I came across an interesting chart from a school where AP exam scores seem to be used as a factor in a student's final grade. It's pictured below. The summer logistics of this aside, I was intrigued by the intended and unintended consequences of such a policy.
Author: Shane Twaddell
National History Day Workshop Take Aways
The month of March was one of the busiest I have had in a long time. Despite my frenzied to-do list, one of the highlights of the month was a two-day workshop run by Lynne O'Hara and Kim Fortney from the National History Day organization. The workshop was filled with some great tools and insights about teaching historical thinking and helping students create stronger NHD projects.
ChatGPT and AI Tools for the Social Studies Classroom
I have been playing around with some ideas on how to use AI tech tools in class. I don't want to use a tool just for the purpose of trying something new, but want to find a creative way of adding value for my students. Most of what I have explored recently has been a result of purchasing a premium subscription to ChatGPT. The additional GPTs that this offers access to are incredibly useful.
Teaching Game Theory and History with Diplomacy
I am designing a two week summer course that will use the games Diplomacy and Twilight Struggle to teach game theory and history. These games are a great opportunity to teach strategic decision making, iterated and sequential games, risk and payoff assessment, bargaining and negotiation, and long-term planning in a way that engages students and helps them internalize the learning. Sometimes, the classroom needs to be more "fun!"
Experiences with the new rubrics for AP World History
By this point in the school year my students have written four DBQs and are working on their second LEQ. After working with the new rubrics and giving them a chance, I have mixed feelings. They are not perfect, but neither were earlier iterations since it is impossible to create a rubric that makes everyone … Continue reading Experiences with the new rubrics for AP World History
Building Inquiry Units with the C3 Framework
The 9th grade course I teach, Geographic Cultural Studies, is meant to be a mixture of geography and history with a bit of economics thrown in as well. The first of three major inquiry units guided by the C3 Framework is on Latin America. This post explores the structure and content of this unit.
The Industrial Revolution and the Urban Game in AP World History
This is not a particularly insightful post. It's just a resource for the OER Project's version of the Urban Game that I am using this year instead of the traditional longer version.
Continuing with the Harkness Method in Social Studies
The last couple weeks I have been doing Harkness discussions in all my classes, 9th, 10th, and 12th graders. This has been an expansion from last year, where I just used it in my AP World History classes. I have continued to appreciate how Harkness discussions provide opportunities for engagement, application of learning, analysis, and student voice.
Teaching Material Culture and the Dutch Golden Age in AP World History
The Netherlands in the seventeenth century was the center of a series of economic and social transformations that would redefine the way Europeans viewed the world around. This first age of truly global commerce saw the exchange of objects of commerce, objects of beauty, and objects of science. This moment cannot be understood without considering Dutch historical trends alongside the simultaneous power of the Scientific Revolution, the rise of the Atlantic World, and the nature of global exchange. Through the exploration of changing material culture in this moment, students can be exposed to deeper historical analysis and higher order thinking.
Standards-Based Grading in AP World History
Standards-based grading and assessment can work in an AP class. It requires a shift in mindset about the role of skill and content as well as clear systems to protect the integrity of each. I favor simplicity to prevent the danger of over-engineering the grading infrastructure.