Learning
Future Teachers Attend National Council for History Education Conference
Five Muskingum University students who are preparing to become K-12 social studies teachers attended the National Council for History Education Conference in Cleveland, Ohio on March 8-9, 2024.
Those attending the conference were: Amaris Carpenter ’24, Laken Kerns ’25, Dylan Moore ’25, Lyndi Slack ’24, and Avery Walker ’24.
The trip was facilitated and led by Professor of History Karen Dunak, who holds the Arthur G. and Eloise Barnes Cole Chair of American History, and Associate Professor of Education Keith Eberly, who holds the Janet Brown Rothwell Chair of Education. The trip was supported through the faculty members’ endowed chairs, which carry a portion of funding earmarked for student high-impact experiences.
“This was our first opportunity to use endowed chair funds to provide students with a high-impact experience, and it was extremely worthwhile,” Dr. Eberly said. “They were exposed to the macro issues in education at a national level, and gained broad perspectives from practicing teachers about the opportunities and challenges in their chosen career.”
The students attended panels on strategies for history education and had many opportunities to network with professionals from across the country. Standout sessions included the keynote address by a Holocaust survivor and a talk by a Japanese-American placed in an internment camp by the U.S. government during WWII.
They also connected with representatives from a variety of organizations which provide classroom resources and program opportunities for K-12 classroom teachers, including Colonial Williamsburg, the Library of Congress, Monticello, Mount Vernon, and other historic sites and repositories. The trip to Cleveland included a reception for NCHE attendees at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Dr. Dunak noted that “this trip was a great example of Muskingum’s culture of cross-departmental collaboration to benefit our students. On the way home, it was inspirational to hear them reflecting on the experience and on how Muskingum has enhanced and reaffirmed their motivation to help others and serve communities in their roles as teachers.”
