Wartime Innovation Focus Workshop

On December 5th the American History Teachers' Collaborative hosted a focus workshop on Wartime Innovation at the Hilton Garden Inn in Champaign. Taking a break from our typical format, the workshop was set up as a conference day where teachers chose from 18 different presentations during seven sessions. From the response of our teachers, it seems as if all of the sessions were amazing!

Thanks to WILL, we were able to find some fantastic veterans who were willing to speak to us about their experiences. They included Phil Dzuik, a World War II Navy veteran who served on the USS Ajax (and still fits into his 1944 Navy uniform!) and Jesse Dowell, who served in the U.S. Navy Air Corps during World War II and practiced night bombing with the new, secret technology--radar.

Pictured L to R: Jesse Dowell, Phil Dziuk, and Ralph Dady (UHS)

Our third veteran, Jill Knappenberger, was one of three women serving on the front lines during the Battle of the Bulge. As a "clubmobile" driver for the Red Cross (serving dounuts, coffee, and cigarettes to soldiers), she was trapped for eight days during the battle.
In addition to hearing from veterans, we were also able to have Hal Loebach from Chanute Air Museum speak to us about the black Army Air Corps squadrons that trained at Chanute Air Base during World War II, including the famed Tuskegee Airmen. Mr. Loebach also brought with his colleague, Jim Eldridge, who shared aviation resources available to teachers through the museum.

While we had many presentations about World War II, it was not the only war represented that day. Eugene Bencomo and Russel Foster, reenactors from the Illiana Civil War Historical Society, gave very enthusiastic presentations showcasing weapons, medical gear, and military equipment from the Civil War.

From L to R: Karen Easton (Edison), Peggy Christensen (Edison), Russel Foster, Todd Searing (UMS)

Representatives from the American Red Cross also presented to teachers focusing on the history of the American Red Cross during wartime.

Although we enjoy having speakers from the community, we were delighted to have five AHTC teachers present to their colleagues on units they created during past AHTC summer institutes and fellowships. Matt Buckles and Matt Goerss, both from Urbana High School, spoke to teachers about resources available to teachers through the Champaign County Historical Archives, including primary documents regarding penicillin, radar, walkie talkies, and weather forecasting.
Karen Klebbe of Centennial High School discussed military's technology's impact on civilian life, including how the development of disposable bandages during World War I revolutionized the feminine hygiene industry.
Natalee Steffen from Urbana Middle School presented a series of lessons examining the history of the United States' use of Agent Orange in Southeast Asia during the time of the Vietnam conflict.
Our final AHTC presenter was Jesse Guzman of Edison Middle School who shared with teachers his unit on the dropping of the atomic bombs during World War II.

Throughout the day teachers were able to explore exhibits in the ballroom for information and resources that could be used in their classrooms. Exhibitors included the American Red Cross, Chanute Air Museum, the Champaign County Historical Archives, The Champaign County Historical Museum at the Cattle Bank, the Early American Museum, and the Great Lakes Regional Depositor of the National Archives Records Administration. (Please see the sidebar to the left for links to many of these organizations:)

What a fantastic day! We would love to hear from you, teachers. What was your favorite part of the day? Is there anything that you have used in your classroom from that day or anything that you are thinking about using in the future? Leave us a comment and let us know!