From+Revolution+to+Reconstruction.+June+2011


 * Event Title: Gilder Lehrman Institute "From Revolution To Reconstruction"**
 * Date: June 26 - July 2, 2011**
 * Location: Tulane University, New Orleans, LA**
 * Name(s) of Attendees: Alicia Fisher**

Description of Workshops, Classes, Institutes, Etc.:
Directed by Carol Berkin, Presidential Professor of History at Barauch College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and Fritz Fischer, Professor of History and History Education at University of Northern Colorado, this seminar examined the struggle to create an independent nation, and, nearly one hundred years later, the fight to preserve or splinter it. Our group met daily for lecture on various topics pertinent to this era by Dr. Berkin. This portion of the institute was conducted as a graduate level history course. Following each lecture, we would meet with Dr. Fischer to discuss how we can apply our knowledge to make this time period come alive in our classrooms for our students. Dr. Fischer conducted a lesson daily that included primary sources that we could adapt to use in the classroom. We also had the opportunity to visit two sugar plantations in the area, touring the main houses, the grounds, as well as the slave quarters. Additionally, the participants, mostly teachers of United States history from across the country, led by Gilder Lehrman's master teacher, had the opportunity to share 'best practices' ideas and resources. Both Dr. Berkin and Dr. Fischer emphasized the importance of using primary sources in the classroom, regardless of level. Much of our discussion centered around making the work in our classrooms emulate the work historians do, namely analyzing primary sources and using this anaylsis to answer a historical question. As a culminating activity, each of the participants had to create a lesson using at least one of the primary sources provided by the professors.

How I Hope to Apply What I Learned At Ransom, and/or, What My Colleagues Might Try at Ransom:
I hope to increase my use of primary documents in my classes. The institute provided me with many sample sources and ideas of how they could be incorporated as well as tools to help students analyze primary sources at age-appropriate levels. Dr. Fischer introduced the idea of a "history lab", where students are presented with several primary sources on a topic. Students are then given a specific historical question to answer using those sources. The students form a 'hypothesis" and use the sources as their evidence to support their hypothesis in a class discussion. I hope to incorporate this idea of the 'history lab" and to create in my class an environment where my students experience that history is something active that we do, and not simply a list of events that we remember.

Important Links, Resources, or Contacts:
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is a nonprofit organization that works to improve and enrich American history education. Each summer, the GLI hosts several week long institutes on various topics in United States history with the goal to "provide intellectual stimulation and practical resources and strategies to take back to the classroom." My week was rigorous, but well worth it. I would highly recommend it. Gilder Lehrman hosts www.gilderlehrman.org, featuring a quarterly online journal // History Now //, and providing a great resource for primary documents, podcasts, as well as secondary sources. This site is similar to the ABC-Clio site, but it provides access to many more and different types of resources.

Alicia Fisher