Teaching History with Merlot Classics Award Winning Materials William Paquette, Ph.D. Merlot History Co-Editor Professor of History - VCCS

Why should I use material on a web site in my teaching?

Web Based Materials Are free Are visually appealing Offer direct use of primary sources Supplement instructional materials Encourage computer literacy Teach discrimination of internet materials Contain learning objects

How do I use web based materials in my teaching?

Web Based Materials Offer virtual tours in the classroom Can be used for online instruction Can be used for assignments outside the classroom Contain resource depositories Contain imbedded learning objects Offer instructions opportunities to create assignments

4 Web Sites The Lizzie Borden Case The Valley of the Shadow Martha Ballard 2002 Merlot Classics Winner Who Killed William Robinson? 2003 Merlot Classics Winner

Lizzie Borden In Class Instruction Virtual tour of 19th century Fall River, MA Character profile writing Use of primary sources Trial testimony Census data Maps Photographs City directories Newspaper accounts

Lizzie Borden Outside Class Activities Write short papers of 5-7 pages on 19 th century Class structure Sexual politics Family structure Women in the United States Leisure and consumer culture Class conflict Justice and the media

Lizzie Borden Teach the Research Paper on 19 th century United States Urbanization Industrialization Mass Production Consumer attitudes Technology Leisure Women

Valley of the Shadows In Class Instruction Virtual tour of primary sources Newspapers Letters Diaries Photographs Military records Maps Church records Population/census data Agricultural census data

Valley of the Shadows Outside Class Instruction Research and Write Social History Papers Women African Americans Farmers Politicians Soldiers

Valley of the Shadows Outside Class Instruction Compare and Contrast Papers Augusta County, VA with Franklin County, PA North and South views on Slavery Occupations Immigration Railroad building Industrialization Agriculture

Martha Ballard In Class Instruction Virtual tour of 18 th century Maine Teach primary sources Teach research paper and/or short subject papers Develop local history projects Conduct genealogical research

Martha Ballard Outside Class Instruction Teach the research paper Film as historical narrative Midwifery and herbal medicines Diary writing Historical investigation (toolkit provided) Home textile production Law and justice in 18 th century New England

Who Killed William Robinson? Meet the Authors! Ruth Sandwell John Lutz

How I Use Web Based Materials Information collection Supplementary readings Virtual tours of art work Writing short papers Discriminating between primary and secondary sources Extra credit

Extra Credit and Web Based Materials Four units of study per semester Each unit of study has an extra credit assignment worth 25 points Accumulated extra credit points can equal 100 points Extra Credit points may replace the lowest test grade