The Museum is offering a week of free professional development this summer, and its curated digital case studies are an excellent supplement for curriculums
CHARLOTTE, NC — As educators begin to prepare for the 2024-25 school year, Levine Museum of the New South can be an incredibly useful resource, offering digital NC History Case Studies that can supplement curriculums, and a week of free professional development workshops June 17-21.
The 14 case studies, with topics that connect United States and North Carolina history, were chosen based on major events and concepts during the span from the earliest human inhabitants in the state to the Civil Rights and Cold War eras. Care was taken to make sure all major historical periods within that span were represented.
“The case studies are so useful because they are a ready-made and accessible resource that connects local and regional history with United States history and encourages critical thinking,” says Richard Cooper, Levine Museum President & CEO. “Students have background information, sources and activities on a particular topic in one place.”
The case studies were created by the Museum’s Educator Advisory Group (EAG), a team of 10 area educators formed in the fall of 2021 to help the Museum support teachers and students by creating educational resources.
The structure of the project, which took nearly two years from conception to public availability in October, allows teachers to assign an entire case study to students or choose particular source analyses and activities to complete.
The case studies were written with North Carolina eighth graders in mind, but can easily be tailored to younger and older grades. And they can also be used by any students studying United States history, not just those in North Carolina.
“We have received very positive comments from teachers who have explored the case studies and requested Teaching Guides via the form on our website,” says Cooper, noting that a CMS high school teacher described the documents in the Reconstruction case study as “engaging and perfect for a diverse set of students.”
The EAG is also leading the Museum’s inaugural Summer Institute workshops.
Educators must apply to participate in this concentrated week (9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. each day) of professional development that gives them an opportunity to learn from each other, refresh their practice, plan for next year, earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs), and connect with the Museum.
“Since the same group will participate all week, it will allow us to engage with a strong cohort of highly-engaged teachers who we hope will stay connected to the Museum,” says Franky Abbott, Levine Museum Chief Content Strategist.
Within the individual workshops, educators will be able to try new approaches in teaching with primary sources, classroom discussion, using inquiry-based learning, and student writing. Museum tours will help them experience possibilities for student field trips.
The workshops on June 17-18 and June 20-21 will be held at South County Library, 5801 Rea Road. The field trips on June 19 will take place in Uptown Charlotte.For more information and to apply, visit museumofthenewsouth.org.
