Books & Bytes

Why is this a tech tidbit? Because these days it is easier and easier to access primary sources online! It no longer necessarily means buying an expensive compilation of primary sources when you really only wanted a couple of the documents in the book. (Or perhaps as a history major I'm the only one who remembers doing that extensively in college??)

Any time you teach with primary sources, you should make sure that your students understand the difference between primary and secondary sources and why both types are important for research. It seems like a simple concept to many of us but I guarantee that even if students won't admit it, they frequently need a bit of a refresher on the terminology.

So, where do you get primary sources and how can you use them? Start here with the Library of Congress guide for teachers on using primary sources. Then try these...

1. Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL or Access My Library app) - there are reference books in our DHS virtual library with lots of primary sources. As we talked about in our tech session, these are similar to traditional reference books and can be accessed by all your students. I've targeted purchasing to include primary sources so there are many examples in there!
2. Student Discovery Sets from the Library of Congress - these are iBooks (need the app) that contain compiled primary sources on a variety of topics. LoC also provides teaching resources to accompany the texts.
3. National Archives Digital Vaults - free access to digital photos and documents contained in the national archives. Check out the video below for ideas on how to create movies and posters with these artifacts.
4. World Digital Library - more than 10,000 primary documents and images from collections around the world! The WDL aims to be accessible to as many people as possible by providing search tools and content descriptions in seven languages. The WDL can also be searched by clicking through the map on the homepage.
5. Historical Scene Investigation - a fun way for students to investigate history through primary documents and images. There are 13 cases that students can attempt to "crack," each with a set of clues in the form of primary documents, images, and secondary sources. At the end of their investigation students need to answer questions and decide if the case should be closed or if more investigation is necessary.

What antidepressant drug was released to the public in 1987?

*Know the answer? Come to the Media Center to claim a prize. :)

Email: jmenold@cpsk12.org
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