Skip to content
View menu
NCCE
Log in
Org - CoH

Crossroads of History - August Cohort


Course
Free
Enroll

Crossroads of History: Using primary sources and social justice standards to correct course on equity and inclusion. This course will facilitate a careful, reversed chronological examination of social justice and civil rights incidents in U.S. history that mirror each other over time. The goal of the Crossroads of History project is to provide entry points for those involved in education in and outside of formal classroom settings to use primary sources and social justice standards to conduct meaningful dialog, learn and develop historical inquires, and inspire informed actions that give voice to marginalized communities.

Crossroads of History

Crossroads of History image header.

 

NCCE’s Crossroads of History Project is sponsored in part by the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Western Region Program, coordinated by the Metropolitan State University of Denver. The project will facilitate a careful, reversed chronological examination of social justice and civil rights incidents in U.S. history that mirror each other over time providing entry points for those involved in education in and outside of formal classroom settings to use primary sources and social justice standards to conduct meaningful dialog, learn and develop historical inquires, and inspire informed actions that give voice to marginalized communities.  Using the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards Inquiry Design Model, participants will create plans for taking informed actions at the conclusion of the training.

 

Crossroads of History is a completely virtual professional learning experience for educators across the spectrum including:

  • PreK-16 educational professionals including pre-service teachers
  • Public librarians and leaders of tribal youth groups, faith-based youth groups, Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, before and after school programs, adult education leadership programs, and other “outside of the classroom” programs.

Participants will:

  • Have the option to earn college credit hours. The amount of credit is based on successful completion of activities.   
  • Be recognized by NCCE as a Library of Congress Crossroads in History Project Participant 
  • Be enrolled in the Crossroads in History Educator Community with access to peer-to-peer networks and coaching 

Crossroads of History Project

This fully online experience is comprised of training using best practices in synchronous and asynchronous learning and work time, guidance, and reflection. The culmination of the project is the creation of an activity plan to put into practice and to share with other educators.   

Crossroads of History Overview

clock

Phase 1 — Self-Paced Activities (1-2 hours)

Lessons to be completed at the participants’ own pace learning about the Library of Congress, primary sources, and project details.

Participants will:  

  • Consider the marginalized population that will be the focus of their lesson/activity as well as a specific time period or event that impacted that community and how it relates to current events.
  • Be introduced to Library of Congress resources, trained on how to access and search for primary sources related to the specific population and/or historical events that will be the focus of their activities.
Group

Phase 2 — Synchronous Group Meeting (2-4 hours)

Introduction to cohort members, information including project goals and expectations, further training on accessing relevant primary sources, activity plan development, and peer-to–peer facilitated discussions.

Participants will:  

  • Build connections with fellow cohort members to establish collaborative relationships for future planning and resource sharing.
  • Trainer assistance in narrowing focus topic in relation to use of Library of Congress resources for research.  Trainers give general instruction accessing resources as well as specific focused instruction on use of databases to assist in research based on cohort members needs.
Group

Phase 3 — Synchronous Group Meeting (1-2 hours)

Library of Congress review, sharing of findings, check-in for progress on research, peer discussions, instructional coaching as needed.

Participants will:  

  • Focused training and troubleshooting with cohort members on Library of Congress resource usage.  Collaborative relationships between members to strengthen resource sharing and knowledge for activity plan development.
  • Status update from each member on research progress, narrowing their search and integrating primary sources to their activity plans.
clock

Phase 4 — Self-paced Activities (2-4 hours)

Continued project research and development culminating in posting activity plan for peer review/feedback and revision.

Participants will:  

  • Utilize the Library resources to continue higher level research.
  • Draft their activity/lesson plan for collaborative review among trainer and cohort group peers.
Group

Phase 5 — Synchronous Group Meeting (2-4 hours)

Activity/Lesson plan sharing and collaboration to develop and solidify the plan.

Participants will:  

  • Present activity/lesson plans to peer cohort members and trainer, participate in group discussion and revise through collaboration.
  • Edit activity plan with special consideration given to correct citation of Library of Congress primary sources.
Submit

Phase 6 — Activity Plan Submission and Implementation

Participants will submit completed activity/lesson plans to the Creative Commons OER hub, the TPS Teachers Network, and upload to the NCCE Library.  Finally, participants will reflect on the development of the activity/lesson plan.

Participants will:  

  • Plan to present activity/lesson plan to intended audience of learners.
  • Reflect on the development of the activity/lesson plan.
  • Submit completed activity/lesson plan for publication.

 Contact Shannon Davenport to discuss options for your school or district.  

Here is the course outline:

Welcome and Introduction

To begin this course, please read all information in this Welcome and Introduction module. Here you will learn more about the course overview, you will meet the curriculum development team, and you will learn more about next steps.

Phase 1 - Self-Paced Activities (1-2 hours)

In this phase, participants will work at their own pace learning about the Library of Congress, primary sources, and project details.

Phase 2 - Synchronous Group Meeting (2-4 hours)

In this phase, participants will be introduced to other cohort members, information including project goals and expectations, further training expectations on accessing relevant primary sources, activity plan development, and peer-to–peer facilitated discussions.

Phase 3 - Synchronous Group Meeting (1-2 hours)

In this phase, participants will review resources from the Library of Congress, share findings, check-in for progress on research, peer discussions, instructional coaching as needed.

Phase 4 - Self-paced Activities (2-4 hours)

In this phase, participants will continue project research and development culminating in posting activity plan for peer review/feedback and revision.

Phase 5 - Synchronous Group Meeting (2-4 hours)

In this phase, participants will work on a revised activity plan sharing, collaboration, discussion dedicated to sharing plans including collaborating and asking questions to develop and solidify the plan.

Phase 6 - Activity/Lesson Plan Submission

In this phase, participants will share completed activity plans to the Creative Commons OER hub and the C3 Teacher Inquiry Website, the TPS Teachers Network, publications, and TPS events when possible. Finally, participants will implement the activity plan and share results of implementation with the Crossroads of History community.
Back to top