introduction to primary source learning and loc archives

roberts_n@calu.edu 724- 938-6022 Keystone 112

Introduction to Primary Source Learning and LOC Archives

NIK ROBERTSTEACHING WITH PRIMARY SOURCES

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICESCALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

The Library of Congress

Primary v. Secondary Primary v. Secondary SourcesSources

A Secondary Source is…a source created by using indirect information provided by someone else.

A Primary Source is…a source coming from direct personal experience or observation.

Primary v. Secondary Primary v. Secondary SourcesSources

Primary Sources Handbooks Meeting Minutes Artifacts Case reports Autobiographies Diaries Interviews Journals Letters Music Raw video footage Photographs Poetry Speeches Coins Post-it notes deeds Cell phone records Art Clothing etc.

Secondary Sources Textbooks

EncyclopediasBiographiesDocumentariesNewspapersDictionariesMonographs

Primary & Secondary Primary & Secondary SourcesSources

Why Learn from primary

Sources?

Why Learn

from primary sources?

1. Deepens content knowledge2. Exposure to multiple perspectives3. Builds critical thinking skills4. Encourages creativity5. Builds empathy for the human condition6. More exciting for students

Student Research

Where do good ideas come from?Where do students first go to do research?

Search Engine

Reverse the Trend!

But how do I use primary

sources in my NHD project?

It’s all about

Asking Questions of Sources

“the more you look, the more you see.”

Inquiry #1 Question: What’s

happening in this home?

Babies: “Babies crying” Man:

“Sitting down while lady goes out, he doesn’t look happy”

Lady:“She’s Dressed weird”

Sign:“Votes for women”

Inquiry #2 Question: What’s happening

in this home?

Babies:This clue might hint that this problem caused all the mishap in the house like the crying babies.

Man:This guy is depressed because he has to watch their kids and she gets to go out.

Lady:This might mean that the woman in the poster is going outside.

Sign:This clue might hint that the woman might go vote or fight for women’s rights.

Inquiry Strategies

Sourcing Consider a document's attribution (both its author and how the document came into being).

Contextualizing Situate the document and events it reports in place and time.

Corroborating Check important details across multiple sources to determine points of agreement and disagreement.

Close Reading Read carefully to consider what a source says and the language used to say it.

From This…

To This…

WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK?

The more you look, the more you see!

Okay, I’m sold on the idea, but where

can I find digital primary sources?

The LOC is like this picture of trunks

Using the Library of Congress (loc.gov)

The LOC’s Digital Collections

American Memory

http://memory.loc.gov/

Social Media

Let’s back away from the Library of Congress website and see how they are integrating

social media and primary source content on the web in general.

Google [Image] Search the LOC!

Blogging

http://tpscalu.wordpress.com/

Digital Storytelling

Food Guides, Annette Clay and Janet Mizikar

Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/

Facebook

LOC YouTube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/LibraryOfCongress

Social Bookmarking

Our Del.icio.us site: http://delicious.com/TPS_CUP

Resources for Teachers (loc.gov)

LOC TPS Resources Page(click to download worksheet) http://tpscalu.wordpress.com/

Main Links:Library of Congress Main Page: http://www.loc.govmyLOC: http://myloc.gov American Memory: http://memory.loc.govPrints and Photographs Online Catalog (PPOC): http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/catalog.htmlRare Children’s Literature (and more): http://www.loc.gov/rr/rarebook/digitalcoll/

Exhibitions: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits Global Gateway: http://international.loc.gov/intldl/intldlhome.html Thomas (legal collection): http://thomas.loc.gov/ World Digital Library: http://www.wdl.org

Citing Digital Primary Sources: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/citing.html

Social Media Webcasts (lectures and talks): http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberic/LOC YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/LibraryOfCongress LOC Flickr Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/

roberts_n@calu.edu 724- 938-6022 Keystone 112

thank you,and happy primary source learning!

NIK ROBERTSTEACHING WITH PRIMARY SOURCES

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICESCALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA