media centered

Library of Congress Summer Institute

I am happy to report that my application for one of the Library of Congress Summer Institutes for Educators has been accepted.    Below is a description of the institute as well as part of my application:

July 30- August 1 Incorporating Primary Sources into the Teaching Process

This institute will help teachers take advantage of the instructional power of primary sources, the documents and objects left behind by participants in past events. Though most teachers are familiar with the importance of primary sources, many are unsure about how to use them in the classroom or how to help students use them in projects. In this workshop, Library of Congress specialists will introduce participants to the unique characteristics of primary sources, while helping explore some of the millions of digitized primary sources available on the Library’s Web site. Participants will look at ways to introduce students to primary sources, as well as to help them understand how to use, and cite, primary sources in projects of their own.

From my application:

What You Hope to Gain: I hope to gain a better understanding of the total scope and depth of subjects, topics, and issues represented in the digital and physical collection of primary materials available through the LOC.   Additionally, I wish to acquire a better understanding of the common features and qualities found in primary sources.  I look forward to Library of Congress experts helping me to compare and contrast the elements of these primary sources to the secondary sources with which students are more familiar.

How You Plan to Share: At the building level I will use knowledge gained at the Summer Institute to collaboratively design projects with subject area teachers that integrate LOC primary sources across the curriculum.  These projects will address a component of our information literacy program which is presently missing.  At the state level I will share my Summer Institute experience and the resultant school-based projects during the North Carolina School Library Media Association 2008-2009 conference. This conference is attended by approximately 1000 media specialists representing school districts across the state.

—

I look forward to bringing back new knowledge from this Institute and working with our faculty to design research projects for the 08-09 school year and beyond.

Now to the Next Step: Before I go to the Institute I want classroom teachers to give me some guidance.  Please add a comment to this post telling me about primary sources you would like to use.  I will go on a search for them during the institute.