Breaking Free Of The Syllabi Bounds: Driving Force Institute Pioneers Relevant History Education

School syllabi are essential in shaping the future, equipping current generations with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive as adults. While undoubtedly vital, education systems face many challenges, from being considered uninteresting by many students and offering irrelevant information to not adjusting to the evolving needs of scholars. History is one sector of school curricula that's especially suffering in the modern world, with many students not paying attention in class and many teachers unwilling to improve their methods. Hoping to change history education globally, Patrick Riccards founded the Driving Force Institute (DFI), a nonprofit dedicated to improving teaching in a digital learning environment. 

Riccards, after decades-long experience in public engagement and education, realized the nationwide need for relevant and engaging teaching methods. While working for one of the most prominent educational nonprofits in the country, Riccards performed multiple surveys and analyzed the Nation's Report Card (NAEP) results. He found that Americans of all ages, especially those under 40, struggle to pass history tests. Aiming to solve that problem, Riccards helped develop a fellowship program for professors, teaching them how to create history games, escape rooms, and fun activities that make a classroom setting more engaging. While the results were positive, Riccards realized that that solution didn't tackle the issue at the root.

After founding DFI in 2020, Riccards embarked on a mission to find the most efficient and effective system for teaching history. "We had explored everything from BuzzFeed-style digital quizzes and digital simulations to synchronous platforms that enable collaboration. None of these ideas were successful, either due to technical issues or simply not getting the masses excited," adds Riccards. "After a while, I realized something: my kids spend most of their time watching short videos on TikTok or Instagram. That's when I knew that 2-3 minute-long videos, the complete opposite of traditional lengthy and complex methods, were the modern-day, relevant solution I've been searching for."

Over four years, DFI, in partnership with MakeMatic, developed and shared over 500 videos as part of its Untold History series. The initiative entails short films that potently capture a particular person, event, location, or artifact often omitted in textbooks. The forgotten narratives brought to the surface by the Driving Force Institute garnered over 52 million views globally.

Despite Untold History videos' surging popularity, Riccards was quickly hit with the sad reality: educational history films, no matter how engaging and unique, will never go viral. "At first, as I was watching kids and teenagers enthusiastically consume and share social media content, I had a far-fetched vision and thought I would produce content so interesting that teens would want to share it. It took me very little time to realize how ludicrous that was. No 16-year-old will brag about an educational video they saw, regardless of how much they liked it," says Riccards.

After analyzing the performance of the Untold History series, Riccards realized that while the numbers were impressive, the impact left on society lacked force. Starting in Spring 2024, the nonprofit will begin releasing videos analyzing the key moments in US history. That initiative, inspired by the realization that the 250th birthday of the US on July 4, 2026, is drawing nearer, will take a different distribution approach. In addition to being accessible at no cost on social media platforms, the Driving Force Institute will collaborate with several libraries, historical societies, and distributors globally, ensuring the engaging materials will find their way into many classrooms.

"We know not everyone has to love history. However, everyone should understand it, especially those aiming to work in civic, social, or political positions. Untold History achieved success beyond imagination, but now, as the US 250th birthday is closer, we believe leaving a tangible mark is more important than ever," adds Riccards. "By delivering our videos to schools, we hope to equip the current generation with essential knowledge. Kids and teenagers are the ones who will determine the future, and educating them is crucial."

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