Welcome to Ben's Terrific Toolkit! 

This toolkit is dedicated to assisting teachers in creating a deep, personalized learning experience for each student as they explore various aspects of our country and its rich history.

This Toolkit presents technology tools that are in line with many emerging educational trends:

• Video-Based Learning
• The "Watch and Learn" section contains a variety of videos of differing complexity to allow students to gain knowledge of certain aspects of American History through videos of their choosing. These are great tools to use to begin at the beginning of a unit to build a schema for upcoming lessons, or at the end of the unit to give a broader context to lessons learned. 
• Game-Based Learning
• The "Game Your Way to Knowledge" section provides students with historical or civic based games that allow them to make decisions and face the consequences of those decisions, putting students in the shoes of historical figures. These games can be used to allow students to apply learned skills. For instance, The Oregon Trail game can be used to reinforce lessons on the dangers of Westward Expansion, and iCivics.org's, "Win the White House" can be used to allow students to have a deeper understanding of current events in this presidential election. 
• Augmented Reality 
• While Augmented Reality still has much more promise than practical purpose in classrooms currently, there are a handful of interactive, virtual experiences that foreshadow the revolution to come. Students can explore the Lincoln Memorial in a depth that would have required thousands of dollars in travel expenses in the past with a few clicks of the mouse. Additionally, students are free to explore in the manner they decide, truly personalizing the experience. 
• Mobile Learning
• With students (and adults) constantly on their mobile devices, it is important that we, as educators, adapt to modern tech habits in order to provide learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Tap Maps Quiz and Stack the States are two extremely engaging apps that students have used to gain knowledge of the geography of the United States. Additionally, by simply needing a mobile device, student learning isn't hindered by obstacles such as lack of supplies or leaving folders at school. 

Additionally, this toolkit assists teachers in transitioning from a lecture centric, one size fits all lessons to a personalized, blended learning approach which will provide students with a more authentic learning experience and a deeper level of knowledge.

All technologies and trends listed are supported by articles, videos, and reports which highlight the effectiveness of these approaches.