HIST 173 From Large Lecture to Learning Communities Course Redesign

This is a redesign of HIST 173, the second half of the GE U.S. History Survey at CSU, Long Beach. The aim is to transform my large lecture class by switching the focus from lecturing - the "sage on the stage" approach - to active learning involving small group work or "learning communities." Methods to be explored include online discussion groups and related assignments designed to be more "relevant" to students' lives outside the classroom. I will also continue to investigate free online learning materials. My hope is that the redesign will enable students to develop a more engaged, critical, and affective understanding of the historical past.