Resumen

This paper describes the HIV/AIDS oral history archive at the Oral History Center at UC Berkeley and UCSF, the adoption of new archival technology that will form part of the Center’s education outreach, and the development of an “Epidemics in History” curriculum for California high schools. Oral histories are excellent primary sources that fulfill the requirements of state standards and guidelines for high school teaching. What follows is an exploration of the nature of oral history, the pedagogical advantages of using oral history in the classroom, the new online audio-video platform being developed at the Oral History Center, the K-16 project to develop guides, curriculum content, sample assignments and project suggestions for Grade 8 and Grade 11, and the ways in which the HIV/AIDS archive can satisfy some the content guidelines for California history-social science standards, and enhance the social-emotional learning and critical thinking skills of high school students.