Integrating U. S. History with Educational Technology
Deborah T. Aufdenspring
New Technology High School
Napa, California
Our Classroom - 66 students, 2 teachers, glass walls (for visitor
observation) and 66 Hewlett Packard Pentium computers connected with an
educational version of Lotus Notes on which almost all work, individual
and group, is done.
Class Title: Integrated United States History and American
Literature
Length: 2 semesters
Grade Level: 11th.
Graduation Requirement/Elective: Required
Credits: 5 units/semesters
Description: The primary focus of this curriculum is the integration
of United States History, Language Arts/American Literature through technology.
Secondary foci include the integration of visual art, music, and mathematics.
The integration will provide students an opportunity to develop a thorough
understanding of US culture and history from multiple perspectives.
The course will review material from the 1500's through the Civil
War, but will focus on the events of the late nineteenth century and the
twentieth century. Students will use critical thinking skills to analyze
and evaluate historical and cultural information with particular emphasis
on the development of American democratic ideas and ideals.
Goals: The primary goal of this course is to develop an understanding
of the way the past affects the present and future. Students should see
history and culture, past and future, as the stories of individual lives
woven together in a tapestry of humanity -- a story that both belongs to,
and is written by, each of us.
Why students need to learn the material covered in this course.
By learning that the past affects the present and future, students will
develop an appreciation for the importance of participating in American
institutions. Informed and wide participation in governmental and cultural
institutions is the most effective way to ensure the furtherance of the
democratic principles of the United States.
Course Outline:
IMAGES OF THE AMERICAN DREAM: AN INTRODUCTION (9/3 - 9/9)
THE NATION'S FOUNDING (9/11 - 9/20) Theme: Freedom and Liberty
CIVIL WAR AND STATES' RIGHTS (9/23 - 10/4) Themes: Diversity, Conflict and
Resolution
NEW FRONTIERS (10/8 - 10/20) Themes: Immigration and Disenfranchisement
ROOTS OF THE MODERN NATION (10/23 - 10/27) Theme: Industrialization
THE NEW ERA OF THE TWENTIES (10/30 - 11/15) Themes: Responsibility, Success
and Power
ECONOMIC CRISIS AND THE NEW DEAL (11/18 - 12/19) Theme: Loss and Recovery
THE UNITED STATES AS A WORLD POWER (1/6 - 1/24) Themes: Conformity and Business
Cycles
THE POST WAR WORLD (1/27 - 3/21) Themes: Vision, Ideals and Human Rights
TOWARD EQUALITY AND SOCIAL REFORM (3/24 - 4/11) Themes: Courage and Resistance
TROUBLED YEARS (4/14 - 5/2) Themes: Change and Violence
CHALLENGES (5/5 - 5/23) Themes: Truth and Lies
IMAGES OF THE AMERICAN DREAM: CONCLUSIONS (5/27 - 6-12)
________
Instructional Materials: Materials will include a variety of information
sources, most of which will take advantage of the technology available to
students and staff at New Technology. They include at least the following:
Textbook: The American Odyssey Gary B. Nash,
McGraw Hill Publishers
CD-ROMs: Our Times ; DISCovering Authors ; Who Built America ;
3D Atlas ; American Journey ; TableTop; American Poetry ; History Through
Art ; Our Secret Century; Poetry in Motion; Time Almanac; EncartaEncyclopedia
; Vietnam; Lest We Forget: A History of the Holocaust
The Internet: Various sites that have historical and cultural information
Electric Library: An online library with search engine access to
hundreds of newspapers, magazines, radio and television transcripts and
other information sources.
________
Grading Policy: I believe all students can learn, and
that they can earn good grades that are a reflection of that learning. I
see my job as working with students to help them obtain that learning and
those grades. The assignments that are part of this course are not designed
as ways to fail students. They are designed as:
1. Ways to encourage students to use skills
2. Ways for students to continue their learning
3. Ways for students to share their new-found knowledge with classmates,
the community and me
Students will be graded on the following activities:
Activity and approximate percentage of grade
Class participation - includes individual and group work 10%
Chapter Projects - includes projects, brief quizzes and writing assignments
20%
Unit Projects - includes individual and group projects and essays 30%
Journal Writing - individual work 10%
I may include Portfolio Projects - Students will select 25% of their work
to include in a portfolio. This should be a student's best work, and the
portfolio grade will be additional to the original grade. It will be like
being able to count your best work twice. 20%
School-wide Interdisciplinary Projects - 10%
Each assignment will have a given point value:
90 - 100% = A
80 - 89% = B
70 - 79% = C
Students with less than 70% will be encouraged to do their work over for
a higher grade.
I expect homework done on time, but also know that our lives are not always
perfectly organized. If you cannot complete an assignment on time, you need
to call me, or send an e-mail and let me know. Just like on a job, if you
cannot meet a deadline, you need to let your employer know ahead of time.
I am always available, by appointment, to discuss any questions or concerns
students or parents have about grades. If you think a grade should have
been higher than what you received, I encourage you to discuss the grade
with me. I retain the right, however, to determine the final grade on any
assignment.
________________
Class Policies:
My goals for this classroom are:
To have it be a safe place for students to express ideas, to consider opinions
and to learn together.
To have an orderly classroom where students can learn in an efficient way.
The classroom does not need to be quiet, just orderly.
In order to make the above things possible, I need the following policies:
Respect every one in the room and don't put people down.
Come in on time, ready to start class immediately. Have your materials with
you.
___________
Keeping in Touch:
If you (parents or students) need to contact me, you can do so by phoning
259 - 8493, my number at school, or 254-TECH (8324), my number at home.
254-TECH (8324) is also a fax number. You can reach me by e-mail at school
at Deborah_Aufdenspring@techhigh.napanet.net
- , or, by e-mail at home at deborah@aufdenspring.com.
This class is co-taught by Sandra Mings-Lamar, who teaches the literature
element. You can reach her by phoning 259-8492, her number at school. You
can also reach her by going to her web page or by
e-mail at sandra_mings-lamar@techhigh.napanet.net.
___________
WELCOME TO AMERICAN HISTORY AND LITERATURE!
We're glad you're here!
___________
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