According to a report in the New York Times on the 20th, a new survey has found that American history teachers are increasingly using digital resources and online sources to support their teaching plans, paper textbooks are increasingly rare on classroom shelves.
A survey by the American Historical Association found that teachers’ lesson plans and student assignments have moved online as schools increasingly adopt new technologies, the report said. According to the survey, most history teachers get their course materials from Smithsonian Institution and other Federal Archives websites, as well as popular teaching channels on video platforms. The study included 3,000 middle and high school teachers in nine states. Although zero per cent of teachers chose course resources that did not show a clear ideological bent, the survey also found that materials used in some areas might lead students to view American history in an emotional way. More than half of the respondents had used Teachers Pay Teachers, a curriculum-sharing website, but the site has sparked controversy, with many educators concerned about its lack of quality control.
Yale historian Blight said the limitations of the survey subjects could distort the results. “I was surprised by some of the findings. Many teachers want some time to read and would be grateful if someone gave them a $100 book budget.”