Promoting Historical Thinking: Lessons from Teachers' Use of the Smithsonian Learning Lab

Authors: Nicole Gilbertson, Doron Zinger, Kate Harris, Linda Muller, Mark Warschauer
Presented at 2017 AERA

​Abstract: As historical information becomes increasingly digitized and accessible for teachers and students online, scholarly research on the content and use of these resources for teaching in history-social science classrooms is required. We seek to examine the ways that history teachers used a digital museum archive to teach historical content and methods in their middle school classrooms. These teachers engaged in a professional development program that trained teachers in the use and implementation of a new digital tool, the Smithsonian Learning Lab (SLL). Our research examines how they used this resource to teach history and develop historical inquiry skills in their classroom practice.