Its great what you are doing john, and welcome to scale models forum!
I teach myself, Its allways been my experiance that Tactile contact and visual connection to history is the key to cracking retention of learning.
I lectured on the Battle of the atlantic last year and had the kids all fired up by steaming My Hms Eskimo around the school duck pond! This year its the med. war and malta... So im using the axis and allies war game miniatures to fight some convoy actions in class... the little devils are assasins!!!!
Anyway, glad to have you with us!

TF57 (aka Russ)