Lessons from the Vault: Develop inquiry-based assignments with Special Collections

Wednesday, June 15, 2016, 9:30am - 12:00pm, W.D. Jordan Rare Books and Special Collections, 2nd floor (6th level) of Douglas Library

Welcome!

• Introductions• Overview of Special Collections Services and Materials• Brainstorm lesson plans and assignment ideas• Share our results• Overview of past classes and assignments• Tour the Vaults

Your Special Collections Librarians

Dr. Alvan BregmanCurator and Head of W.D.

Jordan Rare Books and Special Collections

Jillian SparksSpecial Collections Librarian

Introduction questions

• Name• Department• Area of specialization• Have you taught with special collections

materials before?• If yes, what course? Did you have a

connected assignment?• What do you hope to learn from this workshop?

Services

• Curate collections: we acquire new materials, put on exhibits, maintain the collection. • We would love to collaborate with you on

exhibits or purchase materials (budget permitting) to directly support your curriculum

• Research: we will work with you on your projects and suggest material that may be useful.

• Teaching: we want you and your students to use our collections. We can co-lead sessions, teach your session, or you can lead your session (with us still in the classroom)

Collection Strengths

• Edith and Lorne Pierce Collection of Canadiana• Poetry, literature, school text books, exploration• Canadian Pamphlet collection

• Rare Books• Dated collection 1475-1700• Schulich-Woolf Collection• Bible Collection• 18th Century British Political Pamphlets• Dickens Collection

• Science collections• McNicol Collection (telegraphy)• Riche-Covington Collection (radio astronomy)• Jeannie and Vero Wynne-Edwards Collection

(natural history)

Collection Strengths

• Authors’ libraries• John Buchan• Robertson Davies• Mazo de la Roche• Ralph Gustafson

• Broadsides and Posters• Poetry• World War I and II• Chinese Cultural Revolution

• Maps• Early North American and

Canadian maps, 17th-19th century

Your Students and Special Collections

Our collections are intended for teaching. Special Collections instruction sessions provide students with the opportunity to: • conduct hands-on research with primary

sources• develop research skills• learn how to handle rare materials• prepare for future independent work in

special collections• contribute new perspectives on their topics

Scheduling a Class

Schedule a class online

We kindly ask that you request classes a minimum of two weeks in advance. We can generally accommodate a maximum of twenty students, but will do all in our power to meet your needs.

• Librarian Led Class• Faculty & Librarian Led Class• Faculty Led Class

Preview our new teaching page and library website

Brainstorm Lesson Plan or Assignment

• Pick your course• Develop a topic/question for your special

collections session or larger course theme• Using the 5 Ws—consider what questions the

materials will raise• Who is the reader?• When—how does this relate to the historical

context?• Why/how—think about significance?

• Consider snapshot and big picture learning outcomes from the session

• Bring it all together to create your assignment• How will you assess their progress?

Overview of Past Classes and Assignments

Course: History 313 British North America, 1759-1867

Assignment: no outside assignment

Overview of Past Classes and Assignments

Course: English 442 Romanticism and the Visual

Assignment: In class assignment

Overview of Past Classes and Assignments

Course: History 318 Modern East Asia

Assignment: Short group paper on 3 posters

Overview of Past Classes and Assignments

Course: History 400-004 Topics in History: Foucault for Historians

Assignment: Seminar paper on prison newsletters

Prison Sentences: Penitentiary Literature in Kingston

Thoughts or Questions?

Tour the Vaults