District News

Students learn about history through text messaging

 

Feb. 9, 2011

 

If Charlemagne had an iPhone and could send text messages, what would he say? Phil Schoff’s freshman history class at Canajoharie High School is doing their best to figure out that question.

Mr. Schoff instructed his class to create a text dialogue between the former emperor of Rome and a suggested historic figure such as Pope Leo III, Alcuin of York, Charles Martel (his grandfather), a poor Frankish farmer, or a warrior.

Using a fake texting website, the students must create a historically accurate conversation using the name “me” for Charlemagne and “you” for the historic figure. Since the number of texts on a page is limited, the students have to get right to the point.

Mr. Schoff said he receives social studies newsletters from various websites that suggest using an array of student-friendly multimedia tools during instruction. He then searched for fake iPhone screenshot sites.

“The kids use their phones every day and they love it,” he said. “I thought why not use something that they are fascinated with to get into their realm of interpretation.

“It’s great, because when I ask them about Charlemagne on a test, they will have an immediate source of information to draw from.”

Evan Battisti picked the Spartan King Leonidas as his historic figure (think the film “300”) because he knows a lot about him. Evan called the lesson “cool.”

“King Leonidas fascinates me,” he said. “I’ve never done this type of lesson but something like this makes you get more into it.”

David Eckler not only picked a character, the rebel Romans, but used the lingo from the time period.

“This was a great idea,” he said. “People are more excited to this and incorporate the information they’ve learned.”