For this week’s case study I chose http://historymatters.gmu.edu/ it is one website with a TON of potential and a viewer would need to put aside quite a bit of time to review everything that it encompasses. Below I have summarized the main sections/links the site has.
The Many Pasts feature was pretty cool. It contains primary documents in text, image, and audio about the experiences of ordinary Americans throughout U.S. history. The documents have been screened by professional historians and are accompanied by annotations that address their larger historical significance and context. The full search feature allows you to quickly locate documents by topic, time period, or keyword.
“Making Sense of Documents” provide strategies for analyzing online primary materials, with interactive exercises and a guide to traditional and online sources. Included are oral histories, films, maps, photos, letters, etc.
www.history has links to many websites useful for teaching US History and social studies. They also have a list of their favorite websites at the bottom with detailed descriptions.
Digital Blackboard This feature provides successful Web-based assignments
Reference Desk
This feature provides annotated links to resources on standards, citing and evaluating Web sites, and understanding copyright and fair use laws as they apply to the use and creation of educational materials on the Web
Talking History Over the past several years, History Matters has organized twenty-five online dialogues with leading historians and teachers about the the teaching of major topics in U.S. history–from early settlement to the Vietnam War. Those discussions are archived here and contain many useful teaching suggestions.
Syllabus Central This feature provides annotated syllabi that offer creative approaches to teaching, with particular emphasis on innovative ways of organizing the U.S. Survey and integrating technology.
Students as Historians This feature presents examples of the kinds of projects history students, from high school to graduate school, have done on the Internet. Projects range from oral histories or prose with Web links to visual essays or exhibits.
Secrets of Great History Teachers In these interviews distinguished teachers share their strategies and techniques.
Puzzled By the Past This is an archive of past quizes.
The website also has a link to a page that lists all the other projects affiliated with this website.
