The Center for Historic Preservation’s transition from seminars to webinars on teaching with primary sources was the focus of a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program. 

Dr. Stacey Graham

Kira Duke

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Stacey Graham, Kira Duke and Layla Smallwood first aired Aug. 18 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org. 

You can hear their conversation above.

Graham, a CHP research professor, is director of the Teaching with Primary Sources project.

The program is funded by the Library of Congress and focuses on helping teachers find and use historical artifacts and images to bring history to life for their students.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CHP had to move its monthly sessions with educators to cyberspace.

“The real challenge was thinking not just what teachers can do for professional development, but what they need,a because their needs have changed,” Graham said.

“We love to get out in the state and work one-on-one with teachers to build relationships with them,” said Duke, a CHP specialist. “So for us to transition to … doing most of our workshops … all virtually has been a real leap for us.”

Layla Smallwood

Smallwood, a doctoral candidate in MTSU’s Public History Program, said there are certain useful tips to finding primary sources online.

“The key is knowing the right search terms,” Smallwood said. “You just have to know how to use it and the ways to manipulate the system to get what you want.”

“Historic Epidemics,” the first CHP webinar, debuted May 14. A complete schedule of upcoming webinars is available at https://library.mtsu.edu/tps/workshops.

Teachers can access resources used in the webinars for their own presentations and lectures at https://padlet.com/tps_mtsu/DiggingIn.

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about the radio program, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.