Wisconsin Historical Society National History Day in Wisconsin Update

February 2010
National History Day logo Greetings!

As we get closer to event season, our NHD in Wisconsin update is filled with many contest reminders as well as educator opportunities. Read on for more useful information!
 
WEBSITE CATEGORY SUBMISSION PROCEDURES
Please carefully read the following information about registration for the website category at 2010 NHD Events. Warn your students that websites must be complete by the event registration deadline, even though they no longer need to submit CDs. In this new system, students will be locked out of editing their websites from the registration deadline until the event is over. See section four below for more information.

1. Websites are a combined category
As it has been for the last few years, the website category will continue to be a combined category at 2010 NHD Events. Websites can be created by both individuals and groups, however, all website entries in a division will compete in a combined category (i.e. junior websites or senior websites).  This means that for regional competitions, the entry limit for your school will apply to websites as a whole, not broken out into separate allotments for individual and for group websites. Again, this only applies to the website category.


2. Registration for Regional NHD in Wisconsin Events
Signing up for a website through the NHD Website Editor does NOT register students for a regional competition. In order to register for a regional NHD event, website category students will need to submit the same printed registration forms and other materials as students in other categories. To register, students must:
  • CREATE a website through the NHD Website Editor.
  • Complete and submit the printed ENTRY and SCHOOL registration forms to the regional coordinator by the registration deadline.
  • Submit the REGISTRATION FEE to the regional coordinator by the deadline.
  • Submit the following PRINTED materials to the regional coordinator by the deadline:
    • FOUR copies of their title page, process paper, and bibliography
    • ONE printout of their site homepage with clearly visible website URL
3. Judging of Projects
Website entries will be judged online in advance of the competition. At the regional event, students will not present their website entry, but rather they will be interviewed by the judges. This is similar to the judging process for the paper category.

4. Editing of Website
Once students have submitted their registration materials, they can continue to edit and work on their website until the registration deadline for the event. ONCE THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE PASSES, STUDENTS ARE LOCKED OUT OF EDITING THEIR WEBSITES UNTIL THE REGIONAL COMPETITION IS OVER. This is to ensure that no additional work is done on the project and that all judges will see the same version of the project. Once the competition is over, students will be allowed to access their sites again.

5. Advancing to the Next Level of NHD Competition
If a student is advancing to the next level of competition, they will continue to work with and improve the same existing website for the entire NHD year.

6. Storage of Websites
During the current contest year, NHD pays to host all websites on their servers. Once the current NHD year is complete, students will have the option to save, transfer, or discard their websites. Students should register an email address with the NHD website editor to receive important emails and deadlines about this issue.

7. Questions?
Contact the state coordinator, Sarah Clement, at 608-264-6487 or [email protected]
Web Site Category Students
FEEDBACK ON THE WEBSITE CATEGORY?
National History Day is looking for your feedback on the website category and NHD Website Editor.
  • What were your students' experiences with the new software program? Did it meet their needs? Were any of their ideas limited by the software?
  • Did you see an increase in the number of entries at your school in the website category? If so, how did the popularity of this category compare to other categories?
  • Any other feedback on the category in general?
Please feel free to send a message to the state coordinator, Sarah Clement, who will compile responses to send to the national office.
2009 Teacher of the Year
NOMINATIONS FOR NHD TEACHER AWARDS
The national NHD office sponsors several teacher awards for participating educators across the country. Each year, Wisconsin also selects one educator as our Teacher of the Year. This educator is recognized at the State Event for their support of and contributions to National History Day and history education in the state. To nominate yourself or another educator for this honor, please contact the state coordinator.
 
Wisconsin studentsREGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR REGIONAL EVENTS
Regional events for National History Day are just around the corner. Registration forms are available on our website. Keep in mind that registration deadlines for events often fall several weeks in advance of the event date. Contact information and regional event assignments are also online.

NEW ONLINE RESOURCES FROM THE WHS
Over the past month, two new sites with great historical content for teachers and students have been released:

 
A NOTE ON ACCEPTED STYLES FOR NHD FROM THE NATIONAL OFFICE
The two accepted styles for citations and bibliographies in NHD projects are: 
  • Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertation 
  • MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
 
Whichever style students choose to use, it is important that they remain consistent with that style throughout their NHD project and bibliography.  It is also important that they remain consistent to whichever edition of that style guide they are using.  While the NHD Rule Book indicates the 5th edition of the MLA guide, students are allowed to use the 5th edition and any edition coming after it (6th and 7th).  However, students must be consistent and use the same edition for their entire project.
 
Changes in MLA's New 7th edition 
Some of the changes in the new 7th edition of the MLA handbook, published in 2009, are quite different from previous editions; which could cause confusion for students, teachers, and judges.  There is a good website that highlights the main points of the new MLA 7th edition: The OWL at Purdue.
 
What this Means for Your Students 
Make sure that your students know not just what style they are using for their bibliographies, MLA or Turabian, but also what edition they should be using.
 
What this Means for Judges
We will make sure that judges at regional, state, and national competitions are aware of these changes and guidelines. Judges will look for consistency of style within the projects and bibliographies.
 
Is Turabian still Acceptable?
Yes! It is also important to emphasize that students can still use the Turabian style for NHD. They do not have to use the new MLA guide.
 
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION TEACHER INSTITUTE

Secondary school teachers of United States history and government are invited to apply for a summer institute, Federal Trials and Great Debates in United States History, to be held June 27-July 2, 2010, in Washington, DC. The institute is co-sponsored by the Federal Judicial Center and the American Bar Association Division for Public Education.

The institute will provide teachers with the training and resources to engage students in the history of landmark federal cases. This year's institute will study trials under the Sedition Act of 1798, Ex parte Merryman and debates on habeas corpus during the Civil War, and a trial of bootleggers during Prohibition.

Participation will be limited to 20 teachers. Travel, lodging, and meal expenses will be reimbursed. Completed applications must be postmarked no later than March 1, 2010. Further information and application materials are available on the American Bar Association website.

 
GILDER LEHRMAN SUMMER SEMINARS FOR TEACHERS
Applications are now being accepted for dozens of summer seminars on a wide variety of topics sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute. The Gilder Lehrman Summer Seminars are designed to strengthen participants' commitment to high quality history teaching. Public, parochial, independent school teachers, and National Park Service rangers are eligible. These weeklong seminars provide intellectual stimulation and a collaborative context for developing practical resources and strategies to take back to the classroom.

Seminars include:
  • Room and board
  • Books
  • Stipends to offset travel costs
 
Seminars are limited to 30 participants by competitive application. Preference is given to new applicants. The application deadline is February 15, 2010. More information and application materials are available on The Gilder Lehrman Institutes' website.
 
History Day Exhibit BoardsBUY HISTORY DAY EXHIBIT BOARDS 
Exhibits boards are available from the Minnesota History Day program for interested teachers and students. Available in black or white, these boards are larger than the typical science fair boards and come with optional title panels. Boards are only $7.00 each and are available in packs of 10. Download the order form and learn more about the boards. (This link opens a PDF file.)
Sarah Michele and SarahTHANKS FOR READING!
We appreciate your support of National History Day in Wisconsin. Be one of the first 10 readers to send a message to [email protected] and you will be entered in a drawing to win one special prize package of adhesive products for your classroom! The winner will be notified by email.
 
Thanks for reading. We are excited to have you as part of National History Day in Wisconsin!

Sincerely,

Sarah Clement, State Coordinator
National History Day in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Historical Society 
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