The Historical Imagination: Collingwood in the Classroom

Abstract

Philosopher and historian R.G. Collingwood developed and elaborated a theory and approach to re-constructing knowledge about the past that relies on the historical imagination. This paper argues that Collingwood's theory offers teachers sound reasons for using constructivist approaches in their classrooms and that his methodological approach can be adapted to develop instructional strategies that recognize the importance of the human imagination in the learning process. Important aspects of Collingwood's theoretical approach will be briefly explained, a description of his suggested method for handling primary source materials will be provided, and an instructional strategy for imagining the past, based on his method, will be outlined.