Students as Historians

Students as Historians: Using Technology to Examine Local History Beyond the Classroom makes a case for using technology to further the research of local history. Part 1 of the book explores the history of Black people in communities across the nation while Part 2 uses census reports, Google Earth, and other materials to investigate. One example includes Western Missouri on the eve of the Civil War. Part 3 involves design-based research in a social studies classroom where students investigated the history of Mobile, AL during the Civil Rights movement using technology. Throughout the book, the Inquiry Design Model (IDM) is emphasized and implemented.

This book takes on the laudable task of promoting students doing local history. The author has anticipated what is needed to implement local history and provided guidance. The chapters provide examples of local history and descriptions of students doing local history. Local history examples are provided for the topics of reconstruction, prairie living, westward migration and desegregation of schools. Teachers interested in local history will find much help in this book.