Anthony Boarman

In 2017, I independently designed the curriculum for and implemented a semester long Local History class, which allowed me to introduce our students to our region’s vast history. For the last 12 semesters, I have been able to share Akron and Northeast Ohio’s past and present as an experience that breaks students out of the traditional four-walled, seats-facing-forward classroom. This immersive experience includes walking tours around Downtown Akron, guest speakers, field trips and a community historic preservation project at the Glendale Steps. The highlight of each semester is our field trip to the CVNP after we wrap-up our unit on Northeast Ohio park history. We visit several sites in order to educate students on each site’s history, the recreational opportunities available, and how to be great stewards of these public lands.

As one of my graduate school projects, I created an Online Learning Environment (OLE) for my Local History class. This was especially helpful during remote/virtual learning during the pandemic and for students who require long absences from school due to illness, family emergencies, etc. that required an asynchronous learning platform.

Click the link below to see how I converted my Local History into an OLE.