If I assume that I have ideal access to internet, projection, and other strong technology in my classroom, then I think that I will certainly use digital primary sources in my classroom. The versatility they offer, the imagination they encourage, and the innovation with which they are presented are all factors that would enrich an student's educational experience and comprehension exponentially. One of the most important parts of hooking a student on the past is to help them feel like they can relate to it. I think that digital primary source resources accomplish just that: they enable students to be enamored by the reality behind the sometimes-hypothetical lessons in a social studies classroom.
Using primary sources can be done in a number of ways. I think that the best way is to have students divide into small groups and work through a certain source with guided questions. This way, they are engaging in collaborative learning, being guided by good scaffolding (assuming the questions are well-thought out!), and getting to really dive into the sources.
Other ways students can engage with primary sources is to reproduce a unique version on their own. They can recreate propaganda for a modern day issue or a historical issue, allowing them to create and process the information at a high-level of thinking.
Primary sources are certainly what have given me a love for history and I hope that they can be an integral resource in passing that love along to my students. Given the new technologies available and the ocean of resources available, they are easier to find and use than ever!
