Since its inception, The HistoryMakers has made bridging the digital divide and education its priorities. Its educational initiatives include:
• The HistoryMakers Education Institute, a year-long program that was developed and tested in collaboration with the DePaul Center for Urban Education providing an innovative curriculum, mentoring and technology-based program. Drawing upon the resources of The HistoryMakers one-of-a-kind African American video oral history archive, the Institute makes history come alive through the implementation of a more inclusive and relevant curriculum increasing teacher preparation and student learning and achievement.
• Pioneers in the Struggle: The History of African Americans in the Illinois General Assembly (1877-2001), an interactive CD-ROM, documentary video and curriculum guide package distributed free of charge to Illinois-based public school systems (grades 8-12);
• Meet the HistoryMakers: A Day of Education, a symposium for students, educators and librarians to experience first-hand accounts of various African Americans from across the country. This symposium includes hands-on training for teachers’ classroom instruction, along with other specially produced curriculum and educational support materials;
• Becoming a HistoryMaker: a curriculum guide for use in tandem with The HistoryMakers website;
• And for the first time this year, The HistoryMakers will host a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Teachers’ Institute on the topic of African American political history during July, 2010.
Questions and Answers
How does The HistoryMakers Education Institute work?
Interested Social Science, English, and Language Arts teachers from public middle and high schools are encouraged to submit an application.
Teachers are chosen based on their: a) interest in participating in this project; b) dedication to ongoing professional development; c) commitment to using The HistoryMakers African American video oral history archive and related curriculum materials in their classrooms; and d) ability to implement the materials on a sustained basis in their classrooms. The year-long program includes:
• professional development on the use of The HistoryMakers resources during a week-long summer session;
• curriculum design and ongoing teacher support (teacher meetings on a quarterly basis);
• classroom instruction using The HistoryMakers website and curriculum materials;
• Meet the HistoryMakers: A Day of Education one-day symposium including panel presentations by The HistoryMakers and hands-on learning activities for students, teachers and librarians;
• intergenerational dialogues using of storytelling and oral history interviews;
• speaking engagements by individual HistoryMakers in school assemblies in celebration of Black History Month and during other times of the year; and
• student oral history and research projects conducted within their own schools, families and communities.
What happens at the Summer Teacher Institute?
At the week long Summer Teacher Institute, teachers plan units of instruction that integrate The HistoryMakers resources into the core curriculum of social studies and language arts (i.e. reading and writing). They also learn about oral history, genealogy, public history and the value of African American history for a more diversified curriculum. At the Institute, history is used to teach research, writing and reading skills. The Institute materials (including the effective use of multimedia tools and video) are based on the theme of problem-solving and include teaching/learning guides that correlate with state goals in social science and emphasize the ACT/Prairie State/ISAT Prep integrated approach of reading, writing, language arts and listening and speaking.
What is the cost for participation?
The cost is $1,000 per teacher.
What is the goal of The HistoryMakers Education Institute?
The goal of The HistoryMakers Education Institute is to improve teacher preparation and student learning, achievement and access to state-of-the-art technology while making history come alive in tangible, motivational and life changing ways.
The HistoryMakers Education Institute is intended to maximize the impact of rich archival content; prepare teachers to design and implement effective lessons; diversify current social studies curriculum; facilitate true multicultural education; inspire student learning; increase academic performance; and provide role models for student achievement in school and beyond.
Please direct questions to:
Julieanna L. Richardson
The HistoryMakers
1900 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60616
312-674-1900 / 312-674-1915 (fax)
jlr@thehistorymakers.com
http://www.thehistorymakers.com
