Memoria democrática y conciencia histórica. Análisis de una experiencia en Bachillerato a través del patrimonio de museos

Introduction: History education must provide students with intellectual tools to critically analyse sources and develop a historical consciousness that allows them to connect past and present and confront the actual problems. Method: This study, conceived as evaluative research, shows the results of a learning situation developed with 2nd year Baccalaureate students. Its objective has been to develop historical consciousness by addressing the process of construction and establishment of democracy in our country, during the 19th and 20th centuries. In order to achieve this objective, sources such as texts and museum pieces have been used. The information was analysed from a mixed approach, which integrates quantitative and qualitative techniques. Results: The results show that students need greater development of skills for searching and processing sources, as well as for preparing informed and argued texts. Furthermore, there is a low level of historical consciousness, since the students do not recognize the democratizing process as a long-term process that continues today. Along with this, discourses contrary to democracy have been detected that require attention. Conclusions: We conclude that it is necessary to continue working on historical consciousness from themes that connect past and present, using various sources such as museum heritage resources that have been integrated into this experience. Likewise, democratic culture must occupy an essential place in the classrooms, since our diverse and plural society requires identities that are willing to dialogue and coexist.