From Sources to Success: Designing Engaging History Tasks
Ian Lyell, Mentone Girls’ Grammar

Historical sources are central to the teaching and assessment of levels 7–12 History. However, it can be challenging and time-consuming for teachers to locate student-friendly sources, contextualise them, and then develop tasks that are accessible for students of all ability and literacy levels. In this workshop, Ian will outline the principles that guide his source-based learning and assessment, and share resources to assist teachers in developing source-based tasks for a range of histories studied at the Year 7–12 levels. Teachers will then work in small groups to develop and share source-based activities for use in the classroom.

Attendees will need to bring their laptop.

Ian Lyell has led teams of History teachers at every level from 7 to 12 over the last 17 years. He has worked with both HTAV and the VCAA to prepare workshops and publish support resources to assist teachers in developing high quality, accessible assessment that drives skill development and deeper understanding in History. In 2024, in recognition of his teaching and his support of History teachers around Victoria, Ian received the HTAV Colin Pearce Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching and Learning of History and to the HTAV.

Making History Stick: Recall, Retention and Retrieval in the 7–12 Classroom
Sarah Croft and Adam Given, Norwood Secondary College

How do we move students beyond short-term memorisation towards deep, durable historical understanding? Grounded in the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM) 2.0, this practical and resource-rich workshop explores evidence-informed strategies to strengthen student recall and retention across Levels 7–12 History. Through adaptable classroom routines, retrieval practices, explicit teaching strategies, and revision tools, participants will leave with a bank of ready-to-use resources designed to support knowledge retention, historical thinking, and exam success. Designed for experienced History teachers seeking to refine and extend their practice.

Sarah Croft and Adam Given will share their proven strategies with a focus on supporting experienced teachers to take their classroom practice to the next level. With a combined 20 years of experience, including extensive expertise in VCE History, they bring a deep understanding of how students learn, retain and apply historical knowledge across Years 7–12.

Adam has taught all year levels of History, specialising in VCE Revolutions, and has presented on literacy strategies in History classrooms. Sarah has taught History across all year levels and in a range of educational contexts across Victoria, from regional schools to newly established and long-standing schools. Come ready for a show tune, and a series of dad jokes!