Faculty Spotlight
October - November 2001
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The Power of Imagery: World HistoryDr. Palmira BrummettProfessorHistory Department |
The Beginning
Winning an ITC/CUE Hewlett Innovative Teaching Fellowships provided a launch pad for Palmira's exploration of the power of technology to enhance teaching. The greatest benefits from receiving the Fellowship were the exposure to new possibilities and ideas for using technology in the classroom.
She notes with a smile that the Innovative Technology Center
was in the same building as her department.
The Fellowship gave her the opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary course with a colleague, Lydia Pulsipher in Geography. They had often discussed creating a cross-discipline course which is precisely the goal of the Hewlett Fellowships. "Mapping Identity: History and Geography of Nation" grew from their grant-supported collaboration.
After her launch through the Hewlett grant, Palmira pursued a variety of ITC classes in order to increase her level of expertise, not only in specific applications, but in locating and using powerful images. Her areas of specialization are Middle Eastern History, World History, Ottoman History, and Women in Cross-Cultural Perspective and her goal was to enhance her classes by weaving dramatic images from unfamiliar cultures into the learning environment.
One key to her success, besides her own curiosity and desire to become more skilled, has been a supportive department. Revamping the world history course was an important department objective. Several grant opportunities, including the Hewlett, combined to help shape and enrich that course redesign. Since there are nine sections of World History I and History 261, all redesign efforts will impact a large number of students.
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