Teacher PD

Barat Education Foundation is a consortium member of the national, congressionally funded Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) initiative. The mission of the TPS initiative is to help teachers use the Library’s vast collection of digitized primary sources to enrich classroom instruction.

Learning @ the Source

The TPS-Barat program offers no-cost blended learning programs to Chicago-area and Rockford-area educators. For more information contact us online or direct at 847.574.2465.

The TPS-Barat Learning @ the Source programs combine online learning with in-person training to help teachers discover how to identify and use engaging primary sources from the Library of Congress. These primary source activities align to Common Core State Standards and promote inquiry learning and critical thinking skills.

Level I: Understanding

  • Goals: accessing Library digital resources and practicing methods for inquiry-based instruction using primary sources
  • Format: blended instruction – a few hours of online prework combined with one day of in-person training (may be divided into more than one session)
  • Outcomes: Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs), USB with ready-made teaching resources, Level II eligibility

Level II: Application

  • Goals: developing and integrating inquiry-based instruction using Library primary sources into classroom practice
  • Format: online learning (time dependent upon strand) and support as participants develop, implement, and reflect on a subject-specific or cross-curricular unit of instruction
  • Outcomes: Masters credit and/or Level III eligibility

Level III: Continuation

  • Goals: preparing to train and support area educators in the use of Library digital resources and inquiry-based instruction using primary sources
  • Format: in-person training and online support from the TPS-Barat Primary Source Nexus
  • Outcomes: induction into the TPS-Barat Teacher Corps, opportunities to deliver stipend-subsidized training, opportunities to publish on the TPS-Barat Primary Source Nexus

 

National TPS Initiative

The congressionally funded TPS mission is to help teachers use the Library’s vast collection of digitized primary sources to enrich classroom instruction. TPS Consortium members assist in the design of the TPS program and offer TPS professional development year round. There are currently 28 consortium members serving educators across 18 states. These organizations offer workshops, online courses, graduate courses, and mentoring programs that meet the same goals as the professional development offered in person at the nation’s Library in Washington, DC.

If your state is not listed, contact your congressperson! You may also access the Library’s self-serve professional development programs, which include online learning modules as well as materials for in-person training.