The Future of AP History: Designing and Assessing a “Best Practices” History Curriculum

Session Abstract

Beginning in fall 2014 and unfolding over the subsequent years, the AP history courses will be introducing new curricula and assessments focusing on a coherent and unified set of historical thinking skills and essential concepts for each unique field of history (US, world, European). Chairs of each of the AP history committees will discuss the process of creating the new curricula, including a rigorous validation process that involved sharing the revised curricula with over a hundred college faculty at institutions across the country, seeking input on aspects of the curricula that they value the most and the least. The three AP history subjects will also be implementing a revised assessment model that places greater emphasis on and includes a wider variety of types of writing assessments. The new AP History exams will also include more extensive analysis of source material (texts, visuals, and quantitative) throughout. This revised assessment model, developed in consultation with history learning experts, will also be discussed, along with unique features of each of the redesigned AP history courses.