History: What If? - All Year

Overview:

Studying history is critical to understanding the world that we live in today, to help us understand who we are, to learn from past mistakes, and even to inspire us. In this course, we take a unique approach where we consider the consequence of events that occurred in history had happened differently. For example, what would have happened if George Washington has been killed during the American Revolution? Or if the South had won the American Civil War? What if Germany and Japan had won World War 2? This course requires students to not only consider the impact of the actual events but to consider the greater context of those moments in order to understand the context of what was at stake. Students will be doing considerable research and will be challenged to write plausible alternative histories that stem from the point of divergence. Because many stories and even movies have used alternate histories for content, students will also examine some literary and cinematic works.

Mid-Winter Break will be February 21st-25th. Spring Break will be April 4th-8th. Classes will not occur during these breaks. 

Prerequisite:

None

Computer Requirements:

Students must have access to a computer as well as additional hardware and software. Some programs or courses may indicate additional technology requirements, and not all programs are Mac compatible.

• Windows PC or Mac computer
• Display with a minimum resolution of 1024 x 768. While it is not mandatory, it is recommended to have a second monitor connected to the computer to extend the desktop. This allows the student to more easily follow what the instructor is demonstrating while concurrently being able to see the software environment that the student is working within.
• Broadband internet connection
• Headset with microphone
• Three-button mouse
• Internet browser (eg. Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari)
• Web Camera