Teaching With Primary Sources: A Report for Ithaka S + R from Northern Michigan University

During the 2019-2020 academic year, Northern Michigan University (NMU) participated in the ITHAKA S + R Teaching Undergraduates with Primary Sources research study. Catherine Oliver, Metadata and Cataloging Services Librarian, and Marcus C. Robyns, University Archivist, conducted seventeen interviews with NMU faculty from a variety of disciplines on their research and instructional use of primary sources. Oliver and Robyns collected and analyzed qualitative data with the intent on producing a local report. The report concludes with four important recommendations for supporting faculty in teaching with primary sources. The report’s findings cover five major themes identified in the study: Preparation to Teach and Learn; Curation, Sharing, and Digital Formats; Finding and Using Primary Sources; Primary Source Literacy and Critical Thinking Instruction; and Active or Experiential Learning. Each section includes a discussion of several sub-themes. The report wraps up with a summary conclusion of the results and four recommendations