Introducing NHD in Minnesota to Libraries.

1. National History Day
Library Partnering

2. What is National
History Day?
Applied
Learning
Program
“Science Fair for History”

3. Sponsors
Minnesota Historical Society
University of Minnesota

4. Statewide Outreach
The Minnesota History Day
program has regional
partnerships with:
• Six State Universities
• Three Private Colleges
• Three U of M Campuses

5. HD Staff Structure
History Day staff provide classroom services
statewide…
Katie Craven:
Northwest
Rachel Hernandez:
Minneapolis, St. Paul, Northeast
Heidi Kloempken:
Southwest, South Central
Laura Zeccardi:
West Central, Central, Southeast

6. School Participation
• Approx. 200 schools statewide
• Various Sizes
• Various Formats
• Teacher Driven

7. Classroom Implementation
National History Day offers flexibility to fit any
classroom:
• Full classroom implementation
• Elected pull-out program
• After-school activity

8. Participation
• Junior Division
– 6th - 8th Grade
• Senior Division
– 9th - 12th Grade
• Students can work individually or
collaboratively in groups of 2-5.

9. Annual Theme
• 2011: Debate & Diplomacy in History
• 2012: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History
• 2013: Turning Points in History
• 2014: Geography in History
• 2015: Rights & Responsibilities in History

10. Debate & Diplomacy:
Successes, Failures, Consequences
2011 Theme
Sample Topics:
Land Ordinance of 1785 1934 Indian Reorganization Act
1882 Chinese Exclusion Act Marshall Plan
Missouri Compromise Equal Rights Amendment
Clayton Anti-Trust Act Camp David Accords
*NO CURRENT DEBATE TOPICS!

11. Topic Selection
• World History
• American History
• State History
• Local History
• Family History
• The only requirement is that students identify
their topic’s relationship to the theme

12. In-depth Research
• Students are encouraged to explore their
community resources as a means to
discover their topic.
– Public Libraries
– University Libraries
– Archives
– Historic Sites
– Witnesses

13. Key Steps in the History Day
Research Process
• Select a Topic
• Conduct Preliminary Research
• Learn Research & Organizational Skills
• Conduct Advanced Research
• Document Research (Process Paper)

14. Presentation
• Historical Paper (individual only)
• Exhibit
• Website
• Documentary
• Performance
• All categories are required to submit an
annotated bibliography of sources used during
the development of their project

15. Historical Papers
A written demonstration of history based on the most
traditional form of historical presentation: authorship

16. Exhibits A visual presentation of history
based on the work of museum
curators and exhibit designers

17. Documentaries
A video or multi-media
presentation with recorded
narration and supporting
images (think Ken Burns!)

18. Performances
A live presentation where a
script, props and costumes
come together to present a
historical story

19. Websites
A computer-based project
modeled after the presentation of
history on the World Wide Web

20. The Contest
Regional Events:
Defined by ECSU boundaries, contests occur
throughout the month of March
State Event:
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
May 1, 2011
National Event:
Univ. of MD, College Park
June 12-16, 2011
School Events:
Take place in individual schools, organized by a lead teacher or
coordinator—generally occur in February

21. Assessment
• At NHD events, students
present before a panel of
judges who are asked to
assess:
– Historical Quality
– Relationship to the Theme
– Clarity of Presentation
• Students receive feedback from judges on their
work following each event
• Those who advance in the competition are highly
encouraged to revisit and revise their work

22. Historical Quality

23. Relationship to Theme

24. Clarity of Presentation
(Paper Sample)

25. Why does History Day work?
Rigor
Relevance
Classroom Support

26. Student Benefits
• Skill development in:
– Research/Reading
– Analysis
– Drawing Conclusions
– Writing
– Presentation
– Communication
– Collaboration
– Understanding Historical Context/Perspective
• Scholarships
• College/Workplace preparation
• A greater sense of connection to history and
community

27. Library Strategies
• Feature Resources
• Collaborate with Teachers
• Educate about Research
• Host a Hullabaloo Event
• Support through Regional Networks
• Help Judge at a History Day Event

28. Connect with Teachers…

29. who engage their students…

30. …to learn and create.

31. For over 20 years History Day has
been a growing success story…

32. …helping students from the
inner city…

33. …the suburbs…

34. …and Greater Minnesota…

35. ...make history of their own.

36. The Bottom Line
The History Day partnership
provides students throughout
Minnesota with a structure that
has high academic expectations
and support services to improve
student achievement.

37. Library partnerships are critical
to student success!

38. Research Challenges are Varied
Depending on the Location of the
Student and Available Support
Quality of school libraries and access
to online database resources varies widely
Teachers may not be working with
media specialists to effectively guide
students to library resources
Geography and socio-economic factors
may limit library access for some students
Few teachers have experience using advanced libraries and
archives

39. Common student research
behaviors to overcome…

40. “Googlepedia”

41. Research Equals
Click
Print
File/Paste

42. Please send me
everything you
have on…

43. The web does not solve all of
our challenges with youth
researchers!
Interaction with staff and program partners
has the most impact on History Day
outcomes.

44. Strategy: Feature Resources
Create
displays to
feature
relevant
resources that
correspond
with each
year’s theme.

45. Strategy:
Collaborate with Teachers
Get involved in teaching good research skills!
TEACH:
Library Catalogue
Correct Search Terms
Online Resources
Interlibrary Loan

46. Strategy: Educate about Research
• Record bibliographic information and a short description
about its use.
• Understand the difference between a search engine and
a database!
• Use footnotes and endnotes to find additional sources.
• Scan or copy photographs while researching.
• Demonstrate how to use the local library and interlibrary
loan.

47. Sources:
Primary vs. Secondary
History Day uses slightly different criteria for
determining what documents are primary and
secondary source compared to archivists and
librarians.

48. Copy of Mein Kampf
Primary or Secondary?
Academic Standards: NO
- Published copy
- Translated into English
History Day: YES
- Student must analyze Hitler’s
viewpoint.
- No access to archival copy

49. “Kissing the War Goodbye”
in a history textbook (with caption)
Primary or Secondary?
Academic Standards: NO
- Not original photograph
- Analysis and interpretation have
already been done.
History Day: NO
- Student is not able to draw their own
conclusions.
- However, if no analysis has been done
the photograph could be considered a
primary source.

50. Strategy: Host a History Day
Hullaballoo Event
Hullabaloos are library
open houses where students
receive hands-on help from
librarians and History Day
Staff.

55. Hullaballoo Dates
Metro Area Greater Minnesota
Central Library, Minneapolis Rochester Public Library, Rochester
December 11, 2010 January 5, 2011
January 25, 2011 January 22, 2011
February 19, 2011
Central Library, St. Paul University of Minnesota, Duluth
February 5, 2011 November 6, 2010
Ridgedale Library, Minnetonka St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud
January 24, 2011 TBD

56. Strategy: Support through Regional Networks
• Insert yourself in regional partnership with research
communities
• Utilize your school/community connections to
promote History Day to teachers
• Participate in library events featured by your partner
libraries

57. Strategy: Help Judge at Local
History Day Events
School Competitions – February
Regional Competitions:
March 3 – Metro Senior
March 3 – South Central
March 5 – Metro Junior East
March 7 – St. Paul Public Schools
March 8 – Metro Junior Central
March 10 – Metro Junior West
March 12 – Northeast
March 17 – Southeast
March 19 – Central
March 22 – West Central
March 23 – Northwest
March 28 - Southwest
April 2 - Minneapolis