Iconic Artworks as Stimuli for Engaging School Students in Their National History: A Priority in Pre-Service Teacher Education

Abstract

This paper encourages teacher educators to advise their students that the critical analysis of iconic artworks can engage school students' interest, promote inclusive, reflective and generally harmonious social relations, and make learning more satisfying. It also provides the opportunity to increase their own students' knowledge and understanding of their country's heritage, draw their attention to the contentious nature of historical representation, and prepare them to consider history from a variety of perspectives. One such artwork, E. Phillips Fox's Landing of Captain Cook at Botany Bay 1770, is the focus of this paper. The first part of the paper presents some fundamental knowledge and understanding that pre-service teachers of Australian history require. The second considers how teachers might use the painting in school history lessons. Finally, it is argued that this method can be used to teach a wide range of topics in a variety of international contexts.