You have found a topic. Now what? A historically-informed STEM lesson is only as good as the research it is based on. But if you are not trained as a historian, the information available online can be difficult to navigate. How can you find the most relevant information? How can you be sure it is reliable?
This page guides you through how to begin research on a topic in the history of math or science. Following the instructions below will give you a solid foundation to start developing a lesson plan. But remember, research is an iterative process. As you read the sources you find and start writing your lesson plan, you will develop new questions about your topic (and your topic may change, becoming broader or narrower). When that happens, revisit this part of the website!
Know Your Sources
Primary source: an original text, image, or object created during the era you are studying. Secondary source: a historical analysis and interpretation of primary sources.
Keeping Track of Your Sources
As you follow the instructions on this page, be sure to record the citation information for each source–at the very least, this means the title, author, publication source (journal, encyclopedia, website, publisher, etc.), and publication date. This will not only allow you to find the source again later, but you will also be ready to correctly format your bibliography. You can keep track of your sources with something as simple as a notebook or text file, but a citation manager like Noodle Tools can help you keep an organized, running bibliography (and you can collaborate on a group bibliography, too).