For Unit 2 of AP African American studies, I have decided to incorporate Jesmyn Ward’s latest novel as a companion to the content we’re learning in class. My hope is that incorporating a contemporary novel about slavery into an AP African American Studies curriculum will enrich students' understanding of historical contexts while fostering critical thinking.

There’s an incredible amount to talk about with this novel, from the reference to Dante’s Divine Comedy, to the use of spirits and magical realism that Ward employs. I hope my materials do the book justice, and that they may be helpful in your own classroom.

Incorporating AI tools in education offers exciting opportunities but also raises ethical challenges, especially in a social studies classroom where critical thinking and societal impacts are deeply explored. Establishing an AI ethics policy is crucial to ensuring that AI is used responsibly. It helps students understand the broader implications of AI, such as privacy, bias, and accountability, fostering a learning environment that promotes ethical decision-making and prepares students to navigate the complex digital world.

SlidesBot is a GPT-powered chatbot designed to serve as a reference guide for students struggling with AP US History material. When creating this chatbot, I implemented strategies to address some of the existing limitations in GenAI technologies.

This year I am making a commitment to emphasize the theme American National Identity in my APUSH classes and will attempt to do so with a recurring project titled “What does it mean to be American?” American National Identity is a difficult concept to explain because it has changed across time periods and does not have the same meaning to everyone in the same time period. My hope is that through this project students will start to make those connections earlier in the school year.