Daily pedagogy, 67: Whitney Stewart ( @whitney_nell), "History Is Full of Stuff: Incorporating Objects into the Classroom." Teaching United States History, October 12, 2016: http://www.teachingushistory.co/2016/10/history-is-full-of-stuff-incorporating-objects-into-the-classroom.html (1) #HigherEd #TeachHistory #HistoryTeacher #EduChat #EduTwitter #Twitterstorians

Stewart discussed how to integrate material culture studies into the larger historical discipline. "If we want to engage students and get them thinking like historians, we can't just have them rely on one kind of source base." (2)

Further discussion centered on potential issues for educators bringing in non-textual sources, solutions to those problems, and ruminations of why including more than just text is vital to historical study in the classroom. (3)

The 1st problem: "It is difficult to physically bring artifacts into the classroom." Images and texts of material objects can be utilized as primary source evidence. Additionally, lean into specific local opportunities (archives, museums) to have students engage with objects. (4)

"..why I incorporate my research on “stuff” into the classroom: to demonstrate the diversity of sources and stories in history, and to get students to engage in the historical process themselves. How do you integrate non-textual sources in the classroom?" (5)

I have had great (and memorable experiences) both as a student and instructor incorporating material objects into the classroom. Tangible 'things' create memories that stand out over the course of the semester. (6)

For example, in my US survey to 1877 we head out to the community garden and harvest from the traditional 3-sisters garden planted there while we explore how Indigenous peoples effectively occupied lands prior to 1492. We talk heirloom seeds, planting methods, and trade. (7)

In the post-1877 course, we explore how the architecture of the campus/immediate downtown changed as a result of the Chicago World's Fair. I have used this as an opportunity to get students moving, provide them with a new perspective, and explore our shared community. (8)

I also bring objects to support lecture: gas masks, military equipment, campaign buttons, etc. all make interesting and memorable additions to specific lectures during my courses. I think letting students connect 'the stuff' of history with textual information matters. (9)

How do you integrate non-textual sources in the classroom? (end) #HigherEd #HistoryTeacher #TeachHistory #SSchat #SocialStudies #EduTwitter #EduChat #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #MaterialCulture #PublicHistory