The Library of Congress is currently developing an online learning institute to provide primary source-based, interactive professional development opportunities for educators throughout the United States and overseas.
This progressive educational program will:
- Mirror the experience provided by the network of partners in the Teaching with Primary Sources Program
- Provide adaptable courses and workshops to teachers of different curriculum disciplines and grade levels
- Expand the community of educators dedicated to the improvement of education through the use of primary sources
- Illustrate the design of student-centered primary source-based learning experiences that use best instructional practices
- Implement standards-based learning experiences that improve student ability to critically examine primary sources
- Deliver a world-class online learning environment
The content for the initial course will be presented in a progressive format, taking participants through three phases: Discovery, Design, and Dissemination. Participants may choose to take one or all three phases for one to three credit hours of graduate credit. The Discovery phase defines primary sources, introduces the Library Web site, develops searching strategies, and illustrates downloading and selecting primary sources. Design phase activities include creating a lesson or activity development plan, researching with primary sources, understanding goals, inquiry-based activities, technology-based activities, and evaluation strategies. Dissemination focuses on best practices, field-testing student learning experiences created in the course, sharing outcomes, and interdisciplinary activities.
The institute will make use of current education technologies including a learning content management system offering both synchronous and asynchronous learning, and videoconferencing.
Please contact Virtual Institute staff for more information.