Thank you to all who attended our poster session, World History Through One Big Question.  We learned a lot from our discussions with you about the best ways to organize the teaching of world history at the Middle School and High School levels.  Many of you shared your "one big question" that you would like students to consider.  We have compiled and posted them below.

We found our discussions with many teachers so useful and inspiring, that we have decided to host a Virtual Video Conference to Continue the Discussion of How Best to Organize and Teach World/Global history in Middles and High School:  Tentatively Scheduled for either March 6 or March 27, 2019.  Participate is free.  Contact Robert Fish robert.fish@mastersny.org  or Skeff Young if you are interested.

Teachers’ responses to the question:  If you wanted you students to be able to answer one big question after completing their study of World History at your school, what would that question be?

How does geography affect culture?

How are the forces for change similar and/or different in World History?

When is treason appropriate?

What is power?  Who has power?  (6^th grade Ancient Civilizations)

How do new ideas spread from society to society?

Who chooses who is in power?  How is power made and lost?

How does where you live determine how you live?

How much agency do individuals and societies have?  To what extent do historical forces determine their circumstances?

Why does the contemporary world work the way that it does?

Why, during World History, did people do what they did?

What is a just war?

Why do we need to learn history?

What use is liberal education?  How can it help me understand my purpose?

What does it mean to be human?

Why should or shouldn’t we study ancient world history?

Gibbon wrote about Roman religions – basically saying that to the common people all were true, to the educated, all were false, and to the magistrates, all were useful.  Was this true then?  Is it true now?

Thank you to all who contributed questions!  Looking forward to continuing the conversation.