This year in Modern World History you will learn about the big changes that created the world we live in today. You will learn about the birth of modern industry, the ris,e of new nations and powerful empires, the spread of modern technology, the spread of democracy, and the disastrous effects of two world wars. We will focus on Europe, Africa, and Asia in the first semester and broaden the view to include the US in the second semester. The course is organized in several large topics, beginning with the Industrial Revolution and ending with climate change, one of the many effects of the Industrial Revolution. Time permitting, the course gives a big-picture view of the problems of the postwar world.
How you will learn To learn about these topics you will work closely with a wide variety of sources: maps, photographs, and readings, including primary sources (original documents). For most topics, you will have an interactive presentation and set of vocabulary words covering the core content. To reinforce learning, homework will be assigned several times a week. To assess your understanding you can expect, for most topics, a project and at least one quiz.
How grades are calculated Quarterly grades are based on homework (50%), project work (20%), quizzes (20%), and participation (10%). Homework will be done primarily on Blackbaud. Participation refers to compliance with PBIS (the school's positive-behavior system), appropriate participation in classroom activities, and contribution to a positive classroom environment. You can expect frequent discussions in this class. It's a good idea to come to each class with your own questions about what we are learning.
Technology in this course This year the high school is fully implementing Blackbaud. This learning-management system makes it possible to do your homework online and also to get your grades online. Blackbaud provides a visual calendar allowing you to see at a glance the work you've done as well as upcoming work. In addition, with Blackbaud you can send messages to any teacher or other staff member.
Students are expected to use online accommodations for reading and writing such as Read&Write for Google, which reads text aloud and provides important learning tools. Mr. Peal can help use these tools in school and at home. Feel free to email him (dpeal@ttlc.org) to share special interests in history and whenever you have questions of any kind.