Panel discussion: What are the purposes of introductory history courses in college? by AHAHistorians

Chair: Julia Brookins, AHA. Panelists: Jonathan Lee (San Antonio College), Linda Salvucci (Trinity Univ.), Penne Restad (UT Austin). How have faculty members rethought the survey course over time? What can students get from it? How do we know if they have? How can history instructors better collaborate to support students in these courses?

On Friday and Saturday, August 5-6, 2016, the American Historical Association held a two-day conference for history educators from high schools, community colleges, and four-year universities across the state of Texas. The conference was hosted by San Antonio College, one of the Alamo Colleges. Featured guest speakers will include Raymund Paredes, Texas Commissioner of Higher Education, Ricardo Romo, president of the University of Texas at San Antonio, and James Grossman, executive director of the American Historical Association.

Over 60 attendees and speakers gathered to discuss both disciplinary pedagogy and public-policy issues that inform the teaching of lower-division college history courses in a large and diverse state. Currently, all students who pursue a bachelor's degree at a public college or university in Texas are required to take six credit-hours of history. What kind of learning should that entail in the 21st century? How can it support student learning and success across the curriculum?