Learning with iPad - "Sequencing of Events in History with Post-It Notes"

Context

One of biggest challenges in learning history is “remembering” the sequence of events or how cause and effect comes into play. Using this lesson, students will be challenged to form logical blocks of how one block (event/action) leads to the next - forming possible correlated actions and reactions to better understand better the learning of history

Preparation and Flow

Do get the Post-It note app downloaded on student devices.

You can add a New Board to host a particular topic for discussion.

Be sure to give them handles or a way to frame all the data you will be giving them e.g. important turning points in history.

As you go through the material facts, have students populate their Board with key items such as people, actions, reactions, dates etc

Pause at appropriate junctures to give students time to organise their date into the frames.

Next, have students share the boards with their peers (shoulder partners works just fine).

Pull the class together and get a sensing of how students have organised their frames in the board.

Make your observations and help students see how the sequencing and key events could be better arranged. And of course, explain the connections.

Have students put up their Post-It boards on an LMS/Padlet for sharing and commenting

Close the lesson.

Possible Extension

History is not a memorisation exercise. There is a logical flow to how events unfold or how one thought/action leads to another with consequences unfolding. This lesson gets students to manipulate the key personalities and influences that would shape the sequence of events/consequences. The way forward is not about more facts and figures, but how best to organise the mind. So give students "history frames" so to speak to get a handle of not just past history, but the unfolding history before them.

From the LearnGrowCreate team.

Main author: Thomas