Connecting Theory and Practice: Using Place-Based Learning in Teacher Professional Development

Abstract

In collaboration with historic sites in Washington, DC, that have shared commitments to place-based and experiential learning, Ford’s Theatre teaches K-12 educators about Civil War history through engagements with places, artifacts, stories, and enduring conflicts that can be made relevant to students’ lives. In this article, we provide program descriptions and findings from a program evaluation to articulate how Ford’s and its partners both model and teach historical empathy, community building, and reflective practice as they strengthen teachers’ historical knowledge, pedagogical tool kits, and professional networks.