McKai Hoillet ’25 gives his WWI presentation in Mr. Jeremy Hart’s Modern World History class – Communications
If you ask upperclassmen about their experience with Modern World History, they are sure to bring up their time spent during the World War I trials.
Fourth Former Kellen Gardner, a student who recently completed his trial, said his favorite part was “competing against classmates in a nontraditional fashion.” He also said, “I learned more because it was a challenge, and I wanted to beat my friends.”
The project is made possible by the upperclassmen that fill in as judges during their free periods. Upperclass involvement is an important part of the process, as they have experienced this project in years prior, and they have insight on questions to ask and things to look for.
Fifth Former Quin Bongiovanni was a judge this year.
“The World War I trial was my favorite project I’ve done at Haverford thus far. I genuinely enjoyed it, and I wanted to use what I knew to judge and contribute to the class,” Bongiovanni said.
The World War I trial was my favorite project I’ve done at Haverford thus far. I genuinely enjoyed it, and I wanted to use what I knew to judge and contribute to the class.
Quin Bongiovanni ’24
Bongiovanni thinks highly of the project.
“This was certainly my favorite project I have completed during my time at Haverford. Notably, it established an engaging class environment with a healthy competition level which is something that I know my entire class enjoyed. The thorough research we had to do also has prepared me for my future projects, such as my term paper in United States History*,” Bongiovanni said.
Modern World History teacher Mr. Jeremy Hart said having upper-form judges is significant.
“It raises the stakes [of the trial] because you don’t want to look silly or uninformed around peers that you may be on teams with or be friends with,” Mr. Hart said. “It also allows upperclassmen to have opportunities at leadership which allow for a special type of learning.”