Countering the Past of Least Resistance: Inquiry as a Tool for Teaching Hard History with Dr. Kathy Swan
Virtual: Choose either morning or afternoon 3-hour session
8:30 am–11:30 am OR 12:30 pm–3:30 pm
*This model will allow teachers to share a single substitute.
Target Audience: Educators Grades 6-12
The past year has been turbulent for social studies educators. The summer of 2020 brought calls for racial justice and discussions of structural racism to the forefront in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and widespread Black Lives Matter protests. Then, shortly thereafter, a group of pundits, politicians, and parents weaponized the term critical race theory as a means to frame any attempts to teach about historical oppression as divisive and unpatriotic.
As educators witnessing these culture wars in action, it can be tempting to succumb to the heat of these ideological factions and seek safety in the past of least resistance. But, teaching “hard history” is essential for understanding who we are, how we got here, and what hope lies ahead. Hard history confronts messy and uncomfortable ideas in order to work towards a more just future.
In this session, we examine one approach to teaching hard history using the Inquiry Design Model (IDM). Join Dr. Kathy Swan as we examine hard history with the core elements of inquiry—questions, tasks and sources—and look at ways that students can build a deeper understanding of a complex idea and a greater facility with the tools of inquiry over a course of study by regularly engaging in an inquiry.
April 6, 2022 VIRTUAL Choose either morning or afternoon 3-hour session
8:30 am – 11:30 am or 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm *This model will allow teachers to share a single substitute for the day.
Includes Dr. Swan’s book: Blueprinting an Inquiry-Based Curriculum: Planning with the Inquiry Design Model (This book will be sent to you ahead of event.)
Location: Zoom 3-hour session
CVEDC member $200 Non-Member $250
Save the Dates: October 11 & 12, 2022 - in-person series: Making Inquiry Possible: Using Inquiry Based Teaching to Promote Justice and Combat Inequity with Dr. Kathy Swan
About the Presenter
Kathy Swan is a professor of curriculum and instruction at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Swan served as the project director and lead writer of the College, Career, and Civic Life Framework for Social Studies State Standards and is the co-founder/co-director of C3 Teachers. Dr. Swan has co-authored and edited many books including: Inquiry-Based Practice in Social Studies Education: The Inquiry Design Model (2017; Routledge); Inquiry Design Model: Building Inquiries in Social Studies (2018; NCSS & C3 Teachers); and, Blueprinting an Inquiry Based Curriculum: Planning with the Inquiry Design Model (2019; NCSS & C3 Teachers). Swan recently served as Project Director and Executive Producer of the Making Inquiry Possible film project (makinginquirypossible.org)