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«Back to all edWebinarsTeaching History Through Decisions, Tradeoffs, and Uncertainty: Students as Historical Decision Makers
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT
Presented by Kevin Parkinson, Ed.D., Former Educator, Current Education Senior Manager, Alliance for Decision Education
Sponsored by Alliance for Decision Education
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History is often taught through the outcomes of decisions, yet some of the greatest learning opportunities come from examining how those decisions were made. Why did historical figures choose one course of action over another? What information did they have, what uncertainties did they face, and what tradeoffs shaped their choices? When students grapple with these questions, history becomes more than a sequence of events. It becomes an opportunity for students to develop the habits of thoughtful decision makers.
This edWebinar will explore Decision Education, the teaching and learning of skillful judgment formation and decision making, through the lens of history. Informed by decades of decision science research, Decision Education equips students with durable decision-making skills such as evaluating evidence, considering uncertainty, recognizing competing perspectives, weighing tradeoffs, and making reasoned judgments. By weaving these practices into existing history instruction, educators can deepen historical understanding while helping students build skills that extend far beyond the classroom. Attendees will explore practical strategies, classroom examples, and guidance for integrating Decision Education into history instruction without the need for a full curriculum overhaul.
Attendees will explore how Decision Education:
- Brings history to life by engaging students as historical decision makers rather than passive observers
- Deepens historical thinking by examining evidence, uncertainty, competing perspectives, and tradeoffs
- Strengthens critical thinking, perspective taking, and reasoned argumentation
- Supports thoughtful, informed civic participation
- Equips students with practical decision-making skills they can apply in school, work, relationships, and everyday life
Learning objectives:
- Explain how Decision Education enhances historical inquiry instruction
- Identify key Decision Education competencies and how they align with historical-thinking practices
- Apply practical strategies to integrate historical decision-making activities into existing social studies lessons
- Recognize how analyzing difficult historical decisions can strengthen students’ critical thinking and decision-making skills
This edWebinar will be of interest to middle and high school teachers, school leaders, and district leaders.
About the Presenter
Kevin Parkinson, Ed.D., is the Education Senior Manager at the Alliance for Decision Education. Dr. Parkinson has years of experience as a teacher and principal in traditional district and public charter schools, as well as with educational nonprofit organizations. He has also served on the Mississippi Department of Education Principal Advisory Council. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in public school leadership from Columbia University. He is also the author of the Teachers Decide weekly newsletter. Dr. Parkinson lives with his wife and three kids in Mississippi’s capital city. He enjoys running, tattoos, NPR, audiobooks, board games, being outdoors, TV comedies, and good food.
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Join the Student-Driven Learning community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
The Alliance for Decision Education (the Alliance) is a national nonprofit and field builder with the mission of improving lives by empowering students with essential skills and dispositions for making better decisions. Founded in 2014 and backed by experts in decision sciences and a broad range of other fields—including several Nobel laureates—the Alliance believes that better decisions lead to better lives and a better society.
As a field builder, the Alliance aligns, coordinates, and amplifies the efforts of organizations and individuals working toward the vision of Decision Education being part of every student’s learning experience. We partner with teachers, researchers, academic and business leaders, families, and community members to raise awareness and develop solutions that can be scaled in classrooms across the country.
