Abstract:

This article outlines an innovative teaching project based on methodology, evaluation and skills acquisition through the educational use of the historical novel, carried out in the framework of higher education. This paper aims to evaluate the use of a model of acceptation of the historical novel in teaching and learning. In order to assess the impact of the use of the historical novel, an experiment was carried out to evaluate beliefs, attitudes and behaviours prior to implementing their use in class, and then to compare these with the results after their use in class. The use of this literary genre is an opportunity to learn interesting facts and past situations autonomously. The main focus of the research is a discussion of how the historical novel can enhance learning and improve certain skills from a constructivist approach. In order to do this, the use of texts from historical novels was introduced during various classes of teacher training for primary education in the Faculty of Education at the University of Granada, during two academic semesters. This was in collaboration with several reputed writers who contributed texts for educational use. Within this context, and in order to evaluate the results, Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) was used. A questionnaire was administered to 119 students. The data obtained allowed the development of a structural equation model using PLS (Partial Least Squares) to evaluate the major relationships between variables. This study expands the framework of analysis by using measurement scales from the perspective of the Advanced Research Model of Innovation Adoption (AMIA) [1]. The analysis results in a behavioral model using robust and parsimonious hypotheses supporting the research questions raised, highlighting the appropriate use of extended AIMA models. The use of the historical novel has a great potential of novelty that involves the active participation and learning process of students, breaking down time and space barriers and creating informal learning. It can engage the students in achieving an improvement in their reading/writing skills as well as their vocabulary.

Keywords:

Historical novel, innovation adoption, TAM, AIMA, pedagogical innovation.