Teacher Seminars Online

What is the Teacher Seminars Online program?

This is the thirty-first year that the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has provided teachers with the opportunity to study in seminars with eminent American history professors and dive deep into primary sources with master teachers, and the sixth year offering these seminars online. We will be offering ten different seminars online this summer from June 23 to August 7, 2025, as part of a full slate of professional development programming from the Institute this summer. Registration is just $25 per seminar, and you are welcome and encouraged to register for as many seminars as you like. Email us at seminars@gilderlehrman.org if you are interested in registering for three seminars or more for special discount codes and offers.

What does each Teacher Seminar Online include?

• Lectures: 15 hours of video lectures (also available as MP3 audio files) by leading historians that you can watch or listen to before or after the live sessions
• Live Sessions: 3 live scholar Q&A sessions, 2 live pedagogy sessions led by Gilder Lehrman master teachers, and 1 live session for open discussion and networking with peers
• Gilder Lehrman Resources: Selected primary sources, lesson plans, spotlights from the Gilder Lehrman Collection, and other classroom-ready resources
• Professional Development Credit: A certificate confirming completed hours/CEUs for the seminar (upon successful completion of seminar requirements)

In addition, select seminars are held in partnership with museums and historic sites across the country and include special live sessions and resources.

Who is eligible to register for Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminars Online?

• Full-time K–12 teachers of all subjects, principals, and librarians from schools in our Affiliate School Program, along with community college instructors, National Park Service employees, and museum professionals may register.
• Curriculum specialists and district supervisors may register for Teacher Seminars Online as long as one of the schools they work with is in our Affiliate School Program.

Can I participate in more than one Teacher Seminar Online?

You are welcome and encouraged to register for as many Teacher Seminars Online as you like. Email us at seminars@gilderlehrman.org if you are interested in registering for three seminars or more for special discount codes and offers.

When can I register for a seminar? Is there a deadline to register?

Registration for 2025 Teacher Seminars Online is now open. Registration will remain open for all seminars until capacity is reached or one week prior to the first live session in that seminar (whichever comes first). We encourage teachers to register by May 27 so they have ample time to review all pre-recorded lectures in a seminar before its first live session.

How do I sign up for a Teacher Seminar Online?

Make sure you are logged in to the Gilder Lehrman website and go to https://www.gilderlehrman.org/nhtoy-nomination-teacher-seminars. Before selecting your seminars, we ask you to nominate a teacher for History Teacher of the Year. Once you have done this, please follow the prompts to proceed with your registration.

When can I access the pre-recorded lectures for my Teacher Seminars?

Participants will be able to access pre-recorded lectures and digital resources beginning Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

How long will I have access to the pre-recorded lectures and other content from my Teacher Seminars?

Participants will have access to their seminar materials through Friday, September 12, 2025.

When are the scholar Q&A and master teacher pedagogy sessions?

Live sessions for each seminar will take place within the week of that scheduled seminar. Each seminar will have three live scholar Q&A sessions and two pedagogy sessions. Select seminars will have additional live sessions. Please note that some scheduling is subject to change.

How many Q&A and pedagogy sessions do I have to attend?

In order to receive credit for your participation, you must attend all live scholar and master teacher sessions during the week of your seminar. Exemptions for absences due to childcare, health, or professional reasons may be given on a case-by-case basis.

Do any of the seminars conflict or overlap?

We have planned the schedule to minimize live-session overlap wherever possible. This means that you can participate in multiple seminars across weeks or within the same week. However, there may be up to 15 minutes of overlap. Please check the start and end times of all live sessions before submitting your registration.

What technology will I need?

Teacher Seminar participants can view lectures on any device with a good Internet connection, though accessing the seminars on a desktop or laptop computer works best. You will need headphones or speakers to listen to and watch the lectures.

In order to participate in the live Q&A and pedagogy sessions, which will take place on Zoom, you will need a webcam or, at least, your computer’s microphone or a smartphone with the Zoom Android or iOS application installed. There will also be an audio-only option to call in to Q&A and pedagogy sessions using a phone.

How can I access the seminar materials?

All Teacher Seminars will be hosted in the Gilder Lehrman Online Learning Community via TalentLMS. TalentLMS is a cloud-based platform that can be accessed via all browsers, including Firefox, Edge, Chrome, Safari, and Opera. It is also compatible with browsers used by mobile devices (i.e., iOS and Android). All seminar participants will be provided with a TalentLMS account that will give access to lecture videos, online resources, participant discussion boards, and links to all of the live Zoom sessions.

What expenses am I responsible for?

There is a non-refundable $25 registration fee per seminar. Fees are paid by credit card and your space in the seminar is not confirmed until payment is received.

How do I withdraw from a Teacher Seminar?

Please email seminars@gilderlehrman.org to withdraw. If you are certain you can no longer participate in the seminar, please email us to withdraw as soon as possible so we can open this spot up to another teacher. Please note that registration fees are non-refundable.

Can I earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or Professional Development Points (PDPs)?

Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminars are generally eligible for CEU and PDP credits, but it is your responsibility to verify eligibility with your school administration or state PD office. (Please note that the Institute is an approved provider of professional development in Massachusetts, Montana, New York, Texas, and Washington State, and in Michigan through a partnership with the Michigan Council for History Education. The Institute is not an approved provider of Illinois State Board of Education PDCs or Act 48 credit in Pennsylvania.) If you need more information to determine eligibility than is available on the Teacher Seminars page, please email us at seminars@gilderlehrman.org.

How will I receive my certificate?

Certificates of completion will automatically be shared with participants upon completion of an online seminar (measured by viewing all lectures and participating in all live sessions).

Can I receive graduate credit?

At this time, we are not able to offer graduate credit for our Teacher Seminars. You may wish to consider taking courses in the Gettysburg College–Gilder Lehrman MA in American History program.