Self-paced Modules
Self-guided online modules on key concepts for teaching with primary sources
These self-guided interactive professional learning modules from the Library of Congress cover key concepts for teaching with primary sources. Each module is self-contained and can be completed in an hour or less. (Note: You must complete the module in one session, as the system does not save your progress.) Certificates for professional development time may be available.
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Analyzing Primary Sources (45-60 minutes)
An introduction to the foundations of primary source analysis. Watch a sample primary source analysis, practice the strategy by analyzing a historical photograph, and explore teacher resources from the Library of Congress. A certificate for 1 hour of professional development will be available upon completion.
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Multiple Sources for Multiple Perspectives (45-60 minutes)
Strategies for analyzing multiple primary sources to examine multiple perspectives. Analyze a primary source about a well-documented event in U.S. history, examine multiple points of view related to the source, and work with additional sources to further expand your understanding of multiple perspectives. A certificate for 1 hour of professional development will be available upon completion.
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Copyright and Primary Sources (45-60 minutes)
An overview of how copyright relates to an educator's use of primary sources. Discover what copyright is, learn to identify the rights status of a primary source on loc.gov, and consider ways you can use a source based on its rights status. Then, explore the story of U.S. copyright, including its beginnings, key historical moments, and evolution over time. A certificate for 1 hour of professional development will be available upon completion.