Website Critiques for 9/29 Class

The Animated Atlas of African History: I give this one a 3 out of 5 because it has a nice flashy design that shows promise, but it took me too long to figure out how exactly the site worked. Because of this, I don’t think many would stick around to play with the site, unless it was for a school assignment.

The Battle of Adwa – Scholarly Non-Fiction Media in the Digital Realm: This gets a 1. There is hardly any information on the page, and even though the design is nice and orderly, the lines pretty much run together, etc, there is hardly any info. Looks like this website was never finished

The Carolingian Canon Law Project: This gets a 2. I like the idea of the website, but when you search, the texts that come up are in Latin. Yes they are written in Latin, I know, but a translation would be nice. Just because I was raised in Catholic schools for 13 years does not mean I can read Church Latin.

China Beat Blog: I like this one. It gets a 4. I think it was easy to navigate, I can find previous blog entries, and there are plenty of links to click on. Only drawback is it is a very long page. Should probably take posts into the archives sooner.

Digital Harlem: Everyday Life, 1915-1930: I also liked this one, so it gets a 4. The map layover is really cool. I’m a big person n maps, and love how it is used to show exactly where events occurred that are chronicled in the website. I like how I can se crime, social activities, people, and places on this maps with explanations. Very well done.

Eastern Michigan University Digital Textbook: 1. It didn’t load.

Envisaging the West: Thomas Jefferson and the Roots of Lewis and Clark:This geta a 5. I like how you get the choice of the type of website you can see it in. The navigation is very simple. Just 3 main sections. Love the links to primary souces concerning the opening of the West. The interactive maps were excellent.

Euclid Corridor History Project: I gave this one a 4. I liked the design. Looked just like a subway map. Easy to navigate, lots of pictures and short stories of Cleveland’s history. I think students would enjoy this site for a class.

H-German 2.0: I give it a 3. Lots of good information. Too much text. Not enough visual/audio/video.

Historia I Media (Historiaimedia.org): Gets a 1. I can’t speak Polish.

History Engine: This one also gets a 3. I did not like how on the homepage an engine taking so much space did not have interactive buttons I could click on to navigate through the site. I believe this would have made it better.  But I like the idea of having students submit work. It will get some to become interested in the profession early which is always good. Hopefully it is well-maintained so that only good scholarship and writing is featured on the site, in a mannr that is equivalent to a student’s age.

“History of the 20th Century” Project: It get’s a 1 because it won’t let me in the site. Boo for passwords.

The Imaginary 20th Century: This one receives a 4. It’s awfully text-based, but there are lots of links to help scholars receive grants, scholarships, how to be a member, and the other services that this group provides.  I like how there are a great deal of advertised events.

The Indian Woods: At the Crossroads of Three Cultures: A 2. This site sucks. Only text, I don;t like the colors, and there simply is not a lot of information.

Invincible Cities: 4. The art is stunning. I like how his intro is 20 pages long, but you can click through slides of it as long as you wish. I like the layout. Flashy, but not too flashy. Hopefully he expands it like he wants to.

Jewish Digital Narratives: 4. i like how it can connect to social networking sites. That’s different. Lots of visual media. That’s the way it should be.

Le Projet Esternay: 4. Good contrast. The documents have been translated into English from the database. Otherwise it would be a 1 or 2.

Libraries of Early America Project: 4. Lots of good information. They have the libraries of famous early Americans. I don;t know where else I would find it, and it has links to what they had so you can buy it or read it for yourself.  I like the group talk feature also.

Look Back Maps: Another map-related site, like the one from Harlem, but in San Francisco. This one isn’t as comprehensive, so it only gets a 4.

Malaga Island: A Story Best Left Untold: Radio and photo documentary. It’s different. I like the layout, and the contrast, and the colors. Lots of visual media. Sad story. I’d give it a 4.

Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective: I’ll give it a 3. It’s interesting, a nice design. Though it’s too text-based.

OutHistory.org: I like it. I’ll give it a 4 or 5. I’m a bit biased though. But I like how it’s a wiki, which will let members of the gay community add to it. I’d be afraid of people writing homophobic things on the site, and don;t know how well that can be controlled.I might try to write some items on it myself.

PhilaPlace, a Neighborhood History and Culture Project: 1, because it hasn’t launched yet.

The Rethinking Timelines Initiative: Another map site. I like the idea. Good looking site. Needs more examples of these interactive maps. 2-3.

Scholarship and Segregation: Web-Based, Rich Media Access to the “The Negro in American History by John Hope Franklin”: 1, no text.

Shays’ Rebellion and the Making of a Nation: From Revolution to Constitution: 4. I like this part of history. I like the artwork. I like the blue background, and the fact that there are only 7 items to choose from in the main menu. It’s the kind of site I’d like to design.

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