Keystone 112 Introduction to Primary Source Learning and LOC Archives NIK ROBERTS TEACHING WITH PRIMARY SOURCES COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

The Library of Congress

Primary v. Secondary Sources

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 Sources

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 Encyclopedias Biographies Documentaries Newspapers Dictionaries Monographs Primary & Secondary Sources

Why Learn from primary Sources?

Why Learn from primary sources? 1. Deepens content knowledge 2. Exposure to multiple perspectives 3. Builds critical thinking skills 4. Encourages creativity 5. Builds empathy for the human condition 6. 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

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!Image

Blogging

Digital Storytelling Food GuidesFood Guides, Annette Clay and Janet Mizikar

Flickr

Facebook

LOC YouTube Channel

Social Bookmarking Our Del.icio.us site:

Resources for Teachers (loc.gov)

LOC TPS Resources Page (click to download worksheet) to download worksheet Main Links: Library of Congress Main Page: myLOC: American Memory: Prints and Photographs Online Catalog (PPOC): Rare Children’s Literature (and more): Exhibitions: Global Gateway: Thomas (legal collection): World Digital Library: Citing Digital Primary Sources: Social Media Webcasts (lectures and talks): LOC YouTube Channel: LOC Flickr Photostream:

Keystone 112 thank you, and happy primary source learning! NIK ROBERTS TEACHING WITH PRIMARY SOURCES COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA