Museum of World War II Expands History Education

From Greenough:

NATICK, MA - The Museum of World War II announced that it has completed its first Teacher Training Institute as part of its expanded professional development programs for teachers. The full two-day professional development workshop, facilitated by Marshall Carter, director of education for the Museum, included access to exhibits and selected archives of the Museum, and discussions with distinguished scholars. Each teacher developed curriculum and lesson plans based on the Museum’s collection, to be implemented in the 2016-17 school year.

The Teacher Training Institute, held in July, was funded through a grant from the Foundation for MetroWest. Teachers from EDCO, a collaborative comprised of 17 school districts in Greater Boston, deepened their conceptual understanding of the causes and consequences of the war through the examination of artifacts and group discussions. Discussions were led by Dr. Nina Tumarkin of Wellesley College and Dr. Gila Safran-Naveh of the University of Cincinnati. Participants also received graduate credit through Worcester State University.

“Our first professional development institute for Massachusetts teachers was a resounding success,” said Carter. “Over two intensive days, the teachers had unparalleled access to our archives and exhibits, engaged with history scholars, and discussed the best ways to teach World War II. The level of engagement was tremendous and the lessons that the teachers developed are truly excellent and unique. We are looking forward to offering many similar institutes next summer and will expand the opportunity to teachers in urban school districts. With these efforts, the Museum is truly making an impact on how World War II is taught in schools using authentic objects and documents like letters, propaganda posters and poignant home artifacts. Already, we are scheduling trips to the Museum of World War II for these teachers and their students.”

Carter will continue to develop education programs that are aimed at bringing students from sixth to 12th grade into direct, multi-sensory contact with original World War II documents and artifacts. The programs will include hands-on fieldwork for students, and workshops and seminars for teachers and will utilize technology to enhance interaction with the Museum’s original artifacts. The Museum’s ultimate goal is to build an education center in Natick to support these dynamic programs.

As part of the education program, last year the Museum of World War II announced an additional partnership with Natick-based technology firm, MathWorks, to develop technology to enhance students’ interaction with the Museum’s original artifacts.

About The Museum of World War II

The Museum of World War II, Boston, a nonprofit museum located west of downtown Boston, is the most comprehensive in the world. Its unrivaled collection is unique in that it covers the entire world at war, all the countries, the cultures, the home fronts and battlefronts, the ordinary soldiers, leaders and those caught up in the dislocations of war. There are more than 7,500 artifacts on display, including many of the iconic documents and artifacts for which the Museum is well-known, and more than 500,000 pieces in its research archives. The mission of the Museum is to educate about the causes and consequences of war and that war is personal and complex. For visitors, students and researchers, the Museum is relevant to today’s events. For more information, please visit here.

Image via Shutterstock