An Online Introduction to Creating and Using Historic Decisions Issue Guides

On June 14, 2022, the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI) hosted an online introduction to creating and using historic decisions issue guides. The online exchange featured insights and experiences of educators across the country who have participated in cooperative research projects with the Kettering Foundation over the past seven years.

The workshop panel was facilitated by Mark Wilson, Director, The Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities, Auburn University, and Cristin Brawner, Kettering Foundation associate.

The program, titled Creating and Using Historic Decisions Issue Guides  was recorded and is available to watch.

You can learn more about the Historic Decisions Issue Guides series by reading an article by Joni Doherty, titled Historic Decisions: Looking Deliberatively at the Past.

Panelists included:

• Gabrielle Lamplugh, Communications Director, Mikva Challenge, and former Director of Education for the David Mathews Center for Civic Life
• Magdalena Mieri, Director, Special Initiatives, and Director, Program in Latino History and Culture, Smithsonian National Museum of American History
• Nicole Moore, Director of Education, National Center for Civil and Human Rights
• Clare Shubert, Capstone Director, Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes, and former Director of Engagement and Programming, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
• Sarah S. Wilson, Director of Education, Autry Museum of the American West

Resources shared with webinar participants:

• Learn more about deliberation
• Library of Historic Decisions Issue Guides available on the National Issues Forums Institute website
• Historic Decisions: Looking Deliberatively at the Past by Joni Doherty, Kettering Foundation
• Historic Decisions Issue Books developed by the David Mathews Center for Civic Life
• National Museum of American History’s set of Historic Issues Deliberation Guides on specific topics related to the five units of Becoming US. Note: you will find two different sets of materials, one for the teacher, and one for students.
• Advise the President Series of issue discussion guides available on the National Archives website. The series is a ready-to-use tool that provides teachers with an opportunity to bring historic Presidential decisions into the classroom using a deliberation process.
• Autry Museum of the American West’s program - Day of Deliberation for 7th-12th Grades. Students engage in decisions about the past, present, and future of California through deliberation and civil discourse by examining the use of Yosemite National Park’s Hetch Hetchy Valley in 1913. Teacher Guide, High School Student Guide: Hetch Hetchy: How do we make the best use of our natural resources? A Recommendation to Congress.
• The History of Us, a course specifically focused on Black history created by the David Mathews Center for Civic Life and the University of Alabama. Learn more about the class and hear from two high school students about their experience and creating a Historical Issue Guide on Freedom: Reconstruction 1867 during a National Conference on Citizenship Learning Circle. Access the recording of the Learning Circle here.
• Handbook for educators by the David Mathews Center for Civic Life, Handbook: Place-Based, Deliberative Learning in the Classroom