DISSERTATION PROPOSAL ANNOUNCEMENT Ed.D. Program: Jessica Cappadona “‘NEVER FORGET!’: A Case Study of Experiential Learning for Historical Empathy at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum”

Historical empathy, or the ability to understand the experiences, actions, and decision making rationale of historical figures within the specific contexts of their era, is a crucial skill in social studies education that enables a more holistic understanding of history while also providing greater appreciation for contemporary multiperspectivity (Bartelds et al., 2020; Endacott & Brooks, 2013; Huijgen, et al., 2018). Research has documented known learning benefits, however, pedagogical practices to cultivate historical empathy continue to be debated. Historic sites and museums create ideal learning environments for students to engage with elements of historical empathy in a unique manner that cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom setting (Marcus et al., 2017; Perotta et al., 2024). However, little research focuses on how student experiences at museums and historic sites can be used to cultivate learning, particularly among secondary social studies students. This research is a mixed methods case study of a curricular intervention exploring how a field trip to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum influences the development of historical thinking skills among secondary social studies students.

To access the Zoom link required to attend this defense, please contact academic.services@gse.rutgers.edu.