NC Digital History: What’s the buzz?

With the new school year starting, maybe you’re thinking you’d like to use some of the resources from LEARN NC’s “digital textbook” of North Carolina history. But maybe you just haven’t had the time to look through it all. We know: There’s a lot there. Where do you start? (At the beginning, but which beginning?) How do you find what you need?

Here are some ways to get introduced to North Carolina Digital History, from the quick start to the in-depth.

1. In a hurry? Skim the FAQs.
2. Got seven minutes? Watch the trailer. (Yes! A trailer for a textbook!) You’ll get a quick sense of what a “digital textbook” is, why we developed it, how it works, and what’s in it.
3. Got a little longer? Browse the sampler, which starts with an overview and then collects some of our favorite pieces of the textbook — the most interesting readings, primary sources, and multimedia.
4. The educator’s guide includes suggested discussion formats and activities, strategies for teaching complex and controversial issues, and procedures for working with various types of primary sources. You’ll also find an editable pacing guide to help you stay on track.
5. To learn even more, watch the archived webinar from this summer. It’s an hour-long demo and conversation with teachers that takes you through all the ins and outs of using our digital textbook. Also highlighted are ways for elementary and high school teachers to find resources.

Finally, watch this space: I’ll be blogging through the year about teaching “digital history,” with suggestions, strategies, and resources. That will also (I hope!) be the place to ask questions and get ideas from your fellow teachers. In the meantime, good luck as you start the new year!