April 23, 2007
Contact: Rita Mitchell, University Relations
‘Teaching Traditional American History Showcase’ to attract multistate participants
MARTIN, Tenn. – Teaching traditional American history with concepts that are anything but traditional is the focus of a multistate conference sponsored by the Professional Development Center, in Dyersburg, Tenn., and the University of Tennessee at Martin. It is funded, in part, by the U.S. Department of Education.
“Teaching Traditional American History Showcase” is slated, June 18-22, at the Professional Development Center. Administrators, K-12 social studies and American history teachers, as well as the public, from Southeast Missouri, Southwest Kentucky, Northeast Arkansas, North Mississippi and throughout Tennessee are invited to attend this event.
“All participants will leave the conference with a CD of teacher-designed instructional units for immediate implementation in the classroom,” said Danny Walden, Professional Development Center director. “That’s just one of the many benefits of this conference that will stress the use of technology in the classroom and innovative teaching methods for social studies and American history classrooms.”
Conference speakers and their topics include:
• Linda Levstick, University of Kentucky professor, “In Pursuit of a Usable Past: A Guide for the Perplexed”;
• David Virtue, University of South Carolina assistant professor, “The Use of Folktales in the Classroom”;
• Jill Gradwell, Buffalo State University assistant professor, “Using Primary Resources”;
• S.G. Grant, University at Buffalo associate professor, “High Stakes Testing”;
• Jane White, Winthrop University professor, “Anthropology in the Classroom”;
• Ken Vogler, University of South Carolina assistant professor, “‘What Do You Mean?’ The Importance of Questions in the Classroom.”
Other speakers include representatives from Tennessee State Library and Archives, State Department of Education and UT Martin covering such topics as technology in the classroom, teaching methodologies for social studies and using primary historical documents.
Breakout sessions during the conference will focus on technology in the classroom, teacher-designed instructional units, Tennessee state curriculum standards and Tennessee State Library and Archives.
The cost is $45/day for registration. Participants may register for one day or a combination of days. For more information, go to: http://pdcdyersburg.howtomaster.com/ or call 731-286-3611 or 731-881-7097.
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