As the 2017-18 school year was winding down at Hillsborough High School, a group of sophomores worked to help improve a nearby African-American history museum as part of an unorthodox final exam.
Students in Scott Kallens’ United States History I Honors class researched, developed and presented proposals for ways the Stoutsburg African American History Museum and Stoutsburg Cemetery could improve its current exhibits and resources.
Completed as part of a pilot program with the museum, the 65 students in Kallens’ class worked with the museum’s board of directors.
“I wanted to provide my students with an authentic learning experience,” Kallens said. “By partnering with the community, my students became problem-solvers with the power to affect positive change.”
According to Kallens, the class’ partnership with the Stoutsburg African-American History Museum began when the its board of directors gave a presentation to the class back in April.
By April 30, Kallens’ class visited the museum for a “soft opening” and discussed the challenges and goals that came along with opening the new facility.
After that meeting, school officials said the students organized into groups and worked to ultimately prepare proposals and craft final presentations, which were held on June 1. The museum’s board of directors, as well as high school administrators, were in attendance for the students’ presentation.
“[My students] were highly motivated by this opportunity and I am extremely proud of their efforts. These two courses and the final projects required these social studies students to take some risks and break out of their comfort zone,” Kallens said. “Presenting ideas to leaders in the field requires a far greater understand of the material than a final exam is able to provide.”
Some of the ideas presented by the students included websites and podcasts to youth scavenger hunts and Google Expedition virtual trips. Students were graded on each step of the performance-based learning project, in lieu of a final exam.
“I was given a rare and great opportunity to make a difference for the better and give back to my community,” sophomore Aaron Waller said.
Along with his U.S. History Honors I class, Kallens’ United States History II class for juniors spent months working on social justice projects that focused on local, state, country and world issues. The corresponding presentations were also held on June 1.
The two courses’ more social aspects have since been moved into a new course opening this fall, titled Community Connections. Slated to be taught by Kallens, the semester-long social studies elective course will focus on community service and engaging in hands-on activities.
“The fact that Hillsborough High School had two sections of students sign-up for this elective the first year it was offered shows the power of Mr. Kallens’ encouragement of active learning and the citizenship of HHS students who want to help our community by taking this course,” Dr. Cindy Assini, Hillsborough’s District Supervisor of Social Studies and REACH, said.
