Looking Back, Learning Forward: Supporting Project- and Problem-Based Learning with Historical Primary Sources

Historical primary sources can support learning that is grounded in authentic, open-ended problems of today. Join educators for a discussion about teaching with primary sources as part of a sustained inquiry process throughout which youth share learning, solutions, and products beyond the classroom. Guests discussed the questions about matching primary sources with problem- and project-based learning. The conversation also pointed to specific resources and teaching strategies available from the Library of Congress.

This hangout was produced in support of Letters to the Next President 2.0, a project engaging youth in civic participation on issues and topics that matter to them in the US Presidential Election. It was also co-streamed at connectedlearning.tv.

View the Conversation

During the broadcast, the conversation also took place on Twitter using the hashtags #2nextprez or #connectedlearning and via the Chat Roll feature at Educator Innovator.

• View the Live Chat Archive 

Participants for this Webinar Included: 

• Trey Smith (host), Teacher Consultant, Philadelphia Writing Project (PA); 2015-16 Science Teacher-in-Residence, Library of Congress.
• Kathy McGuigan, Education Resource Specialist, Library of Congress.
• Beth Rimer, Co-director, Ohio Writing Project, Miami University; NWP College-Ready Writers Program (CRWP) Leadership Team.
• Casey Vogel, Grades 5 and 6 teacher, Convent Elementary (CA); 2016 participant, Library of Congress Summer Teacher Institute.
• Regina Wallace, Instructional facilitator, Clayton County (GA) School System; 2016 participant, Library of Congress Summer Teacher Institute.

Resources for this webinar:

• Library of Congress
• Library of Congress Teacher Page
• Library of Congress Primary Source Sets
• Library of Congress Primary Source Analysis Tool and Teacher’s Guides
• Library of Congress Professional Development
• Teaching with the Library of Congress Blog
• Blog Post: Paint, Poisoning, Proportions, and Public Health and Policy
• Blog Post: Electric Cars, Energy, and Engineering
• Blog Post: Microbeads, Nanomaterials, and Federal Legislation
• Blog Post: Concussions, a Century of Controversy, and Football
• Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers from 1836 to 1922
• World Digital Library
• Congress.gov
• Letters to the Next President 2.0
• Philadelphia Writing Project
• Ohio Writing Project
• Evening star. (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, March 26, 1918, Image 15 « Chronicling America« Library of Congress (mentioned in hangout)
• Teacher Resources from the Library of Congress – YouTube (mentioned in hangout)
• Library of Congress Professional Development Webinars, including 3/17/16 webinar with Trey Smith (mentioned in hangout)
• Essential Project Design Elements from Buck Institute for Education (mentioned in hangout)
• “Overview of Problem-based Learning: Definitions and Distinctions” by John R. Savery (mentioned in hangout)
• Women’s Suffrage – Primary Source Set | Teacher Resources – Library of Congress (mentioned in hangout)
• “Circle of Viewpoints” from Making Thinking Visible (mentioned in hangout)
• Immigration – Primary Source Set | Teacher Resources – Library of Congress (mentioned in hangout)

Photo/ Library of Congress

#2NextPrez Discussion on Twitter