Erik Halvorsen-Ruiz

A little about me

I teach History and Global Perspectives across secondary. I often begin a unit with two sources that disagree, because that gives pupils something to examine before I offer a narrative. They can notice what each source says, ask what it leaves out and decide what information would help them understand the difference.

Global Perspectives has a different purpose from a survey of world problems. I teach it as a skills course: pupils research, evaluate, compare perspectives and represent an argument fairly. A topic gives us a context to practise those skills, but it is not the only point of the course.

I look for resources that make evidence and perspective visible. Pupils need a chance to support a claim, consider an opposing view and explain what they would investigate next. I value discussion that holds open a question long enough for them to do the thinking themselves.