PIHNet:A Web-Based Environment for Supporting Student Historical Thinking

Thomas Brush

John Saye

Yu Feng

Xiaojing Liu

Ashley Tan

Overview of Presentation Introduction to Project What is PBHI? Obstacles to PBHI Implementation Affordances of Technology Examples of PIHNet Resources

Database Scaffolds Teacher Development Tools Online models PIHNet Community

Introduction to Project Development and field-test of PIHNet,a

collection of tools and resources to promote and implement Problem-Based Historical Inquiry (PBHI) in secondary social studies classrooms

Major Funding Provided by: The National Endowment for the Humanities Auburn University and Indiana University The Russell Corporation

What is PBHI? A methodology joining political philosophy,

ethical reasoning, and associated social science knowledge with historical thinking to nurture sound civic reasoning about past and present societal issues

Students engage in historical inquiry focusing on enduring societal questions embodied in specific historical events

What is PBHI?

Persistent Issue Representative Topics Topic-Specific Issue

When are citizens justified in resisting governmental authority?

American Revolution

English Civil War

U.S. Abolitionist Movement

Revolution: Were the colonists justified in revolting from Great Britain?

What actions are justified in the interest of national or community security?

Native Americans

U.S. Labor Struggles

Rise of Fascism

Native Americans: Were European-American policies towards Native Americans justified?

When are nations justified in intervening in the affairs of other countries?

Crusades

Mexican War

WWII

Vietnam

Mexican War: Should the U.S. be praised or condemned for its foreign policy towards Mexico?

Challenges of Implementing PBHI Learner Obstacles

Motivation Content knowledge Ill-structured and multilogical problems

Teacher Obstacles Dearth of PBHI models Increased preparation and implementation time Deep content knowledge and flexible classroom

management required

Technological Affordances:Learner Engagement

Realistic representations and multiple media Support for Disciplined Inquiry

Links to:• Supporting documents• Conflicting accounts

Embedded scaffolds:• Data analysis and synthesis• Presentation

Technological Affordances:Learner

Embedded Expertise Online models of activities and presentations Scaffolds and embedded cues provide

learners with support and assistance when teacher is not available

Example: Database Structure/ Links to Supporting Documents

DP Main Menu

Strand Main Menu

Event Main Menu

Interactive Essay

Primary Document

Example: Contextual Cues/Data Analysis Scaffolds

Example: Embedded Expertise

Technological Affordances:Teacher Multiple models of PBHI available to

teachers Online tools to support development and

implementation of PBHI PIHNet community provides peer support,

curriculum expertise, and technological expertise

Example: Models of PBHI

Example: Online Development Tools

Example: PIHNet Community

Current Status 12 “PIHNet Fellows” participated in a 2-week

workshop in the summer of 2003 Fellows are using PIHNet tools to implement

PBHI units in their classrooms this academic year PBHI unit implementation documented by:

Videotape of implementation Review of PBHI unit materials by fellows and university

staff Pre-, mid-, and post-unit reflections Classroom visits (if possible)

For More Information

Contact: Dr. Tom Brush - tbrush@indiana.edu Dr. John Saye - sayejoh@auburn.edu Visit our web site:

• http://www.pihnet.org