By Cassandra Hendry
Throughout history, some of the greatest empires have risen and sometimes fallen, like Rome, Britain and the Ottomans. All empires have one thing in common; they changed the world we live in today. But Danielle Kinsey, a history professor at 杏吧原创, thinks there鈥檚 another similarity: there鈥檚 so much to learn from them.
That idea is what has translated Kinsey鈥檚 teaching into award-winning work. As the recipient of a 2014 New Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, she鈥檚 lived up to her accolades by showing her students just how interesting the history of empires can be, sometimes in unorthodox ways.
鈥淚鈥檓 very interested in popular culture today and how empires are depicted in our pop culture,鈥� Kinsey says. 鈥淚 let students do projects that critique that. I get a lot of [papers on] Star Wars and the video game Age of Empires.鈥�
The reason why Kinsey strays from the usual history-based teachings is simple.
鈥淗istory is full of facts and I de-emphasize the facts and am more interested in structures, how power works and these larger concepts. Students get more into it this way, instead of just memorizing a bunch of facts,鈥� she says.
In the classroom, clarity is key. Kinsey tries to be as creative as possible while still being direct with students as to what will be on a test. She says it鈥檚 very satisfying for students that this teaching style gives them peace of mind while still keeping them interested.
鈥淪tudents appreciate clarity and, if nothing else, that鈥檚 what I deliver.鈥�
Examining ancient empires isn鈥檛 her only specialty. Kinsey focuses on empires that are a bit closer to home, too, giving her students another way to relate.
鈥淚 used to teach in the U.S. and there it鈥檚 easier to convince students that the British empire may have made a few missteps,鈥� she says. 鈥淚n Ontario, it鈥檚 a little more pro-empire.鈥�
Teaching students that are surrounded by the remnants of the former British empire鈥檚 strong influence in Canada has produced results. Kinsey says she鈥檚 received a much more diverse spectrum of opinion about empires with her students at 杏吧原创 than in other places. Opinions have led to discussions, which have led to better-informed and engaged students. And for Kinsey, that鈥檚 exactly the outcome she had in mind.