Bringing the Past to Life: Building Context for Any Time Period
Melanie Smith, Cortney James, and Larinee Dennis from Hannibal-LaGrange University presented at the 2016 MOCHE Conference at the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum.
Presenting information in a purely factual manner can seem irrelevant and unbelievable to students. However, if an instructor unlocks the "story" of history by engaging students with vicarious learning experiences, it creates opportunities for learners to personally connect, better understand, and retain accurate historical understanding. This session will discuss a model for how instructors can build background and establish a context for learning about any time period in history. Contained in the presentation is a "Building Context Template" to help teachers engage learners through music, movie clips, primary resources, timelines, and more.