The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) released the app DocsTeach iPad app (version 1.0) about two weeks ago.
From Fedscoop:
- Choose a historical era or topic to find an activity based on primary source documents such as the US Constitution, the canceled check for the purchase of Alaska, and Thomas Edison’s patent drawing for the light bulb.
- Participate in DocsTeach activities made with the Focusing on Details, Making Connections, Finding a Sequence, Mapping History, Weighing the Evidence, or Seeing the Big Picture tools.
- Zoom and inspect individual pages of documents, drawings, maps, and photographs using the controls in the document viewing window.
The DocsTeach.org web site first became available to educators and students in September, 2010. A few months later the resource became available to the public.
DocsTeach started with a collection of primary source documents, a group of seven interactive tools, and two dozen sample activities. In less than six months, teachers across the nation have created and shared more than 1,700 additional educational activities. This expanding collection of custom-made lesson plans help teach history, civics, math, and science in new and exciting ways! Now, the ever-growing web site, which can be used not only by teachers and students, but also by anyone who loves to learn, is being presented to the larger online community.
The DocsTeach app is available for free.