Professional Development for Facing History Teachers
Integrating 21st Century Literacy Skills in the Classroom
“The professional development that Pearson and Facing History provided was excellent. It provided a strong foundation for the residencies. We had our own opportunities to create digital media and that was powerful because it gave us an opportunity not only to interact with the technology but to see the power of what it can do.” – Oscar Santos, Principal, Boston International High School
In the summer and fall of 2007, the Pearson Foundation offered hands-on professional development workshops to teachers in New York and Boston who use the Facing History curriculum. Over four days, Pearson team members, working with Facing History staff, demonstrated a step-by-step method for integrating digital storytelling with the Facing History curriculum, preparing faculty to help run digital storytelling residencies in their classrooms.
During the workshop, attendees learned by producing their own digital stories, using the same technology that students use during a digital storytelling residency. Working collaboratively in small groups, they covered all the steps of creating a digital story, including:
- Brainstorming ideas and choosing a topic
- Outlining and writing a narrative
- Storyboarding a visual presentation
- Gathering and creating digital media
- Using editing software to assemble and edit media
- Adding effects, music and transitions
Digital Storytelling Residency in Your Classroom
Facing History teacher Anne Clark gives a step-by-step guide to maximizing your students’ participation in a Pearson Digital Storytelling Residency.
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21st Century Skills in Practice
In this interview, teacher Jocelyn Stanton discusses the ways in which digital storytelling has enriched and supplemented the Facing History curriculum.
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Facing History and Ourselves / Digital Storytelling Guide
How do digital arts integrate with the Facing History curriculum? As a Facing History teacher, how can you prepare for a classroom residency? This guide explains how digital storytelling complements Facing History’s interdisciplinary, inquiry-based approach.
View/download guide (pdf)
Faculty Digital Stories
These digital films were produced by Facing History teachers in the professional development workshop.
Who Are We? by Elexia Reyes McGovern and Matthew Giorgio
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Italy by Anne Clark and Cheryl Campbell
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East Boston High School by Chris Leone and Rich McDonough
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Through Text by Jacy Edelman and Bilal Khan
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