Mexico - EDCP 585

Mexico was the first beach I had been to outside of Canada or the United States.  Similarly, EDCP 585D: Benchmarks of Historical Thinking was my first class on campus.  Just as I had traveled before, traveling wasn’t new but Mexico was and so was taking a course on campus at UBC and it was my first history course I’d taken in years.  The course was held at St. John’s College on Vancouver UBC campus.  UBC - what a beautiful campus!  I can't wait to visit again soon!

This course was a nice surprise.  I wasn’t sure what it would have to offer me in my classroom but I went with the lens of Technology Integration & AISI Leader so that I can take back what I learn to my staff, specifically Social Studies teachers.  After the first couple days, getting to know the cohort, the professor and the teaching assistants I was getting the feel for this course about Historical Thinking.  I was starting to understand through our Museum Visits and our analysis and exploration of Historical Documents how the six main themes interrelate: Significance, Primary Source Evidence, Continuity & Change, Cause & Consequence, Historical Perspective-Taking and The Ethical Dimension.

The professor, Dr. Peter Seixas, was completely engaging and had me hanging on every word.  It was great to see first-hand how a university professor engages adult Masters Students in person as most of my experience in the program has been online.  I enjoyed my experience on UBC campus very much!

As I have been to both coasts of Mexico, the Atlantic and the Pacific, accordingly I have selected two artifacts from this course: 

1. The Atlantic Coast & The Mayan Riviera – Group Project: Prezi - Potlatch & Totem Poles

2. The Pacific Coast – Final Paper: Analysis of Historical Thinking Concepts in Primary Source Documents:  Final Paper - 'The Future, Past & Present of Big Bear 1885"

The Atlantic Coast & The Mayan Riviera

Reflection:

The Atlantic Coast & The Mayan Riviera – Group Project: Prezi

I included this artifact for two reasons:

First, I included this Prezi lesson because it was the second group project that Kathie and I had worked on.  We worked on a lesson plan project in ETEC 530 a year prior and I included this Prezi lesson to show how my skills (both our skills) became more confident using technology as a delivery and presentation platform.  Both lesson plans follow curricula but I believe that our Prezi lesson will be more engaging for our students! I’m very excited to share this lesson with the Social Studies teachers at my school because I think the students at our school will love it!  I’m eager to see how it works out and what the teachers and students think of this type of lesson. 

Secondly, I included this Prezi lesson because it was my first time using Prezi and I think it turned out pretty well.  I was intimidated at first but Prezi is quite simple to use and the couple tutorials it provides are excellent support.  Hopefully my willingness to try something new will inspire some of my colleagues or any of you to create interactive lessons like this Prezi lesson.

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