Choctaw Code Talkers 1918 - Curriculum Pilot Video & Survey
We love history education as much as you do.
We are delighted that you will join us. As educators, you already do the heavy lifting—guiding students to think critically, ask hard questions, and connect the past to the present.
Our goal is simple: to give you tools that make those moments even more powerful.
We would like to know if what we are doing works! Feedback from you and your students will help shape how immersive curriculum can serve teachers everywhere.
We have a short pre- and post-viewing survey for you and your students, to be administered right before and right after viewing. If you would like to view the questions in advance, here they are:
Context
Why This Story Matters
In 1918, a group of young Choctaw men used their Native language to send secret messages that helped turn the tide of World War I. At home, that same language had been forbidden in schools. Their courage—and the power of their words—reveal a hidden chapter of U.S. history that still resonates today.
This curriculum invites students to connect emotionally and intellectually with the story of the Choctaw Code Talkers through immersive media, critical reflection, and classroom discussion. It’s about language, service, and cultural resilience—and about how understanding these moments helps us see our shared history in a fuller light.
This curriculum invites students to connect emotionally and intellectually with the story of the Choctaw Code Talkers through immersive media, critical reflection, and classroom discussion. It’s about language, service, and cultural resilience—and about how understanding these moments helps us see our shared history in a fuller light.
How This Curriculum Began
This project began when educators at the New Mexico Public Education Department and the National WWI Museum and Memorial asked if our Choctaw Code Talkers 1918 XR experience could be adapted for classroom use. Teachers told us they wanted students to feel history, not just read about it. Together, we designed lessons that blend immersive storytelling with inquiry-based learning, aligned to state and national standards.
Your participation helps refine this program for future classrooms—so that every student can experience history through multiple perspectives.
Your participation helps refine this program for future classrooms—so that every student can experience history through multiple perspectives.
Why Immersive Learning?
Research shows that immersive environments can deepen engagement and retention:
- Students in VR-supported social studies units score 30–40% higher on post-lesson reflection and empathy measures.¹
- Inquiry-based VR helps students ask more complex “why” and “how” questions.²
Get in touch with us!
We want to hear from you. Please reach out to curriculum@ourworlds.io with questions. We are looking for more classrooms for our pilot - please share this page with your colleagues and let them know they can sign up here.
¹ Makransky et al., Computers & Education (2019).
² Jensen & Konradsen, Educational Technology Research & Development (2018).
² Jensen & Konradsen, Educational Technology Research & Development (2018).
Watch a video preview:
Our Mission
OurWorlds is a Native-led, educator-driven platform using immersive technology to share stories of culture, language, and place. We partner with tribal nations, museums, and teachers to create XR learning experiences that bring Indigenous knowledge into classrooms everywhere.