tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post5890077433742348260..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: The Crux of the U.S. History Debate in ColoradoUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-53089444866698109212014-10-08T19:51:32.348-05:002014-10-08T19:51:32.348-05:00One of the biggest problems with the entire conser...One of the biggest problems with the entire conservative effort to oppose any changes to American history is their own education. Very few are historians and very few are educators. It is kind of odd to see national organizations of historians like the AHA and OAH, the two groups most historians belong to, ignored by people who are not historians.<br /><br />The other problem lies with the pedagogy involved. As an instructor I have many students who have told me that they hate history. They find it boring and dull. They do not like having to memorize things. Once we get the class going they realize that this is not high school and that almost all of my questions begin with WHY.<br /><br />I'm using a very similar pedagogical model like the AP course does, but mine is tailored to my institution and the student base it serves (as are almost all courses). The students are given the information in a way that supports the objectives, but in a way that involves their participation. We use primary sources so they can read what the people in the past had to say. They then begin to link the events together and build a timeline with several goalposts to help guide them. The result is a student who is actively involved in their learning. <br /><br />I prefer that students be presented with the information. Let them reach their own conclusions and guide them along the way. They learn more this way than the older spoon fed method. American Exceptional will either stand on its own merits or collapse. If it has to be supported by artificial means, then it needs to be removed from the course. Unfortunately, that is exactly what the Jeffco group wants to avoid. Xathoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05910312481367024828noreply@blogger.com