Teaching United States History

David Roeder
North House
Topic: Teaching History
EQ:

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Answer 1

  1. Teaching history backwards (looking at one point in history and thinking what happened to cause this, the researching it, then continuing the process) has been proven to be beneficial to students in teaching environments (not just at home study) and has shown promise for the teaching community. 
  2. Studies have shown that students retain more information when learning history through this process.
  3. Hermann, Kenneth W. "The Pedagogical Strengths of Teaching History Backwards." Web. 15 Sept. 2011. <http://www.bestlibrary.org/thread/files/backwards.pdf>.
(as a future historian i know the importance of citing my work!) ^^^

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Science Fair Proposal

  1. In a timed environment, there is a correlation between the Stroop Effect and standardized test taking.
  2. Dependent: Timed environment
    Independent: Stroop Effect
    Control: Standardized test taking 
  3. My E.Q. is "What is the most efficient way of Teaching U.S. History?" and if there is a correlation between the two, it could change the way I as a future teacher, would write tests.
  4. Seeing as i am a late contender this isn't final per-say. I will only need about about 40ish people and some paper. Ill print out a test and use it as a control, then print out the same test but change the multiple choice options and order of the questions.
  5. Behavioral Science
Procedure:
  1. First attain a sample size, of at least 25 people
  2. Allocate a test of 10 questions regarding "Stroop Effect"
  3. (Because testing should be in a timed environment) provide a time limit in correspondence with the amount of questions
  4. Prep students on the information that will be on the test
  5. Time students and administer the test
  6. Collect the tests from students
  7. Grade tests

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Third Interview Questions

  1. What do you feel is the best way to teach history?
  2. How do you feel about teaching history backwards? Starting from a point at the present, looking at it, and saying "What happened to cause this event?" Then looking that cause up, rinse and repeat.
  3. How do you feel about teaching history "Alive?" Having students act out as members of a certain time era in order to learn about them.
  4. What do you think about teaching history the traditional way?
  5. How do you feel about teaching history through repetition? Repeating until the students know the information.
  6. How do you feel about teaching history with visual aids? Such as maps, photographs, diagrams, paintings, models, memorabilia, Hollywood movies, more maps, reenactments, computer simulations, museums, internet sources, etc...
  7. How do you feel about "Matrix" teaching? Linking things with facts, then building upon those facts with more facts.
  8. How do you feel about teaching history as idolizing figures? Such as teaching only the good things people have done but not the wrong. For the purpose of not to distort views of the students.
  9. How do you feel about teaching history as a live demonstration format? Such as if you are teaching the middle ages and Knights, you yourself, dressing up as a "Knight" to demonstrate that it is not actually as glorified as Hollywood makes it seem.
  10. How do you feel about teaching history as just lecturing? Just having the students sit down and lecture them for a class period.