The Geographic Information System (GIS) is a tool for effective teacher-centered instruction, powerful student-centered instruction, and engagement in historiography. GIS tools have existed since the 1960s, but only since the 1990s have educators explored their application to social studies. Proponents expect GIS to have a dramatic impact upon…

In recent years, the use of primary sources in the history and social studies classroom has been increasingly promoted as a necessary and welcome practice, one designed to improve the quality of history education and to encourage student interest and engagement. Although some K-12 educators have been wary of adopting the use of primary sources,…

Meeting the demands of teaching in the digital age requires the identification of effective types of educational technology and ways of encouraging its use, and that was the aim of a "Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to use Technology (PT3)" grant to the University of Michigan-Dearborn, from the United States Department of Education. This…

Explores topics that are presented in the book, "Knowing, Teaching & Learning History: National and International Perspectives," edited by Peter N. Stearns, Peter Seixas, and Sam Wineburg. Focuses on developing, and limits to, historical thinking skills and connecting to students. (CMK)

Reviews three areas of history education reform: (1) teachers must be grounded in the content of their discipline; (2) more collaboration between teacher education and arts and sciences faculty; and (3) systems of evaluation and assessment for students and teachers. Describes the University of Northern Colorado program that provides teacher…

Focuses on how history teachers can develop a summative teaching portfolio including a checklist of documents to have in a portfolio, criteria for assessing a portfolio, a chart integrating history and teaching standards, and a rubric to assist in evaluating the portfolio. (CMK)

Discusses the Schools History Project implemented in England in 1972. Traces the Project's history and development, and assesses problems that it has encountered. Elaborates on curriculum, curricular change, teaching methods utilized, inservice training of teachers, and the Project's future. Provides a sample syllabus developed by the Project. (RW)

Contends that college and university faculty must strengthen the ties between teachers in precollegiate and postsecondary institutions. Describes the Marathon County (Wisconsin) History Teaching Alliance, a collaborative professional development program that aims to enhance student learning through improved history instruction. Addresses the roles…

Addresses the "Virginia History and Social Science Standards of Learning," focusing on its strengths and weaknesses. Discusses the application of the state standards in Fairfax County (Virginia) and the work of the four task force groups. Contends that historians should be involved in educational reform. (CMK)

Explores the interconnection between academic historians and the schools. Discusses the efforts of the Teaching Division of the American Historical Association, the barriers between academics and working teachers, and two recommendations to achieve progress in this area (collaborative professional development and addressing educational issues of…

One educational area that has greatly benefited from the growth of technology is historical studies. Since the initial development of the World Wide Web in the early 1990s, tens of millions of historical documents have been placed online. During that time the quality and range of historical documents available on the Web has steadily increased.…