Educators visit museum, gain American history knowledge

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. R.J. Biermann
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  More than 35 educators visited Malmstrom Air Force Base on June 18 to gain knowledge about World War II and Cold War history.

The Great Falls, Bozeman, and Helena, Mont., kindergarten to 12th grade teachers are all part of a $1 million, three-year grant program to gain professional development in American history education.

"In Montana, an elementary teacher only has to have three credits of history in college," said Danice Toyias, Montana Council for History and Civics Education deputy director, a non-profit that partners with Montana schools to provide professional development to teachers. "As a history civics group we think it's important that history teachers are well educated. With this grant we can provide so much content to improve on how they develop lessons and activities."

The primarily history, language arts, or computers and technology teachers, are currently in their third and final year of the program. During the first two years, instructors learned about the American Revolution, westward expansion, and the Civil War and reconstruction. According to Toyias, the Malmstrom Museum is a prime repository of World War II and Cold War history.

"The museum offers visitors an education on the roll Malmstrom played in the Cold War era from its first battle, the Berlin Airlift, to the breakup of the Soviet Union," said Curt Shannon, Malmstrom Museum director.

"It's so important for teachers to understand global reach in history and how Malmstrom had such a key role in World War II, the Cold War and strategic missile defense," Toyias said. "[At the conclusion of the program] they develop instructions plans. We know these teachers have done more research on [Women's Air Force Service Pilots]. They were fascinated with that and the lend-lease program. Many have added activities on those topics and others, like the Cold War and technology of the Minuteman III, to their instruction plans."

The group of instructors is the last of four groups to process through the program within the past 12 years. Throughout each program, instructors attend three events throughout the calendar year.

"It's one thing to read about moments in history but actually seeing artifacts and photos of what really went on re-enforces the learning process," Shannon said.

The teachers also engage in six book study sessions and develop instruction plans for each year's theme. During summer break a summer institute is held to offer field experience to the instructors. More than 175 teachers have received this professional development.

"If these teachers feel empowered, they'll enjoy teaching more," Toyias said. "It's so key for kids to have critical thinking skills, which they gain upon understanding where we came from and where we're at in history. If the teachers understand it, then their students are more likely to as well."

Toyias said that, aside from the obvious, teachers also receive other benefits from the program such as renewal credits, recertification assistance and a small monetary stipend for the time they're involved.

"Malmstrom has played a major role in our nations' defense since 1942 and continues to do so," said Shannon. "Far too many people have lost sight of the significant impact this installation has made on the world stage. The Museum exists to insure that is not forgotten."