Special Collections and Archives (SCA) instruction program at Clemson University is grounded in the University Libraries’ Strategic Plan, the Clemson Elevate Strategic Plan, and the National Primary Source Literacy Guidelines. It promotes active, experiential learning to develop students’ information, primary source, and archival literacy skills. These include the ability to discover and evaluate information, interpret and use primary sources, and understand archival context, organization, and ethical considerations such as copyright and privacy.
The program supports our various learning communities and emphasizes adaptable, lifelong skills. It is designed to remain flexible and forward-thinking, evolving in response to changes in higher education and student needs.
Goals and Approach
The program supports our various learning communities and emphasizes adaptable, lifelong skills. It is designed to remain flexible and forward-thinking, evolving in response to changes in higher education and student needs.
Instruction expands beyond traditional archival sessions to include digital tools and classroom-based engagement. Activities fall into three main categories:
- Traditional: introductions to archives, research methods, and primary source analysis
- Customizable: course-specific instruction tailored to disciplines such as architecture, history, geography,
and political science - Creative: use of archival materials for artistic, literary, and design projects
Instructional Formats
SCA delivers instruction through multiple formats:
- In-person sessions in the archives or classroom, including workshops, orientations, and course-integrated activities
- Teaching boxes, which provide curated materials for classroom use
- Community instruction, bringing archival materials directly to community partners
- Online learning, including Digital Learning Objects (DLOs) and virtual modules that offer interactive tutorials and complete lesson plans using digitized collections
Overall, SCA’s instruction program provides a collaborative, innovative framework for teaching the use of primary sources, equipping students with critical research skills, and the ability to engage thoughtfully with information.