Rhode Island Histories in Action

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is pleased to launch Rhode Island Histories in Action, a professional development series connecting K-12 educators with art, design, and local history. Funded by a U.S. Department of Education federal earmark secured by Senator Jack Reed, the program is a collaborative partnership between RISD’s Center for Community Partnerships, the Department of Teaching + Learning in Art + Design (TLAD), and local artists and community organizations.

Rhode Island Histories in Action is an asynchronous, inquiry-driven series that provides teaching strategies, tools, and resources to support the development of standards-aligned, historically grounded curriculum that promotes civic literacy, creativity, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary learning. Participants will engage with nine dynamic videos at their own pace, exploring Rhode Island's rich cultural heritage. These workshops are moderated by local educators and artists experienced in providing approachable, and highly relevant content that deepen an understanding and appreciation of American history. Corresponding reflection questions along with additional learning resources are available to assist educators in identifying opportunities to actionably and creatively integrate their knowledge into the classroom.

K-12 educators certified in the state of Rhode Island who view all three training module videos (totaling approximately 4 hours) and complete the corresponding form will be eligible to receive a letter of completion. This letter of completion can be presented to the educator's designated supervisor to be considered for verification of 6 Professional Learning Units (PLUs.)

To receive the letter of completion please fill out each required field. By logging into your Google account you may save your progress and return when you are ready to submit the form. We strongly recommend using the provided note-catcher to answer the reflection questions as you progress through the corresponding training modules.