Join live or receive a link to the recording and earn a CE certificate
- This event has passed.
Historical Empathy: Immersing Students in U.S. History with Serious Games
Thursday, November 9, 2023 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm EST
Presented by Jennifer Abramowski, Senior Educator Engagement Specialist, The WNET Group; Lily Exantus, Program Coordinator, Professional Learning, District of Columbia Public Schools (DC); and Hai Lun Tan, Research Associate, Education Development Center
Sponsored by Mission US/The WNET Group
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Exploring the lives of people throughout American history and contextualizing their actions can help students not only understand historical figures they encounter but also expand that understanding in light of the social, economic, and political environments in which they lived. Historical empathy gives students the “why” as they study the growth, challenges, and changes that have shaped our country. Where does serious gaming enter the picture?
In this edWebinar from Mission US, a free, interactive, immersive historical gaming series produced by The WNET Group, educators get a front-row seat as serious games and historical empathy intersect. Join Jennifer Abramowski, Senior Educator Engagement Specialist at The WNET Group, Lily Exantus, Program Coordinator for the District of Columbia Public Schools, and other special guests to explore the award-winning Mission US collection of U.S. history interactive games, and how these games can support students’ development of historical empathy.
This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-12 teachers, librarians, social studies curriculum leaders, and social studies department chairs.
About the Presenters
Jennifer Abramowski is a Senior Educator Engagement Specialist at The WNET Group, who is passionate about teaching and learning. She has ten years of experience working as a social studies special education teacher and holds a TESOL K-12 certification. Her teaching career also includes five years with the NYC Department of Education, working as a peer collaborative teacher and a school-based facilitator in the Collaborative Action Research Program. She received both her BA in history and her MA in adolescent education from Adelphi University. As part of her post-graduate work, she also earned an Advanced Certificate in TESOL PreK-12, teaching English as a second or foreign language/ESL language instructor from Hunter College.
Lily Exantus, M.Ed. is the Program Coordinator for the District of Columbia Public Schools. Her work includes the design and implementation of the district’s New Teacher Network, a 10-month professional learning community for new teachers. She also plays a key role in her district’s delivery of professional development sessions, collaborating with internal and external team members to ensure the successful delivery of professional learning. Lily received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of North Florida. She serves as an active and valued member of the Mission US Advisory Board.
Hai Lun Tan is a Research Associate at the Education Development Center, where she investigates ways to support students’ learning through formal education. She has experience conducting randomized controlled trials, program evaluations, and designing surveys and assessments to evaluate learning. Hai Lun works on several collaborative Institute of Education Science research projects, examining the impact of an interactive history game for middle school students as well as conducting cost-benefit analyses. Before joining EDC, Hai Lun taught sixth-grade English and helped launch a new after-school literacy and writing program in San Francisco for K-12 students. She holds a master’s degree in international history from Columbia University and the London School of Economics.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the K12 Social Studies and Civics 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 WNET Group’s award-winning Kids’ Media and Education Team produces the PBS KIDS series, Cyberchase, the interactive Mission US history games, and resources for families, educators and caregivers. A leading public media producer for more than 60 years, The WNET Group presents and distributes content that fosters lifelong learning, including multi-platform initiatives addressing poverty, jobs, economic opportunity, social justice, understanding and the environment.
