discussion 10: How to Teach History
Discussion 10: How to Teach History Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

End of Course Test
End of Course Test Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.