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Teaching with Primary Sources

Alabama

  • University of Alabama

    Crafting Curriculum: Developing Dynamic, Innovative Curriculum Materials to Scaffold Learners’
    Thinking about the Past with Historical Photographs from the Library of Congress (2022)

    This project, which arose from a grant awarded to Dr. Cory Callahan with the University of Alabama, centered around three interlocking features. First, Callahan developed a dynamic, innovative curriculum that nested digitized resources from The Library of Congress within a wise-practice, inquiry-based instructional approach. These well-researched and user-friendly resources carefully scaffolded secondary social studies teachers—both in-service and pre-service— and teacher educators as they achieve many TPS Program Goals. Second, Dr. Callahan and Mr. Mitch Hitch, a professional web developer at Internet Resources Group, collaborated to develop an interactive online learning environment. Third, Dr. Callahan shared the project with local in-service teachers and pre-service teachers, TPS Consortium members, an international network of teacher educator colleagues, and attendees at regional, national, and international conferences.

    Beyond Words 2.0: Using Historical Photographs from the Library of Congress in an Inquiry-Based, Technology-Supported Approach for Developing Civic Competence (2015)

    Using field-tested learning strategies and the power of interactive Web 2.0 technologies, the Beyond Words 2.0 project by the University of Alabama (UA) promoted inquiry-based, wise practice approaches for improving student outcomes through primary sources. Social studies teachers from partnership schools with the UAwere introduced to Teaching with Primary Sources Level I objectives and resources. Participating teachers informed their colleagues on the use of primary sources from the Library of Congress. This project piloted procedures for offering asynchronous, online professional development centered on primary source instruction and support for teachers.

    Contact: Dr. Cory Callahan

  • Auburn University

    Utilizing Primary Sources in the Elementary Classroom

    Teacher candidates from Auburn Universityand their cooperating teachers received extensive professional development on Level I Teaching with Primary sources program objectives. In-service teachers mentored and supported the pre-service teachers to work in their classrooms and integrate primary sources into their instruction.

    Contact: Dr. Deborah Morowski or Dr. Theresa McCormick

  • University of South Alabama

    Strengthening Social Studies Methods Courses Through the Use of Primary Sources

    Teacher candidates at the University of South Alabamawere trained by facilitators from the TPS Midwest Region, Alabama Archives, and the History Museum of Mobile. They received additional instruction through professional development videos about integrating primary sources from the Library of Congress. Activities using primary sources and a workshop held at the museum and the Archives engaged the teacher candidates and provided them with sample lesson plans.

    Contact: Dr. Susan Santoli

  • Mobile County Public Schools

    An Integrative Approach for Increasing Achievement with Low-Performing Students

    Social studies teachers from the ten lowest-performing middle schools (grades 6–8) in the Mobile County Public Schoolswere trained to develop interactive, student-centered, and inquiry-oriented instruction which integrated the reading and effective use of primary sources from the Library of Congress. Professional development included techniques for increasing student engagement. A teacher leader from each school in the trainee group served as an instructional coach for teachers; teacher leaders also offered professional development workshops for other teachers in their region after this year-long project. School improvement specialists and administrators were also involved in this professional development to offer an additional layer of instructional support.

    Contact: Todd Stork

  • Alabama Center for Law & Civic Education

    We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Professional Development and Curriculum Enhancement Using Library of Congress Primary Sources

    During three days of intensive professional development of this project by the Alabama Center for Law & Civic Education (ACLCE), educators had the opportunity to attend lectures by scholarly presenters, participate in a simulated congressional hearing, and learn information about lesson development, including the use and integration of primary sources into the We the People curriculum. Lessons developed during and at the conclusion of the workshop were posted on the ACLCE website and submitted to the Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX) for publication. In addition to the dissemination of lessons, this project was presented at the state and national levels.

    Contact: Dr. Alan Stevens

  • Troy University

    Enhancing We the People Curriculum with Library of Congress Primary Sources

    In this project by Troy University, teachers added to their content knowledge of civics, government, and economics by acquiring pedagogical skills for integrating primary sources into the We the People(WTP) curriculum. The lessons, which incorporated digitized primary sources from the Library of Congress, were created from WTP texts and supplemented by iPads. After training, teachers later participated in a simulated congressional hearing. Recordings of these hearings and the lessons created were posted on Facebook to provide networking opportunities and a resource repository for teachers.

    Developing Historical Inquiry with Primary Sources and Oral Histories

    For this grant awarded to Troy University, pre-service elementary education teachers conducted an oral history project and created a photo story using primary sources from the Library of Congress. They also designed an interdisciplinary lesson plan to be utilized in their field placement, incorporating their research and assessments of historical thinking. Lesson plans were submitted to Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX) for publication on their website.

  • Using Documents to Develop Historical Thinking: A Statewide Initiative

    Pre-service elementary education teachers fromTroy Universityused digital primary sources from the Library of Congress to create inquiry-based learning experiences. Utilizing the train-the-trainer model, teacher trainers helped disseminate effective instructional strategies that used primary sources to reach in-service regions in Alabama.

    Contact: Dr. Ruth Busby