HARTSVILLE, SC (July 22, 2021) -- Coker University Vice President Patrick Riccards recently spoke at the 2021 White House History Teacher Institute, highlighting the importance of making history instruction interesting and relevant to today’s learners.

Speaking to more than 100 K-12 educators from across the United States, Riccards detailed his work over the past several years to improve the teaching and learning of American history through the use of short-form videos that tell the “untold” stories of the people, events, and artifacts in our nation’s history.

“By sharing some of the untold history of our nation, we can inspire a new generation of learners to think like historians, asking tough questions and seeking deeper understanding,” Riccards said. “And through video, we can empower educators to improve classroom learning by jumpstarting meaningful discussions with provocative content learners find interesting.”

The Institute was hosted by the White House Historical Association. Educators also heard discussions such as “Slavery in the President’s Neighborhood: Stories of Resistance and Persistence,” “How did Black Genius Build Democracy? Exploring the impact of Black Americans on our Nation,” and “Winning With Your Students: Applying the Art of Storytelling in Your Classroom.”