Festival of Learning

Open Session Limited to 50 Participants (First-Come, First-In). This session is held in a large ballroom with one other session at the other end happening at the same time. (Area 3B)

The subject of history is one that continues to fascinate even in the 21st century, as the popularity of Youtube videos like “100 Years of Beauty” can attest. So why does history in university continue to be seen as dry and boring? Historians have been slow to adopt active learning techniques. Part of the problem lies in the lack of information available about the practicalities of developing and implementing these activities. My paper addresses the use of active learning in universities, with special attention to the subject of Canadian history. Using my experiences and research, I take participants through the development of one such activity – a digital walking tour – how I located primary sources, how I structured the activity around specific learning goals, and how I ran the activity in my classroom. I argue that these activities are effective tools for increasing student engagement with history at the university level. 

Presenter
Andrea Eidinger, Limited Term Instructor, Kwantlen Polytechnic University