What final tips help teachers and librarians use primary sources successfully for inquiry-based teaching and learning?
Primary sources will play an increasingly important role in inquiry because of the expansion of digitization and the development of valuable digital collections like those available from the Library of Congress. To successfully use primary sources in inquiry: • Focus the inquiry experience on big ideas and themes; • Frame the learning experience with an inquiry process; • Explicitly teach and scaffold the critical thinking and information skills of inquiry; • Confront students with both conflicting and corroborating evidence; and • Engage students in locating and interpreting primary sources on their own Using primary sources during inquiry-based learning empowers students to develop deep understandings of academic content and a portfolio of thinking strategies and skills that are essential for lifelong learning. Barbara Stripling is the former president of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). She is currently the Director of Library Services for the New York City Scho
