National Archives Distance Learning Program Wins Pinnacle Award for Fourth Consecutive Year
By Meredith Doviak | National Archives News
WASHINGTON, September 4, 2024 – The National Archives’ Education Programs Division team was honored with the 2023–2024 Pinnacle Award, on August 14, by the Center for Interactive Learning & Collaboration (CILC). This marks the fourth consecutive year that the Archives’ Education team has received the award.
According to CILC’s website, the prestigious award, which was first given in 2008, is conferred annually to recognize the accomplishments of content providers in creating distance learning programs that have received the highest evaluation scores from fellow educators.
“The Education team is honored to have our work recognized by the Pinnacle Award,” said Education Specialist Sara Lyons Davis. “To be once again included in this distinguished group, by such a well-respected leader in the field, is very exciting! Our fellow CILC partners include museums, historic sites, zoos, authors—all different types of virtual educational content. We hope that this recognition will continue to further expand our audience and the classrooms we serve.”
The National Archives’ interactive Distance Learning Program currently offers 16 programs through the CILC, each featuring primary sources from Archives holdings, including historical documents, photographs, maps, posters, and more. Examples of current programs include “Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote” and “The Constitution at Work,” both of which encourage students to analyze primary sources and answer guiding questions to deepen their understanding and exercise critical thinking skills. The Civics for All of US program, a key part of this year’s success, will add new programs for the upcoming school year in celebration of Declaration250.
You can view the National Archives’ program offerings page on the CILC website.
Pinnacle Award winners are announced at the beginning of each school year, providing educators with learning opportunities and engaging content throughout the academic year. So far this year, the Education team has facilitated 130 distance learning sessions, reaching 6,444 students and teachers across 38 states, as well as Canada and Greece. Approximately 75 percent of these distance learning programs have been for participants and schools connecting from locations more than 50 miles from the closest National Archives facility, expanding the reach of programming for teachers and students.
“CILC has given us an opportunity to connect with phenomenal educators across the country, and it serves as another avenue by which schools and homeschool families can engage with the National Archives,” said Education Division Supervisor Nick Coddington. “Not every school is able to visit a National Archives location in person. Distance learning allows classrooms to connect with the National Archives regardless of location. We can meet students where they are.”
As the school year kicks off, NARA educators are preparing for two full weeks of free student webinars for Constitution Day (Monday, September 9, through Friday, September 20) with program offerings for elementary through high school students to support teaching the United States Constitution.
Learn more about the Education team’s Distance Learning programs available on the CILC website, and on the National Archives Educator Resources page.
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