January 5, 2023

Free Comprehensive History Webinars Begin Online Next Week for Educators

Michigan Department of Education Press Release LANSING – The next series of webinars offering educators greater depth of knowledge for social studies instruction in a variety of important historical movements begins next week, noted the Michigan Department of Education (MDE).

Opening the 2023 Comprehensive History Instruction webinar series will be a three-part, free, online webinar series from 4-5 p.m. on consecutive Wednesdays in January – January 11, 18, 25, 2023 – that highlight the Civil War Amendments Up to the Civil Rights Movement

“The amendments to the U.S. Constitution following the Civil War are pivotal in the progress of our nation,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. “As members of a diverse state, nation, and world, school staff and students need to know our rich, complex history. We begin this year’s series with these powerful webinars and encourage Michigan educators and school leaders to sign up and deepen their knowledge to share with our state’s young people. As searing as some of our history is, we have a responsibility to teach it all to our children.” 

The webinar content aligns with multiple grade levels of Michigan’s K-12 social studies standards, approved by Michigan’s State Board of Education in 2019. The Teaching Comprehensive History webinars can be helpful learning for educators in all roles and responsibilities. Continuing education credits are available for educators who attend the various webinars. Michigan educators can register for the webinar series by visiting the conference registration page: 

Registration is ongoing and limited; register as soon as possible

This webinar series will help educators learn more about historical movements, events, and peoples that are part of the rich, diverse history of our country and world. Presenters will help educators learn more about movements in and aspects of history about which many educators may have had little if any background. 

This year’s series of free virtual webinars will explore the following topics (all times are in the Eastern Time Zone):

  • Civil War Amendments Up to the Civil Rights Movement
    • January 11, 18, and 25, 2023, 4-5 p.m.
  • Civil Rights Movement: National and Michigan Views
    • February 8, 15, and 22, 2023, 4-5 p.m.
  • Equal Rights Movement
    • March 15, 22, and 29, 2023, 4-5 p.m.
  • Intersection of Civil Rights Movement and Equal Rights Movement
    • April 19, 2023, 4-5 p.m.
  • Disability Rights Movement
    • April 26 and May 3, 2023, 4-5 p.m.
  • Labor Rights Movement
    • May 10, 17, and 24, 2023, 4-5 p.m.
  • Social Studies Classroom Practice and Pedagogy
    • June 7, 2023, 4:00–5:30 p.m.

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) identifies teaching comprehensive history as an important effort supporting Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan. An essential part of MDE’s efforts to improve comprehensive history instruction is to support teachers with opportunities to expand their knowledge to educate students. 

In April 2022, MDE launched its comprehensive history instruction webinar series to assist educators in learning about historical movements, events, and peoples that are part of the rich, diverse history of our country and world. Previous webinars included: Remembering the Holocaust; Maawndoonganan: Using the Indigenous-Developed Social Studies Resource Guide to Teach To and About First Peoples; Asian Americans and the United States: Immigration and Citizenship Movements; and Public Resources for Teaching Comprehensive History.

The webinar series is produced in collaboration with institutions of higher education, cultural centers, and the 12 federally recognized tribes of Michigan that form the Confederation of Michigan Tribal Education Departments to assist educators with teaching and learning about comprehensive history through thematic instruction. Supporter education organizations of the comprehensive history instruction series include the following:

  • Michigan Council for the Social Studies
  • Michigan Council for History Education
  • Michigan Education Association
  • AFT Michigan
  • Michigan Elementary & Middle School Principals Association
  • Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals
  • Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators
  • Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity
  • Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators
  • Michigan Association for Media in Education
  • Library of Michigan
  • Michigan Library Association
  • Michigan Academic Library Association