These events and activities were part of the AHA’s History Gateways initiative.
AHA Annual Meeting in San Francisco
January 4–7, 2024
What K-12 Teachers Want Us to Know about Our Entering Students: A Report from the AHA “History Gateways” Project.
Gateway History Courses in Cross-Disciplinary and Institutional Contexts
AHA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia
January 5-8, 2023
During the annual meeting in Philadelphia, the AHA hosted several sessions on introductory history and two charrettes: an Assignment Charrette and a Grading Writing Charrette.
2022 Texas Conference on Introductory History Courses
September 16-17, 2022
The 2022 Texas Conference on Introductory History Courses was held Friday, September 16 and Saturday, September 17, at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. This two-day, statewide conference was for anyone who teaches college-level introductory history courses whether in high schools, community colleges, or four-year universities, and others with an interest in the courses.
Virtual Assignment Charrette
April 8, 2022
The AHA hosted a virtual assignment charrette in the spring of 2022 via Zoom.
AHA Annual Meeting in New Orleans
January 6-9, 2022
The AHA hosted several sessions on introductory history courses and an Assignment Charrette at our 2022 annual meeting in New Orleans.
Texas Conference on Introductory History Courses
October 18-23, 2021
The 2021 Texas Conference on Introductory History Courses met online in the fall of 2021. We held two plenary webinars and six facilitated discussions by course topic, for anyone who teaches college-level introductory history courses whether in high schools, community colleges, or four-year universities, and others with an interest in the courses.
History Gateways: What I’m Doing Differently in My History Introductory Course
February 18, 2021
“History Gateways” challenges historians to redesign introductory courses to better serve student success, persistence, retention, and completion. Panelists will briefly discuss new strategies they have developed to address Gateway’s goals of equity and social justice–and learn from audience members of the changes they have made in foundational classes.
“Many Thousands Failed’ in 2020: a Conversation”
In May 2017, Perspectives on History published Drew Koch’s striking research on the ways our “gateway” introductory history courses have acted as roadblocks to the higher education goals of so many underrepresented and underserved students. What did Koch’s original study reveal? What has changed over the past three years? How have the crises of 2020 affected these concerns? How are colleagues altering their conceptions of—and practices within—intro courses? (2021)
The Unwritten Rules of College: Creating Transparent Assignments that Increase History Students’ Success Equitably
In this webinar hosted by Mary-Ann Winkelmes (Brandeis Univ.), participants reviewed the findings as well as educational research behind the concept of transparent teaching/learning. Participants analyzed sample history assignments together and left the webinar with a concise set of strategies for designing transparent assignments and class activities in history courses that promote students’ success equitably. (2020)
Uncoverage
This webinar explored what happens when a professor replaces coverage in the introductory course with activities and assignments that uncover crucial heuristics of historical thinking. Lendol Calder (Augustana Coll.) describes the signature pedagogy he uses in introductory history courses to prepare all students to think and act in the world. (2021)
Helping Students Learn from Feedback in History Courses
In this webinar, Mary Jo Festle and Peter Felten discussed practical and evidence-informed approaches to providing feedback in ways that will help students learn in history courses. The webinar talked about designing assignments and exams that will challenge and engage students but won’t overwhelm instructors with grading. The discussion addressed the ways that feedback can cultivate—or undercut—student motivation and belonging. (2020)
AAC&U Annual Meeting Roundtable “Introductory Courses as Hurdles: Jumping or Removing?”
January 22-25, 2020
AHA and Gardner Institute staff and History Gateways faculty will host a roundtable conversation that will explore the current landscape of introductory courses in history, including recent innovations in teaching and learning in history, and give an overview of the AHA’s and Gardner Institute’s work with eleven institutions in the New York, Chicago, and Houston metro areas.
Course Redesign and the Tricky Work of Questioning Assumptions
This webinar, hosted by Trinidad Gonzalez (South Texas Coll.,) challenged participants to begin the process of questioning their underlying assumptions of what constitutes college level teaching of history. Examining the difference between the notion of gate keeping versus teaching this session will initiate conversations about how our personal histories in higher education may hinder our ability to think through innovative or tested methods of teaching students to be successful. (2020)
AHA 2020 Annual Meeting in New York City
January 3-6, 2020
The AHA hosted several sessions on introductory history courses and a K-16 Teaching Workshop: Assignments Charrette.
Assessment and Evaluation in Introductory History Courses
This 2019 webinar focused on assessment and evaluation in introductory history courses, hosted by veteran Tuner Nancy Quam-Wickham (California State Univ., Long Beach). (2019)
Strategies and Advice for Engaging Colleagues
September 24, 2019
Dr. Jayme Feagin and Dr. Dan McInerney hosted the first in a series of webinars related to introductory history courses. The webinar was open to history faculty involved at one of the eleven History Gateways institutions or at one of the other current G2C institutions. The presenters discussed strategies and advice for constructively engaging colleagues.
2019 Texas Conference on Introductory History Courses
September 20-21, 2019
The American Historical Association held its Annual Texas Conference held on September 20-21 at the University of Texas at Dallas. This two-day, statewide conference was for anyone who teaches college-level introductory history courses whether in high schools, community colleges, or four-year universities, and others with an interest in the courses.
History Gateways Regional Launch Meeting in Houston, TX
April 30, 2019
Julia Brookins, special projects coordinator, Emily Swafford, director of academic and professional affairs, and staff from the Gardner Institute met with faculty and staff at four institutions in the Houston area to launch the History Gateways initiative.
History Gateways Regional Launch Meeting in the New York Metro Area
April 12, 2019
Jim Grossman, executive director, Emily Swafford, director of academic and professional affairs, and staff from the Gardner Institute met with faculty and staff from three institutions in the NY Metro area to launch the History Gateways initiative.
History Gateways Regional Launch Meeting in Chicago, IL
April 10, 2019
Jim Grossman, executive director, Julia Brookins, special projects coordinator, and staff from the Gardner Institute met with faculty and staff from four institutions in the Chicago area to launch the History Gateways initiative.
2019 Gateway Course Experience Conference in Atlanta, GA
March 16-19, 2019
History Gateways faculty and AHA staff participated in the Gateway Course Experience Conference in Atlanta hosted by the Gardner Institute.
AHA 2019 Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL
January 3-6, 2019
AHA and Gardner staff met with faculty and staff at the 11 institutions involved in History Gateways to discuss the next stages of the project.