|
|
 Ratings
|
|
|
| Reviewed: |
Feb 21, 2005 by World Languages Editorial Board |
| Overview: |
Part of The Image Project sponsored by the CSU, WorldArt is a database of 35,000
digital reproductions of art works from cultures around the world. The
photographs were taken in museums, monuments and archaeological sites by
scholars and teachers, with permission from authorized personnel. The pictures
are made available, free of copyright fees, for teaching and research
purposes.Search by combinations of art form, historical era, nationality, city
or site, style, and object name.
|
| Learning Goals: |
To teach and learn cultures through artistic productions. Teach and learn
languages through visuals.
|
| Target Student Population: |
This resource will be of most benefit to advanced students, student teachers and
graduate students. It mostly fits content-based courses, but language teachers
may also use the pictures in beginning and intermediate level classes as visual
prompts for conversation, vocabulary build-up or written activities.
|
| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
|
| Type of Material: |
Searchable image database with tutorial for faculty
|
| Recommended Uses: |
Useful for teaching the history and culture of the target language. The pictures
can be used in projects, theses and dissertations. Teachers can project the
images in class.
|
| Technical Requirements: |
Flash is needed to use the zoom feature
|
|
|
|
| Strengths: |
The WorldArt collection already contains 35,000 pictures, and it continues to
grow since members can send their own pictures. Each object comes with a record
that provides detailed information on it, such as the creator's name, the
creation date, the location where it was found, the style and genre, and the
repository where the object is being kept. This continually growing database of
art images is an excellent resource for teaching culture within and across
cultures. The images are of high quality and can be made to fit one's
presentation needs.
Beginning users may want to start with the "Browse the collections" option,
which will present them with a choice of ten collections of the most
representative pictures from the database. The button "Portfolios list" leads to
collections organized mostly by period or nationality. The database can be
searched for specific objects. The "quick search" mode operates using keywords
such as artist names (e.g. Vinci), titles (e.g. Mona Lisa), subjects (e.g.
Madonna and child) or genres (e.g. Cubist). The more complex "search" mode
allows one to combine up to six fields of information related to a keyword,
artist or date. One of the site's most original features is the Community of
users. Once registered as members of the Community, users are given a working
area where they can create their own portfolios, sort the pictures in a special
order for presentations, and organize their image collections. The personal
portfolios can be private or shared with other members of the Community.
Registered Community members can also submit photographs they have taken and
want to make available to others. Users can also send comments,
request keyword
additions, and suggest corrections when they find mistakes in the records.
|
| Concerns: |
Some records contain mispelled words or other errors. Users who identify errors
can use the comment form (in the Description view of the object) to suggest
corrections.
|
|
|
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
Rating:  |
|
| Strengths: |
Worldart includes images of frequently cited as well as lesser known works of
art, all free of copyright fees and already in a digital format. With an
internet connection in the classroom, instructors can project the pictures for
in-class activities such as oral descriptions, vocabulary learning, preparation
for composition, oral presentations, etc. Students can be assigned to build
portfolios around a theme or keywords as homework or term projects. There are
also several image management software utilities, such as Image AXS, iView,
Extensis. Most are cross-platform, and come with instructions.
In the "community" section of the site, user-created portfolios of images with
notations about teaching and learning are available and serve as excellent
pedagogical examples for using the database.
The tutorial section offers instructions for using the images in presentations.
The tutorial is divided into three sections: finding images, gathering
information, and organizing the data. How the information gathered can then be
used in PowerPoint is presented.
These tutorials are clearly organized and can be printed out for easy reference.
Links to image management tools are also provided.
|
| Concerns: |
|
|
|
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
| Rating: |
|
| Strengths: |
Using Worldart is quite straightforward. The design is simple and consistent,
there is a comprehensive "Help" area and the pictures can be viewed in three
different sizes: thumbnails, mid-size and large. The pictures can be downloaded
and their record saved as a text file. To query the database,
the "quick search"
function is easier to use that the advanced "search" modes. One can
browse the images organized by continent, topic, or time period. These
can be viewed in a text list or as thumbnails.
The search engines are easy to use and function well. The site also offers an
excellent tutorial to train users on the technical steps for using the images.
|
| Concerns: |
|
|
|
| Other Issues and Comments: |
|
|
