History 112: Modern Global History

Project Description

ELearning University Course to be delivered via Blackboard aimed at developing content mastery, critical thinking, and historiographic writing skills for undergraduate students—many of whom are seeking teaching certification for Social Studies in Secondary Education. 

MY ROLE

As the Course Developer and Subject Matter Expert, I developed, designed, and delivered this eLearning course.

ABOUT THE COURSE

History 112: Global History 1500-Present addresses the meaning of living in a truly “globalized” world. It asks: How have human societies, and the identities of their members, changed in response to human migration on a planetary scale? This course investigates these and other questions about human cultural and civilizational encounters following the Colombian Exchange. Students in this course explore the most recent five hundred years of human history, interrogating the global impact of such phenomena as the Atlantic slave trade; the Reformation; the emergence of nation-states and European empires; the industrialization of nations and the embrace of capitalism; political revolutions and the unraveling of empires; the two world wars and the Cold War; climate change, and extremist terrorism.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTION

Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville (SIUE), is a Regional University located in the Metro-East region of St. Louis, MO, in Illinois. SIUE’s BA in Historical Studies is designed for “students pursuing work in museums, archives, national parks and monuments, or other venues where the skills of a person trained in historical analysis are required. To prepare students for this work, the specialization in applied historical methods requires students to complete several courses on applied historical skills and complete an internship.”

ABOUT THE CHALLENGE & Opportunity

After receiving word that the original content provider had pulled its licensed package a mere two weeks before the course released, I quickly developed, designed, and delivered this 16-week eLearning course with any eye towards module consistency, formative assessments, and content diversity.

APPROACH

Performance Definition

As the Course Developer, Subject Matter Expert, and Deliverer, my first step was to assess the overall learning objectives. Having taught World History for many years, I identified the following areas of focus:

• What eLearning content must learners have in order to gain mastery of the subject?

• How can eLearners feel a sense of continuity and stability in the online environment?

• Which available learning technologies would most readily ensure learning transfer for eLearners?

• How were eLearners mastering critical source analysis skills?

Learning Goals and Objectives

After identifying these areas, I gathered and organized course content and assessments—aligning each with learning objectives. After completing HIST 112, eLearners should be able to:

• Recognize the chief people, events, and values that have shaped the modern world

• Interpret historical sources astutely and reflect on their significance

• Engage in intelligent discussion of other cultures and the relevance of the past

• Analyze and use sources to develop and defend historical arguments

• Express ideas orally and in writing in a clear, logical, and persuasive manner

DESIGN

I used Bloom’s Taxonomy, Media and Source Diversity, and Formative Assessments to highlight the content necessary for eLearners. 

Due to HIST 112 being an asynchronous online course, I structured content into weekly modules. This format was consistent with programmatic standards. Too, it provided specific, formative learning objectives to be addressed weekly. 

I structured modules to encourage source analysis, learning delivery, and content retention. This was achieved through a combination of discussion boards and formative assessment quizzes with culminating, summative midterm and final exams.

THE OUTCOME

HIST 112 was released in January 2020. Despite the trials of COVID-19, 95% of the enrolled eLearners completed and passed the course.