Tech Tool: Primary Source Analysis & Annotation with ThingLink

Tech Tool: Primary Source Analysis & Annotation with ThingLink

ThingLink is an online tool that allows you to layer images and videos with text, web links, and other media files. Most digitized primary sources from the Library of Congress, including most text documents, are saved as image files so ThingLink is a great tool for analyzing and annotating primary sources directly on the sources…

Integrating Tech: Linking the Learner to Learning

Integrating Tech: Linking the Learner to Learning

Can an article from 2009 really be useful in helping educators think about the pedagogy of integrating technology with primary source learning? The answer is absolutely! To learn why and how, read the TPS Journal article Technology Integration and Primary Sources: Linking the Learner to Learning written by Peggy O’Neill-Jones, Director of the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary…

Integrating Tech: Using Skitch & Evernote to Analyze Images

Integrating Tech: Using Skitch & Evernote to Analyze Images

This is a guest post from Kerry Gallagher, a Technology Integration Specialist at St. John’s Prep, a 1:1 iPad school serving grades 6-12, and former middle and high school history teacher. We learn about the lives of our friends partly through the images they share with us on social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and…

Finding Resources: TPS Journal

Finding Resources: TPS Journal

Dig deep into a variety of teaching with primary sources topics. The TPS Journal, formerly titled the TPS Quarterly, is an online, peer-reviewed publication focused on pedagogical approaches to teaching with Library of Congress digitized primary sources in K-12 classrooms. Each issue provides sections related to the issue’s thematic focus: a feature article, an elementary primary source activity, a…

Integrating Tech: Poetry 180

Integrating Tech: Poetry 180

Poetry 180 is a project of two-time U.S. Poet Laureate (2002-2003) Billy Collins. The Poetry Foundation describes Mr. Collins, “Dubbed ‘the most popular poet in America’ by Bruce Weber in the New York Times, Billy Collins is famous for conversational, witty poems that welcome readers with humor but often slip into quirky, tender or profound observation…

Finding Resources: Everyday Mysteries

Finding Resources: Everyday Mysteries

If you’re looking for some fun science facts to intrigue and delight your elementary students, head over to the Everyday Mysteries section of LOC.gov. This part of the Library of Congress website gives answers to many of life’s most interesting scientific questions, all of which were asked by researchers and answered by librarians from the Library’s Science Reference Services….

Tech Tool: Primary Source Analysis with Padlet

Tech Tool: Primary Source Analysis with Padlet

Padlet is a digital bulletin board in which you can pin comments and ideas in the form of text, documents, images, videos and more. In the video tutorial below we show how Padlet can be used to allow students to collaborate on a primary source analysis.   Custom background image containing primary source analysis tool columns Primary source…

Finding Resources: Creating a Google Custom Search Engine

Finding Resources: Creating a Google Custom Search Engine

Do you have a class website or web page? If you do and you love Library of Congress primary sources as much as we do, here’s a way you can provide your students with direct access to all the fantastic resources compiled on the TPS-Barat Primary Source Nexus teaching resource blog. Simply add a custom Google search…

Using Sources: Creating a Digital Annotated Bibliography

Using Sources: Creating a Digital Annotated Bibliography

Cornell University Library describes an annotated bibliography as “a list of citations to books, articles, and documents. Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation.”Lisa Oppenheim from the Chicago Metro History Education Center notes that annotations for National History Day (NHD) and Chicago Metro History Fair should…

Tech Tools: Citation Tools

Tech Tools: Citation Tools

There are many digital citation tools available to help students properly cite the sources used in research projects. Below is a brief overview of five free resources. EasyBib Pros: numerous source types; auto search and annotation options; free Android and iOS apps and a Google Docs Add-on Cons: multiple advertisements; does not offer Turabian style Styles:…

Using Sources: Citing Digitized Sources from the Library

Using Sources: Citing Digitized Sources from the Library

LOC.gov provides researchers of all ages access to millions of digitized primary sources. When using these sources in research or learning projects, it is important to provide citations. Citing primary sources requires the researcher to think carefully about the source—who created/published/distributed it, when was it created, and from where was it accessed. Citing sources ensures that full…