However, fitting local history into standard survey courses presents significant challenges. Teachers often face time constraints that limit in-depth exploration of local topics, as well as a lack of access to resources such as archives, guest speakers, or opportunities for fieldwork and site visits. Many educators struggle to balance the demands of standardized curricula with the flexibility needed for meaningful local research. Additionally, teachers may themselves lack training in local historical methods or awareness of available community resources.

This panel features three Chicago history teachers who have successfully navigated these obstacles. The creator of Clio, David Trowbridge, and David Olson of Retro Report will show how teachers might leverage their resources to build bridges between local inquiry and the larger content of a survey course. The session will offer tips for educators seeking to enrich their survey courses with local content, and for historians interested in supporting K-16 teachers in bringing together the local and the global.