The Challenge of Freedom

1
The Challenge of Freedom
Teaching American HistoryA grant funded by the
United States Department of Education

• Eric Schleutermann, TAH Project Co-Coordinator
• Ryan Rodriguez, Woodstock School District 200
• Teacher Presenter

2
Teaching American History A Primer

• Background
• 1,000,000 grant for 3 years
• Funded by the US Department of Education
• Purpose
• Train 160 teachers

3
Teaching American History A Primer

• A collaborative effort
• 9 School Districts
• Cary Elementary School District 26
• Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47
• McHenry Elementary School District 15
• Harvard School District 50
• Prairie Grove District 46
• Belvidere School District 100
• Dekalb School District 428
• Woodstock School District 200
• McHenry High School District 156

4
Teaching American History A Primer

• A collaborative effort
• 6 Institutions of Higher Learning
• Northern Illinois University
• McHenry County College
• Rockford College
• Aurora University
• Northwestern University
• University of Illinois School of Medicine -
  Rockford

5
Teaching American History A Primer

• A collaborative effort
• Local libraries and Museums
• Ida Public Library
• Woodstock Public Library
• Dekalb Public Library
• Midway village and Museum
• Illinois Railway Museum
• Boone County Historical Society
• McHenry County Historical Society
• Sycamore Historical Society
• Harvard Historical Society

6
Teaching American History A Primer

• A collaborative effort
• Other collaborations
• McHenry County Regional Office of Education
• Boone-Winnebago, Regional Office of Education
• Kiswaukee Intermediate Delivery System (KIDS)
• Organization of American Historians

7
Teaching American History A Primer

• Project Components
• Modules
• The Freedom Experiment
• The Protection of Freedom
• Module Components
• Evening Workshops
• History Seminars
• Summer Institute
• Collaboratory
• Mentor Historian
• Graduate Credit

8
Teaching American History A Primer

• Participant Enticements!
• 5 Graduate Credits or Stipend
• Textbooks and materials
• Opportunity to take one additional graduate class
  at a University of their choice
• Membership in the Organization of American
  Historians
• Classroom Materials
• Collaboratory Participation

9
Teaching American History A Primer

• Project Evaluation
• AP History Exam
• Teacher Attitudinal Survey
• Stanford 10 Social Studies Exam
• Student Attitudinal Survey

10
Teaching American HistoryModule OneThe Freedom
Experiment

• Colonization Through The Civil War
• Six-Three Hour Evening Sessions Three Hour
  Graduate Credit
• Four All Day Seminars
• Summer Institute Two Hour Graduate Credit

11
Teaching American HistoryModule TwoThe
Protection of Freedom

• Gilded Age to Present
• 6 Themes
• War, Race/Immigration, Womens Movement, Labor
  and Industrialization, Government Activism,
  American Foreign Policy
• Historians from various universities recruited
  for each theme.

12
Teaching American History A Teachers Point of
View/TAH Coordinator

• The Collaboratory becomes a useful tool!
• Communication
• Posting Assignments
• Sharing
• Mentoring

13
Teaching American History

• Working in the Collaboratory
• Group Training Assistance
• Individual Guidance for Participants

14
Teaching American HistoryThe Freedom Experiment

• Learning The Collaboratory

Headlines Page
15
Teaching American HistoryThe Freedom Experiment

• Learning The Collaboratory

Project List
16
Teaching American HistoryThe Freedom Experiment

• Using the Collaboratory

ePortfolio Management
17
Teaching American HistoryThe Freedom Experiment

• Using the Collaboratory

Topical Outline Template
18
Teaching American HistoryThe Freedom Experiment

• Using the Collaboratory

Topical Outline Template
19
Communicating using the Collaboratory

• Reviewing assignments, messages, and projects

20
Posting Information on the Collaboratory

• Portfolio
• All saved documents can be shared or kept
  private

21
Teachers use the messaging tool to keep in touch
and exchange ideas in the Collaboratory.
22
After the seminars and workshops teachers are
required to write a reflective journal on how
they will apply the material learned to their
particular classroom.
23

Teachers use the Collaboratory for their
ePortfolio
24
Sharing Information on the Collaboratory

• Book reviews
• Projects
• Topical Outline template
• Thematic Unit (Lessons based on National Archives
  Template)
• Weekly journal reflections
• Mentor comment

25
Project and Lessons
Pearl Harbor

• Using primary sources to teach lessons

26
Teachers write book review which will help them
in their research for the development of their
thematic unit.
27
Using the National Archive Lesson Plan Template,
teachers create lessons which include the use of
Primary Source Documentation.
28
Comments allow for private interaction between
mentors and teachers
29
Discussion allows teachers to give suggestions
and support
30
Case Study Pearl Harbor
Teachers incorporated photos to have students
draw a comparison from past to present.
31
The Collaboratory as a Useful Tool?

• YES!
• It is very easy to communicate with others
• Posting information is like cut and paste
• Once you begin using it, you will find it as easy
  to use as email.
• Sharing is the best part

32
Teaching American HistoryThe Freedom Experiment

• Questions??

More information can be found on our website
at www.tahwoodstock.com Contact Eric
Schleutermann eschleutermann_at_d200.mchenry.k12.il.
us Ryan Rodriguez rrodriguez_at_d200.mchenry.k12.il.
us