Primary Source at Needham's Global Issues Conference
On November 4, 2008, Needham Public Schools faculty gathered for a district-wide conference on local and global citizenship. "We recognize," wrote Dan Gutekanst, Needham's superintendent, "that in today's world our students need to have the knowledge and skills necessary to be active participants in an interconnected global society." Among the workshops and speakers presented to Needham's faculty were several presentations by Primary Source staff members. Program Directors Deborah Cunningham and Susan Zeiger led a session exploring ways to internationalize the teaching of United States history. This approach, they proposed, leads students to a greater understanding of both U.S. and world history. For example, students could compare Pueblo pottery bowls from before and after Spanish colonization and gain insight into how cultures changed as a result of exchanging ideas and goods. One participating teacher noted, "We all recognize the worth of teaching U.S. history in an international context, but it's difficult to implement. We need guidance to find high quality resources that will help us to do that." The presentation offered a number of ideas for educators, work that will be continued during a follow-up session in April. Primary Source Program Associate Maggie Kaiser introduced educators to Google Earth, an Internet-based, virtual globe that allows users to fly over the earth and zoom to specific locations. Participants tested this new tool for classroom instruction in subject areas from geography to literature. One middle school teacher created a tour of the Indus Valley to introduce his students to the basics of Google Earth, and a Spanish teacher marked places she'd seen in Madrid to later show to her students. Primary Source continues to play a critical role in Needham and other school districts as they incorporate global perspectives across subject areas and grade levels. To learn more about how your school can benefit from Primary Source's resources and support, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . |
Educating for Global Understanding
