Student Meaning Making in World History Class: A Quantitative Evaluation

A central goal of the History for the 21st Century project is to leverage student interests and personal connections to historical content to facilitate engagement and skill development, as well as help them see the applicability of history in their own lives. In Fall 2022, Jesse Spohnholz and I both tested a series of History for the 21st Century modules in our introductory history classrooms and gathered around 1,000 student surveys and responses to them. In this presentation, I will discuss student thoughts and feedback on two modules, including a discussion of what students reported had to say about how they made connections between their lives and the lessons, including family or personal experiences and histories. The presentation will also discuss student responses to the content of the modules and sources, and the ways they made meaning of the historical topics covered in their lives in the present. Data from the surveys will also be shared to help illustrate the major trends, and to highlight the most common ways students connect with and engage history.