| Dear Friends of The US History Show: I am in the process of reevaluating The US History Show: the way it is organized, what it is comprised of, how it’s packaged, and the price it is offered at. That being said, I would like to receive your thoughts on the matter via the following email address if you have a chance:
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. As you probably know, The US History Show is comprised of 22 podcast shows, each approximately two hours in length. Each episode reflects a different unit in the AP US History curriculum, but it also targets the content that should be the basis of most US History classes. The format reflects a radio talk show made up of the following elements: content-based discussions between two experienced AP US History teachers, Rich Woolery and I, that springboard off of AP-caliber essay questions and multiple-choice questions; interviews with a number of the nation's top historians; a life-coach segment designed by renowned author and life-coach Michael Neill especially designed to help high school students; period commercials that are generally light in nature; "interviews" with important people from history; and “breaking news" stories reflective of the genre developed by Walter Cronkite in his "You Are There" series in the 1950s wherein the listener is taken to important events in history as they are happening (with appropriate sound effects). The shows are accompanied by full class notes in JPEG form, developed by Rich Woolery; and about 1,000 photos that correspond to the episodes. Throughout all the shows, period music is used, including music licensed via the Smithsonian Institute. In its initial presentation to the public, subscribers could download the content directly to their iPods/computers and/or access the content directly from the Test Prep Network website over their one-year subscription period. Initial thoughts I have are: a. Publicize the product via Facebook so as to reach students. Virtually all of the advertising to this point has been directed at teachers. b. Break the podcasts into smaller segments so people don’t have to use the accompanying guide to find a three-minute segment in a two-hour show. c. Provide questions (and an answer key) to accompany the material so teachers can more easily assign an audio segment and have their students turn in some written work to prove they have done the assignment d. Approach Apple to see if they would be inclined to make the shows or parts of shows available on iTunes.
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