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Place 

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Introduction to PLACE in Massachusetts History

Approach to PLACE from Prof. Reed Stewart, course Lead Teacher.

The idea behind the course was to assist K-12 teachers to put history, and other social sciences, in the context of the places in which events took place (and are still occurring). That called upon geography as the discipline which asks where things are and why things are where they are, and which looks at the consequences of phenomena being in specific locations. The Social Science content was the basis of the semester long study, and the course was aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.

Each week guest scholars presented on topics about which they have special interest and knowledge, during an hour and a half of interactive television time. Then the activity switched to the separate campuses where local discussion enlarged upon the presentations. Teachers in their site-based activities, began to put material that was presented during the interactive video session into content, into specific localities that are germane to their teaching. For instance, the question might be asked: "What effect did the development of industrial water power have on Arlington and what effect did Arlington have on the development of water power?"

Underlying or accompanying the content for each session, and the whole course, were several essential questions related to Place in Massachusetts History: What happened (mentally or physically)? Where did it happen? What peoples were there, then? What was the place like, then? Why was the place important for that event, at that time? Why else was that place important, then? How was that place physically connected to other places? What was the relevant context in the state, nation, and world of that event? How is that place connected to other places, now? What remains of that important event in that place? What is the importance of that place, now?

 

© Massachusetts Studies Project 1997 - 2002