What is digital history?

Digital history is the study of the past using a variety of electronically reproduced primary source texts, images, and artifacts as well as the constructed historical narratives, accounts, or presentations that result from digital historical inquiry. Digital historical resources are typically stored as electronic collections in formats that facilitate their use on the World Wide Web. Arguably one of the most comprehensive efforts to create and preserve digital historical resources can be found in the United States Library of Congress' American Memory project.

 

ONLINE ACTIVITY - Browse the American Memory collection titled Life Histories, Federal Writers' Project ~ Manuscripts ~ 1936-1940 and answer the following questions.

1. What are some ways social studies and history teachers can use this collection in their classes?
2. What are some of the special considerations that must be made before teachers can use digital historical resources?
3. What are the limitations of using resources such as Life Histories, Federal Writers' Project ~ Manuscripts ~ 1936-1940?
4. Compare the Life Histories collection with the special presentation titled Voices from the Thirties Life Histories from the Federal Writers' Project. How is pedagogy built into the Voices special presentation?

NEXT - How do we keep students on task when using the computer?

Web address http://msit.gsu.edu/socialstudies/culver/intro_digitalhis.htm
Maintained and operated by John K. Lee jklee@gsu.edu
Last Modified: 06/06/02