Lee aims to transform traditional history textbooks

Mimi Lee is in her first semester as an Iowa State professor but is already working toward improving the quality of high school history education programs. She hopes to enhance students’ experiences by transforming the traditional history textbook through the integration of primary historical sources.

 

"If the purpose of teaching history to our students is just transmitting facts to students … then the traditional textbook serves its purpose. But if we are also interested in teaching them to think historically, then a new type of narrative will be very useful."

 

Official title
Assistant professor in curriculum and instruction

 

Lee’s interest in history and social studies began at an early age and was influenced by her father, a geography teacher, and her mother, a civics teacher.

 

"History textbooks are full of facts, events, and dates. [Students] just think, ‘Okay, so this is history. This is what I should learn, memorize and cherish.’ But history doesn’t have to be pure memorization – it’s much more imaginative, much more engaging."

 

"I’m trying to suggest a new way of thinking about history textbooks,” said Lee, who rewrote a textbook section on the Battle of Lexington for her doctoral dissertation. She incorporated multiple primary sources from the historical period into her narrative, which she believes brings students closer to the reality of the past. “They get to see how someone moves from primary sources to a textbook account, which is the most distilled form of historical account. There is a gap in between, and I tried to fill that gap using a narrative."

 

Lee is interested in expanding the secondary social studies program, which, like her, is relatively new to Iowa State. She wants to help the program increase student enrollment and eventually add a master’s program.

 

Winter wonderland
While she recently experienced some of the least hospitable weather Iowa can offer, Lee is all too familiar with rough winters. Though she moved to Ames from Sacramento, Calif., time spent in Minnesota and Michigan prepared her for the frequent snow and bitter cold. “This winter has been harsh,” Lee admitted, but noted that “it’s better than Minnesota!"

 

In addition to her responsibilities as a professor, Lee is the mother of a 2-year-old daughter. When asked if she has enough on her plate, she responded with a laugh. “Yes. For the next 10 years!”