Did you know that the first publication for the computer community was known as “Computer World?” It went into print in 1967 and ran stories related to program languages, such as ADPAC, and its ability to compete and out-perform languages like COBAL. How do I know all of this? Google Newspapers (https://news.google.com/newspapers)—the amazing resource where you can find archived newspapers from around the world going back to the 1700s.

A Look Back in Time

Google Newspapers places hundreds of newspaper catalogs from around the world in one central location, allowing for easy access to primary sources of information. One of the real strengths to this access is the ability to compare perspectives, bias, propaganda, and more. For example, you could compare newspapers to see the opposing viewpoints expressed by people in regions throughout the United States. Most conflicts do not exist in a vacuum, rather, they are endemic with other forces that predispose differences. Having access to this archive provides students with the ability to look at history’s conflicts and consider and evaluate the other standpoint at work.

Furthermore, these are primary sources of information, particularly on a local level, and they reveal an incredible amount of information about people’s attitudes and beliefs at different times and during different events.

How to Use Google Newspaper in Your Classroom

Wth Google Newspaper, you can

• Provide students with access to additional primary history resources
• Provide students with access to first-hand accounts to analyze and create their own perspectives of events during a particular time
• Examine two different countries during one of the World Wars, or the English perspective on America’s Revolutionary War
• Use articles and Op/Eds to compare people’s attitudes and beliefs at different times in history
• Analyze language and different dialects in speech through the examination of regional newspapers
• Use newspaper articles from the past as a source for “informational test” to be used across content areas
• Expose students to what is becoming a less frequently used, but still viable, form of media
• Explore the oldest form of mass media and see how it evolves throughout time

Send Us Your Ideas! 

Those are just a few ways in which you can use Google Newspaper, but we’d love to hear from you!  How would you use Google Newspaper in your classroom? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!