Digital Historian Project comes to Dufferin County schools and museum
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
September 16, 2014
GUELPH, Ontario — Twenty senior history students from three high schools will embark on an immersive journey into the past beginning this February.
The Digital Historian Project (DHP), a partnership between the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) and the Dufferin County Museum and Archives (DCMA), will run for a full semester. The three participating high schools are Centre Dufferin DHS, Orangeville DSS and Westside SS.
Neil Orford, a history teacher at CDDHS in Shelburne, came up with the project. For the past several years Orford’s students have been researching the stories of veterans for the Dufferin Virtual War Memorial, in cooperation with the Juno Beach Centre in France. Now students at the two secondary schools in Orangeville will also get the chance to plug-in to the intense research experience.
“There are no other programs like this in Canada that recognize a school-museum partnership,” says Orford.
“It will create digital literacy in students and provide deep historical research for the county as the students explore curriculum in way that does not happen in the traditional classroom setting.”
Students will take four credits in History and Data Management (math), spending about nine weeks each at the DCMA and in class at ODSS. The program also includes drama, art and music. The DHP will be taught by Orford and Asher Kirk-Elleker at ODSS along with museum staff and archivists.
Martha Rogers, Director of Education states “Students will develop real-world research and statistical analysis skills while contributing to the DCMA’s Virtual War Memorial, the digital archive of Dufferin County’s veterans and their war stories.
“It’s very important civic work that is authentic and relevant, deepening students’ understanding and their learning experience.”
The 20 students were selected last year through a detailed application and interview process. They will have the opportunity to work with the National Library and Archives in Ottawa, the University of Guelph, the Juno Beach Centre and the Archives of Ontario as well as DCMA. If they choose to go students can participate in Orford’s annual tour of the Battlefields in Normandy and be special guests at the D-Day ceremonies on June 6, 2015 at the Juno Beach Centre.
“Everyone benefits,” says Orford, “the students of course, the DCMA and its membership, and the board.”
“We have everyone’s full support, there’s excitement and learning, and the chance to replicate this project throughout Upper Grand, and who knows, across Canada.”
Visitors and members of the DCMA will have the opportunity to see the students at work with museum staff at times during the DHP program.
For more information:
Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer
519-822-4420 ext.725
[email protected]
Mark Weidmark, Administrative Officer – Communications
519-822-4420 ext.544
[email protected]
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