In 2021, the research study titled “Everybody is Welcomed, Everybody is Needed: Using Archives in Interdisciplinary K-12 Teaching and Learning” placed a call in the SeArch newsletter for archivists’ perspectives on teaching with archival materials on topics related to Climate Change. As a pilot study, the doctoral student researcher, Itza Carbajal, sought to identify and assess the role archival records play in K-12 education specifically when discussing and highlighting issues regarding environmental change and perceptions on the Climate Crisis. For Environmental Change or Climate Change discussions present day realities that continue to surprise, shock, disappoint, and scare many of us drove the researcher to explore the use of the past to understand these current reactions, emotions, and behaviors. Also given the researcher’s focus on youth and records, there existed a desire to help young people like those in K-12 educational settings better understand today’s realities as a result of past decisions while also acknowledging that the future can be different. Through the use of historic records, young people may be able to better grasp their inheritance of life that they are by no means entitled to but rather are gifted with and expected to treat with care and respect.
The pilot study included a survey distributed to Washington based archivists as well as 1 on 1 semi-structured interviews with high school students, educators, and archivists. Preliminary survey results from a small pool of 11 Washington based respondents showed a positive inclination from archivists towards K-12 education with at least 50% agreeing that archival records functioned as useful K-12 teaching tools. Others expressed curiosity but no notable confirmation of usefulness perhaps due to lack of experiences in this area or notable barriers. Some shared barriers included limited staff resources such as time and instructional expertise as well as new or not yet established relationships with K-12 educators. Despite these hurdles, archivists also recognize the immense potential of using archives as primary sources in educational pursuits from an increase in student research skills, enrichment of learning experiences as well as a gained appreciation of historic records and hopefully the people and institutions that maintain these resources.
Today’s newsletter post hopes to provide a brief update on the results from that study as well as disclose the limited reach the initial pilot had. Due to several pandemic related challenges including limited access to formal educational institutions and students, the research pilot study did not adequately answer some of the researcher’s primary questions. Now as the researcher gears up to finalize their dissertation, pilot study results and setbacks influenced a number of project design choices and possibilities moving forward. In the coming months, the researcher will be seeking archival and educational partners with a focus on joining either existing or emerging partnerships, specifically those existing in informal learning environments like after school activities or local competitions. More information on the call for project partners will be provided in next month’s SeArch newsletter. If you would like more information now, you can reach out to Itza Carbajal at itzac@uw.edu