Bring History and Civics to Life

Lessons and Strategies to Cultivate Informed, Empathetic Citizens

By Karalee Wong Nakatsuka and Laurel Aguilar-Kirchhoff

ISBN: 9781564849359

November 2022

Length: 184 pages

Table of Contents

Read Excerpt

Listen to the authors on BAM Radio

This user-friendly guide will empower and equip teachers to take a fun, interactive approach to using technology to teach history and civics. 

For years, history and civics have been put on the back burner as schools focus on subjects like math, science and English language arts. Although all U.S. states have standards for the teaching of history, there’s a lack of consistency when it comes to teaching civics. Today, we see evidence of declining levels of civic engagement, which is sadly reinforced as our educational institutions fail to prioritize history and civics education, while at the same time they often blame students for their lack of knowledge. 

Amid this backdrop, how can educators better prepare their students to become engaged, informed and empathetic citizens? One way is by harnessing the power of digital learning to make history come alive for students, establishing a climate and culture that encourages students to be effective collaborators and lifelong learners who care about and contribute to society. 

With this book, two dynamic, award-winning educators draw clear connections between history, civics, community – and technology – in meaningful and actionable ways to deepen students’ understanding of democratic processes and civic engagement. Using edtech and instructional design as entry points, the book highlights pedagogically sound practices to build critical thinking skills, and offers classroom examples from a wide range of educators to show how to implement these strategies in the classroom. 

The book: 

• Illustrates how to use educational technology as a means to inspire and enable students to become empathetic, informed citizens.
• Emphasizes historiography and critical-thinking skills across the curriculum and broader community.
• Demonstrates how to integrate digital learning tools and strategies across history curriculum.
• Provides guidance on amplifying student voice and inspiring student civic engagement with students as knowledge constructors and global citizens. 
• Prioritizes equity in learning by highlighting accessibility features of educational technology tools and implementation strategies to benefit all learners.  

In these pages, you’ll discover how to use educational technology to help students recognize themselves in history and experience the world – and learn – in ways that only technology allows.

Audience: Grades 4-12 history/social science and civics teachers

About the Authors:

Karalee Wong Nakatsuka (@HistoryFrog), M.A. E.D., is a veteran middle school U.S. history teacher. Also a Gilder Lehrman Master Teacher, she was recognized in 2019 as the Gilder Lehrman History Teacher of the Year for California and was a top 10 finalist for the national award. She serves on the American250 History Education Advisory Council, the Gilder Lehrman Teacher Advisory Council and the Monticello Teacher Advisory Group. She’s a member of the California Council for the Social Studies (CCSS), the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), the iCivics Education Network and the National Council for History Education (NCHE). Nakatsuka appeared in the New York Times multimedia story “What’s Actually Being Taught in History Class?” and was featured in an article in Time Magazine’s September 2021 issue titled “From Teachers to Custodians, Meet the Educators Who Saved a Pandemic School Year.” She’s passionate about using technology to engage and excite students; sharing the stories and the places where history took place; building community in her classroom; and preparing students to develop as empathetic, informed, engaged and active critical thinkers and citizens who care and make a difference in the world.

Laurel Aguilar-Kirchhoff (@LucyKirchh), M.S.Ed., is a former history and science educator who now serves as a professional development coordinator and digital learning specialist. Aguilar-Kirchhoff works with educators, administrators and students to successfully integrate educational technology into curriculum for lasting student learning outcomes. Her areas of expertise include digital citizenship, media literacy, blended learning, curriculum instruction and design, and edtech and innovation. She was recognized as the 2018 National History Day California Teacher of the Year, was a top six finalist for the National History Day Teacher of the Year, and was the Inland Area CUE (IACUE) Administrator of the Year in 2022. She’s a Google Certified Trainer, Leading Edge Certified Online Blended Teacher and a member of the iCivics Education Network. Aguilar-Kirchhoff served on the ISTE Digital Citizenship PLN Leadership team and is currently an ISTE Community Leader.