Esther Quaedackers

Esther Quaedackers is a lecturer in Big History at the University of Amsterdam.1 She specializes in teaching and researching Big History, an interdisciplinary approach that examines the history of everything from the Big Bang to the present as a whole.1 Quaedackers is known for developing innovative teaching methods, including:

1. Creating podcasts with expert interviews for students to listen to while walking outside1
2. Using knowledge clips and virtual whiteboards to enhance online learning1
3. Implementing active learning techniques to engage students in her courses1

Quaedackers is also credited with developing the concept of "Little Big Histories," which became a culminating research activity in Big History courses.4 This project allows students to trace the history of a chosen object or idea back to pre-human times, connecting it to various aspects of Big History.4

In addition to her teaching role, Quaedackers is working on developing ways to use Big History for research purposes through articles, chapters, and a forthcoming book.1 She has also been involved in creating new courses, such as the "Pandemic" elective at the University of Amsterdam.3

Quaedackers is recognized for her expertise in Big History education and has contributed to online courses on the subject, including a Coursera course titled "Big History - From the Big Bang until Today".2