What is Teaching with Primary Sources
– Colorado?
The innovative Teaching with Primary Sources –Colorado (TPS-Colorado) program provides professional development to access and use the over 11 million digitized primary sources and vast collections of material from the Library of Congress. TPS-Colorado is part of the larger national Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program. Professional development classes are available for in-service and pre-service teachers, college faculty, librarians, media specialists and other educational support personnel. The goal of the TPS-Colorado project is to develop a professional development network that reaches out to Colorado educators to support the use of Library of Congress primary source-based instruction in the classroom.
Why use primary sources?
Primary sources are snippets of history that may include letters, manuscripts, diaries, journals, newspapers, speeches, photos, interviews, and other artifacts. They often come with minimal context. Working with primary sources requires students to be analytical, to examine sources thoughtfully, and to determine what else they need to know to make inferences from the material. History comes alive for students that are motivated by primary sources. Analysis of primary sources deepens student understanding by developing students' memory, reason, and imagination. Primary sources foster empathy for the past, perspective on the present, and the ability to influence the future.
How do I participate in the TPS-Colorado Program?
The TPS-Colorado program is available at no charge to all Colorado K-12 educators. Online graduate credit is available for the cost of tuition. Contact TPS-Colorado at (303)352-4945 or mscd-tpscolorado@mscd.edu for details about enrolling in the Teaching with Primary Sources classes.
There are four levels of TPS-Colorado participation.
Level 1 - Primary Source Foundations: introduces the breadth and organization of the Library of Congress’ digital primary sources, demonstrates the value of primary sources in instruction, and provides examples of primary source-based learning experiences.
Level 2 - Advanced Primary Sources: examines strategies for evaluating, creating, and teaching subject-specific, standards-based learning experiences that integrate primary sources from the Library of Congress and exemplify best instructional practices.
Level 3 - Teaching with Primary Sources Ambassador - Colorado (TPS-CO Ambassador): builds a network of experienced Colorado educators who advocate the use of primary sources and widely disseminate the ideas, methods, and products of Teaching with Primary Sources program.
Teaching with Primary Sources Ambassador - Library of Congress: develops a network of national ambassadors who travel to Washington, D.C. for one week to network and conduct research for their self-designed primary source related projects to be implemented in their home districts. The Library of Congress funds a limited number of National TPS Ambassadors participants each summer. Only TPS-Colorado Ambassadors are eligible to apply and compete for this opportunity.
Why participate in the TPS-Colorado program?
There are numerous reasons to participate in this professional development program. As a TPS-Colorado participant, you will be part of a national network that helps you and your colleagues learn to access and use Library of Congress online materials and other digital primary sources. You can become an influential mentor and help others learn about primary source-based instruction. You can earn possible recertification credit and graduate credit to advance your career.
By participating in the TPS-Colorado Levels I and II classes, you can obtain your Teaching with Primary Sources certificates; earn up to $450 in digital primary source certificates (redeemable only at the TPS-Colorado Digital Primary Source Center); and receive a USB Flash Drive with TPS-Colorado course materials. Continued participation and completion of the Level III Teaching with Primary Sources Ambassador - Colorado program makes you eligible to apply for the prestigious Teaching with Primary Sources Ambassador - Library of Congress fellowship.
What is the
TPS-Colorado Schedule?
Check the Schedule for more details about the TPS-Colorado
classes. Register
for classes online. For more information, contact TPS-Colorado at 303-352-4945 or mscd-tpscolorado@mscd.edu.
TPS-Colorado News
TPS-Colorado is eager to introduce our
new members and to hear how our participants are using TPS resources.
We'll be contacting participants and partners to see if they have
any noteworthy events to report. If you have some special news to
share, don’t hesitate to notify us by e-mailing the Webmaster.
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