Going to the Source: Teaching and Learning with Digital Primary Sources
Thanks to all who attended the “Going to the Source: Teaching and Learning with Digital Primary Sources” conference! The conference’s purpose was to explore and demonstrate how teachers can find and use the Library of Congress’s and the Library of Virginia’s digitized primary sources to enhance social studies instruction through interactive presentations and hands-on activities. Dr. Ayers’s keynote address set the perfect tone for the event, emphasizing the importance and usefulness of incorporating primary sources into K–12 social studies curriculum. The sessions went well and plenty of instructive materials and resources were distributed to participants. We are optimistic that all educators will find these materials useful for classroom instruction. Overall, the conference had a great turnout, and we hope that everyone had an enjoyable and educational experience.
We greatly appreciate your session evaluations and feedback on the conference.. The comments will allow us to improve our future endeavors. If you have other ideas, comments, or questions, contact us.
Below you will find photos from the event and links to materials used throughout the conference.
Conference Resources:
Links to the Web sites demonstrated during Dr. Edward L. Ayers’s presentation, “Making the Past Present: Using Digital Primary Sources in the Classroom.”
Voting America: United States Politics, 1840–2008 http://americanpast.richmond.edu/voting/elections.html
History Engine: Tools for Collaborative Education and Research http://historyengine.richmond.edu/
The Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War
http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/
The Library of Virginia
Click This! Online Resources from the Library of Virginia
LINK
Virginia Memory, the gateway to the Library of Virginia’s digital collections
http://www.virginiamemory.com/
Teaching With Primary Sources, Northern Virginia Alliance
Teaching with Primary Sources was the event’s co-sponsor. On its Web site, you will find primary sources, teaching materials, and online activities used at the conference.
http://va.tpslessons.org/index.php
St. John’s Church Foundation
St. John’s Church Foundation also co-sponsored the conference. Its Web site provides information about the history of the church, reenactments, and educational resources.
http://www.historicstjohnschurch.org
Photos:
Conference participants attend the opening session, during which Dr. Edward L. Ayers delivers the keynote address.
Dr. Edward L. Ayers, president of the University of Richmond, delivers the keynote address for the "Going to the Source" Conference on Tuesday, June 23, 2009. His presentation highlighted the digital history projects that he's fostered at UR including the History Engine and Voting Maps.
"Going to the Source" conference participants in session
Kay Peninger, director of St. John’s Church Foundation, leads a presentation on their new lesson plan, "Give Me Liberty!"
Patricia Carlson with Teaching with Primary Sources Northern Virginia leads "Using Primary Sources to Build Big Ideas." This session focused on lesson plans based on primary sources.
Lilo Stephens with Teaching with Primary Sources Northern Virginia talks with participants during her session's activity.
Teachers learn how to make movies in the Computer Lab during "Practical Movie Making with Digital Media," led by Rhonda Clevenson and Bill Ferster.
"Going to the Source" conference participants in session
Tameka Hobbs, program and education coordinator at the Library of Virginia, leads the session "Mining a (Digital) Treasure House," which explored the digital primary sources available on the Library of Virginia’s Web site.
Dr. Betsy Barton, elementary history and social science specialist for the Virginia Department of Education, gives remarks at the conference's closing session.
Rhonda Clevenson, director of Teaching with Primary Sources Northern Virginia, leads "The Art of Reading Primary Sources."