Listen as organizers of the #AHRSyllabus Project discuss their new teaching resource, joined by contributors of syllabi on podcasting and historical smells. Topics include teaching initiatives in the American Historical Association, exploring the power of teaching history, incorporating podcast creation in the classroom, teaching history through the sense of smell, and challenges faced by evidence-based disciplines.
The AHR Syllabus Project aims to provide teaching resources and support for history teachers, bridging the gap between college and high school classrooms.
Innovative teaching approaches using podcasts and smells enhance historical understanding and promote critical analysis in the classroom.
Deep dives
AHR Syllabus Project: Supporting History Teachers
The podcast episode discusses the launch of the AHR Syllabus Project, a new feature in the American Historical Review aimed at supporting history teachers. The project aims to provide teaching materials and resources for instructors at the college and high school level. The podcast highlights the importance of integrating teaching discussions into the AHR, as it elevates the importance of teaching and legitimizes it within the discipline. The AHR Syllabus Project offers a unique opportunity to showcase the process of historical work and engage students in understanding how history operates. By providing access to scholars and allowing students to explore historical research methods, the project bridges the gap between college and high school classrooms, offering a more comprehensive and engaging educational experience.
Key Challenges and Opportunities for History Teachers
The episode explores the key challenges and opportunities that history teachers are currently facing. One major challenge is the political climate that questions evidence-based analysis and devalues knowledge production. In addition, teachers struggle with the time and scheduling constraints, as well as the loneliness of implementing new teaching methodologies without ongoing support. Another challenge is the disconnect between the importance of history in the classroom and its perceived relevance in students' future careers. However, the episode emphasizes the sacredness and urgency of teaching history, as it invites students into a wider world, democratizes knowledge, and fosters critical thinking. The American Historical Review's engagement with teaching history serves to affirm and support history teachers in their vital role in democracy.
Engaging Students Through Podcasts and Smell
The episode showcases two contributions to the AHR Syllabus Project: one from the podcast Sexing History and another from the Odoropa project. These contributions demonstrate innovative teaching approaches using podcasts and the sense of smell. The Sexing History syllabus includes a critical examination of the history of abortion and religious beliefs, while encouraging students to create their own podcasts. The Odoropa project's syllabus engages students with the history of smell through lectures, experiments, and smell walks. By incorporating podcasts and sensory experiences, these teaching modules enhance historical understanding and promote critical analysis. The episode suggests that engaging with different mediums, such as podcasts and smells, expands students' sensory perception and allows for a deeper exploration of historical topics.
The Value of AHR Syllabus and Future Directions
The podcast episode concludes by emphasizing the value of the AHR Syllabus Project and its potential impact. The project provides access to contemporary scholarship published in the American Historical Review, allowing students to see historians engaging in debate and changing interpretations. It bridges the gap between secondary and higher education, offering a method-based approach that enables students to explore the process of historical research. The episode also highlights the opportunities for teaching history through podcasts and sensory experiences, promoting critical analysis and engaging students in a deeper understanding of the past. The AHR Syllabus Project reflects the commitment of the American Historical Review to elevate and support teaching history, offering a unique platform for teachers, students, and scholars to share, disseminate, and discuss historical work.
We discuss the current state of teaching history, from K12 through the college level, and the AHR’s first major entry into the teaching discussion with the new #AHRSyllabus Project. Organizers Kathleen Hilliard, Laura McEnaney, and Katharina Matro join two of the first syllabus contributors, Saniya Lee Ghanoui (for the podcast Sexing History) and William Tullett (for the historical smells researchers of Odeuropa), to preview this new teaching resource and what we hope it will add for history teachers interested in engaging with the journal.
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