Welcome to the Veterans’ History Project!! Presented by: Mr. Brian Loehring Belleville East High School American History Teacher and Social Studies Department Chairman (618) ers/bloehring/content.php?q=main page ers/bloehring/content.php?q=main page

Breakout Session Overview 1. Introduction of the project 2. Video clip 3. Classroom tested assignment sheet and other handouts for you to give to your students 4. Student examples (Power Points and sound clips) 5. Potential pitfalls 6. Photo Story 3 project summary 7. Downloads

How did I get involved with this project? In 2007, District 201 was the recipient of a technology grant for “MOODLE” (Modular Object- Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment). MOODLE is a software package designed to help educators create quality online courses.

Participating teachers had to: Attend professional development sessions. Develop a MOODLE site and implement a lesson using the given hardware (MP3 player, digital camera and jump drive). Utilize a community partner.

What is the Illinois Veterans’ History Project? This project is an initiative originally launched by Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White that allows veterans and their families to fill out Patriot Information Forms detailing the heroic stories of the men and women who have served our nation. The forms are then sent to the Illinois State Archives. The project has been expanded under the direction of the Illinois State Library to include oral recorded histories.

Contributing Teachers at Belleville East High School Katie Hoerner Brian Loehring Matt Mason Rich Maue Joe Nesbit Keith Padgett Amy Schulte Derek Vallem

Why should you assign this project to your students? 1. The project provides an avenue for a conversation about the veteran’s war experiences so their stories will never be forgotten. 2. It gets students involved with members of our community. 3. It teaches students how to make an original, primary source document.

Why should you assign this project? (Continued) 4. Students are engaged in an assignment that incorporates several components of technology. 5. The project is multidisciplinary, requiring students to have a knowledge of a historical time period as well as how to research, write and articulate their ideas.

How did we assign this project to our students at Belleville East? Newsweek article on WW I Assignment sheet LetterForms Moodle site Moodle site 4

What are some examples of finished projects? Mark DresteMark Dreste, Vietnam War Mark Dreste Robert KellyRobert Kelly, Persian Gulf War Robert Kelly Kim BurchKim Burch, Iraq War Kim Burch

Sound clip #1: Robert Kelly

Sound clip #2: Sam Reynolds

Sound clip #3: “Is there anything else you would like to leave us with?” Sam Reynolds

Potential Pitfalls 1. Veteran location 2. Recording devices 3. Student preparation for the interview 4. Student technological knowledge to import, export and save sound clips

What I am supposed to do after my students have finished the project? You can submit it to your local library so it can be sent to the Illinois State Archives. If not, the Belleville Public Library (downtown) will be glad to submit your interviews. Dana Prusacki, Archivist can be reached at ext. 22

Do you know about Photo Story 3? (taken from Microsoft) This free download allows you to create slideshows using digital photos. With a single click, you can touch-up, crop, or rotate pictures. You can also add special effects, soundtracks, and your own voice narration to your photo stories. Finally, you can personalize them with titles and captions.

Where can I download these documents? You can visit my webpage on the District 201 website. Academics Social Studies Scroll down to Mr. Loehring Illinois Veterans’ History Project hring/content.php?q=mainpage hring/content.php?q=mainpage

Never forget…