Peer Review

Historical Thinking Matters

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Overview:: This site explores four key topics in US history teaching students how to critically interact with conflicting primary source material in order to construct a contextualized historical narrative. The site includes resources for both students and teachers The four topics are: the Spanish American war, Scopes Trial, the development of Social Security, and the life of Rosa Parks.
Type of Material:: Reference material
Recommended Uses:: • In class discussion • Individual homework assignments • Small group discussion • Lecture support for teaching
Technical Requirements:: Flash and HTML Reviewed on Chrome
Identify Major Learning Goals:: • Students will begin to read documents historically, using strategies of contextualization, careful reading, and corroboration. • Students will expand critical thinking skills. • Students will demonstrate an understanding of the connections, causal and otherwise, between particular historical events, and larger social, economic, and political trends and developments.
Target Student Population:: • AP High School History • College Lower Division • College Upper Division • General Education (Freshman Seminar)
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: None

Rating:
Strengths:: • Well developed curriculum • Excellent video support • Excellent source material • Excellent assignments
Concerns:: • The curriculum requires support from an outside textbook for background information. This is not a problem, but requires the teacher’s prior planning for integration.

Rating:
Strengths:: • Outstanding teacher resources and learning objectives. • Provides assignment and grading resources • Excellent tool for developing critical reading and contextualization skills.
Concerns:: • Prerequisite information is assumed and not fully clear – a minor criticism.