District News

Class utilizes social media to learn about history

 

March, 2011

 

At a time when it seems like everyone has a social media presence, it makes sense that someone like King Tut should have one too, right?

Thanks to Phil Schoff, a ninth grade history teacher at Canajoharie High School, it’s already happened. Using Glogster, a social media tool used to create interactive posters (or glogs), his students have developed sites for historic figures such as King Tut, JFK, Alexander the Great, Jesus, Da Vinci, and Confucius and more.

The pages feature written biographies, posters, quotes, animation, and even video.

Mr. Schoff learned about Glogster at a conference in Denver and knew he had found a tool that was educational, fun—and up-to-date.

“It’s an interactive blog where the kids get to research an important historic figure and express the facts about that person in a creative, technological manner. The great part is that it takes information from the text book and updates it to the 21st century,” Mr. Schoff said.

“These kids are constantly on the web and using their cell phones and are regularly using technology outside of school. It would be a disservice to them not to use technology in school.”

To start the lesson, each of his about 80 students created a historic figure trading card. They researched their individuals and produced cards with biographical information and a picture. From there, they started the Glogster project.

Alyssa Warner and another classmate chose Margot and Anne Frank because of their interest in the Holocaust. Alyssa thinks people need to know more about it; especially the parts not taught in school. That’s why she included pictures of barbed wire and other images on her page to represent the pain and suffering that Margot and Anne Frank experienced.

“I think this project is a great way to teach kids about history,” Alyssa said. “It’s more modern and you get to use technology instead of just reading out of a text book.”

Justin Crowley chose Leonardo da Vinci because of the artist’s mysteriousness. Justin packed his page with facts and pictures of the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and blueprints of some of da Vinci’s flying objects. “This project makes me want to know more about him,” Justin said. “And technology helps you find a lot more.”

Mr. Schoff said students flourished doing the project and they seem very engaged.

“This is like motivation in itself,” he said. “It shows them that education is not just reading out of a book all the time. It’s real life applications.”