Principal Investigator
Funder
An anonymous donor through the New York Community Trust
Timeframe
2005—2007
Description
Think Like a Historian explores ways to engage high-school students in learning history by "doing" history in a compelling multimedia environment. Students learn to read, think, and express ideas the way real historians do. They research and evaluate historical documents and other primary source materials; synthesize and interpret this information; and compose their own historical reports.
With Universal Design for Learning as a framework, this approach gives teachers a rich set of tools to support effective instruction in historical inquiry, literacy, and historical content. Moving beyond the memorization of historical facts, students take part in a guided inquiry into an historical event (such as the causes of the U.S. Civil War) and develop higher-order, discipline-specific skills as they do.
Think Like a Historian also provides timely, fundamental supports for students with disabilities, students with disabilities, English language learners, and others to scaffold their learning while providing complete access to the same standards-based content and activities as their peers.
