I’m starting a project next week with my 10th grade World History students, and I have been going back and forth about whether I should give this project to them or not. I am entitling it “What if?”, based on the current trend of writing of alternate history in historical research. The main issue I keep grappling with is the fact that it is going to be really intense, and my students are going to really have to read, study, analyze - and not to mention CREATE - to make this project not become a complete joke and waste of time. This sounds bad, but I guess I’m worried if my students are up to the task, and if the idea is really worth fleshing out into a project. One of my students asked “what do we do… just ‘make stuff up’?!?”, and to be honest with you, I didn’t have a good response for him at the time.

However, what a difference a week makes.

I’ve been asking teachers at my school and, even better, I have posting my questions and comments on some social groups I belong to and have been very heartened by some of the responses. In fact, THEY all have convinced me that it is indeed a valid project idea and not to worry about whether the students are “up to it” or not. Our job is to challenge them and force them reach for something that could very possibly be out of their reach. So because of my friends, both real and virtual, I am going to go for it and see what happens. Just like anything, the results might be fantastic, they might be horrible, or - probably more realistically - they will be good but could always be better.

If there is anyone who doesn’t believe in the power of “crowdsourcing” or of the “group”… let me tell you, it can make all the difference in the world. If it is between going ahead or staying behind…trying something new or doing the same “old” thing…and finally, challenging students to reach for something new or playing it safe…then I choose the former.

Thank you friends; both in the flesh and in cyberspace, for reminding me to not play it safe and to always challenge those students who rely on me to do just that.

I copied some of the questions and dialog that have gone back and forth with some of my colleagues.

One Ning I belong to is NCSSCN (National Council of the Social Studies Community Network). There are several groups within the Ning, Technology, World History, Civics, etc…..these comments came from the World History and Teaching with Technology groups.

I am going to start a new project next week entitled: “What if…?” The project will have the students analyzing historical events and then imagining some of the major effects if those events turned out DIFFERENTLY. It’s going to be intense and a lot of work and, to be honest, I’m not quite sure if my kids are up to it, but we’ll find out. We’ll use a Ning in the class for collaboration and probably a website (Wordpress) for presentation… along with the usual multimedia products made by the students.
It should be fun! Any ideas on how to make this project better?

Comment from David Hilton, Brisbane Australia:
If you’re looking for some excellent examples of counterfactual history can I recommend you take a look at the work of Niall Ferguson? He’s been quite a pioneer in those types of questions and I think they make his work quite fascinating.
Good luck with your project!

From Jonathan Chase, Oneonta, NY:
Great idea Jeff, here are some alternate history resources…

What if July 4th was just another day?

AlternateHistory.com

What If … ?

From Dayna Laur, Lewisberry, United States:
Collaborate with another school on the same project. It will add motivation and the need to excel at the project. What historical events are you considering at this point? I am intrigued!
Dayna

So, I guess the point is that collaboration can act as motivation, validation, and inspiration (like that?) for what we do as teaching professionals. I had NO idea of the websites that existed about alternative history before Jonathan sent those to me. And to hear other professionals say that your crazy idea might have some merit, can be just that extra “oomph” you need to make an idea reality.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go answer Dayna’s question about what historical events I am considering using in this project… right after I think of them myself.