COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 40

February 17, 2006

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Patricia I. Wright Acting Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	United States History Connects An Interactive Online United States History Course Beginning April 17, 2006

United States History Connects, an interactive online course for Virginia teachers, will be offered this spring as a recertification course only. This class supports the Standards of Learning for teaching United States History to 1877, United States History: 1877 to the Present; and Virginia and United States History. The class is free for Virginia teachers who wish to earn up to 45 license renewal points.

The class will be offered on the Internet at http://historyconnects.pwnet.org/ and is supported with a CD-ROM. Registration may be completed online at that website. Teachers may register from March 6 to March 24, 2006, and the class starts April 17, 2006. The course ends May 26, 2006. Enrollment will be limited to the first 50 teachers who sign up for license renewal points.

The goals of the course are as follows:

• connecting the events of 20^th Century United States history to past events;
• analyzing what it means to be an American;
• connecting economic, political, and social evolutions; and
• providing lesson plans, resources, and links for classroom teachers.

The course consists of five components, each of which is expected to take approximately five hours. Each component includes activities, resource links, a discussion board, and quizzes. The CD-ROM contains videos that explain the subject matter being discussed. Teachers will find many ideas, resources, and links that will assist them in the classroom.

The course includes the following five topics:

• Part I: Why Study United States History?;
• Part II: What is an American?;
• Part III: The Evolution of Revolution;
• Part IV: Individualism and Community; and
• Part V: The United States and the World.

U.S. History Connects is a self-paced course for Virginia teachers facilitated by Betsy Barton and Dr. Beverly Thurston, history and social science specialists for the Virginia Department of Education. This course is delivered by CD-ROM and over the Internet with video segments featuring Dr. Carolyn J. Lawes, Professor of History at Old Dominion University.

For more information, please contact Beverly Thurston, Beverly.Thurston@doe.virginia.gov, coordinator, history and social science, Office of Middle and High School Instruction, at (804) 225-2893.

PIW/BMT/yba