THE HISTORY CO:LAB

HISTORY SHAPES
OUR FUTURE

We are a co:creation lab innovating how students experience learning history so that they grow up empowered to take on the challenges of today and realize the opportunities of tomorrow.

WHO WE ARE

WE ARE AN INTERGENERATIONAL CO:LLABORATIVE HUB

A creative incubator of partners and projects
that helps bring history to life for students
encouraging young people to engage with the past
as a way to learn to think independently,
to understand one’s place in the world,
to develop the desire to be an active part of creating a better future,
and to feel and express a deep love for humankind

WHAT WE DO

WE CO:CREATE INNOVATIVE PROJECTS

We invite educators and organizations to collaborate with us, building ecosystems of inspired partners
moving rapidly from the back of a napkin to an idea in action
designing adaptive learning with EdTech,
co-creating media products with young people,
and constantly inventing new ways to teach, learn and inspire the next generation.

WHY WE DO IT

human progress a is a fragile thing.
understanding our shared history
is the key to protecting and nurturing our society
to secure the future of democracy
to enable each and every one of us to reach our full human potential
and to advance the well being of the planet.

HISTORY CO:LAB PROJECTS

Take a look at some of our national and international collaborative projects currently underway:

AWARD-WINNING YOUTH PODCAST: UNTEXTBOOKED

UnTextbooked was co-created by a team of teenagers and the History Co:Lab as a way to showcase the power of history to inspire and inform change makers. In each episode, a young person interviews a prominent historian about their work and highlights how the themes of the past are relevant for today.
Spotify Next Wave award winner and was an Apple New and Noteworthy in 2021.

LISTEN NOW
ACTIVATING MUSEUMS WITH THE POWER OF PLAY

In partnership with Education for Sharing and the LEGO Foundation, we are working with museums around the United States to both showcase and enhance their capabilities as hubs of deep and inspiring learning, leveraging the power of Learning through Play.
We have designed games to enhance museum learning on abstract and complex issues, and are engaging museums nationwide to participate in a Summer campaign to Build a World of Play.

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COMMUNITY IMPLEMENTATION OF EDUCATING FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY PROJECT

Education for American Democracy convened a diverse, cross-ideological group of scholars and educators to create a roadmap for Educating for American Democracy. This roadmap offers guidance and an inquiry framework for states, school districts, and educators to transform history and civics teaching for the diverse needs of 21st century K–12 students.

JOIN OUR WORKING GROUP
LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS FOR INSPIRED CIVIC LEARNING

Effective learning requires a connection to the real world, taking place beyond the walls of a classroom. We have created a civic learning ecosystem in Kansas City in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation’s Real World Learning initiative, weaving over 23 community cultural institutions into the core curriculum with project- and place-based learning.
The Learning Collaborative model connects local museums with schools to ensure learning-science backed, high-impact education that provides young people with a sense of identity, belonging, connection and community.

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PLACE-BASED PROJECT LEARNING TO COMBAT HATE AND BIAS

Strengthening democracy with history is a global need so we formed a strategic partnership with EuroClio, the European Association of History Educators, to bring our youth-centered, community-based pedagogy to life across their networks.
With EuroClio, the Max Mannheimer Institute Federal Ministry of Finance (BNF) and the Foundation EVZ – Remembrance, Responsibility & Future, we are leading a pilot project in 6 countries to test a project- and place-based approach to engaging young people in learning about the victims of National Socialism.