Peer Review

Ken Burns App for iPad

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Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This app is a set of interactive “playlists” which allow the user to explore various themes in US history. The first theme (centered on innovation) is free. Five additional themes are available for $9.99. Burns takes his famous film clips and proposes that history repeats itself, giving example in art, hardship, war, etc.
Type of Material:: assignment, case study
Recommended Uses:: In class, homework
Technical Requirements:: Computer skills Only compatible for apple products
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Student will gain a basic awareness of innovation through the development of the United States. • Students will use experiential self-guided learning skills to understand the multifaceted role of innovation in US history
Target Student Population:: High School (advanced), College
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Computer skills

Rating:
Strengths:: Integrated material • Excellent for exploratory learning. Saw, which was approximately 10% of the website (one had to purchase the blocked modules at $9.99), the historical footage lends reliability and verisimilitude to historical events.
Concerns:: Footage should have some idea of date or what else was occurring at that time. It leaves the viewer in the dark. Thus, it losses perspective. Arguable that history repeats itself. Santayana quote was not weathered well.

Rating:
Strengths:: Integrated learning • Reinforces multidisciplinary learning
Concerns:: For classroom use, this app would need a lot of instruction and wrapping. An instructor would need to provide questions or an assignment, as well as identify how the students should approach the videos and think about themes in history. While there are relationships between the different videos, some students might need guidance to see these links, especially given how short the clips are. Also, an instructor may need to provide historical context to make these clips meaningful for entry-level students.

Rating:
Strengths:: Highly intuitive design Easy to use Outstanding graphics No down time when clicking.
Concerns:: While the viewer can choose which videos to watch and what order to watch the material, suggest instructions for teacher guidance.

Other Issues and Comments:: This app is wonderful for general history enthusiasts. It is basically an introduction to Ken Burns' many films. To teach the discipline of history, it would need a lot of instructor input and direction. As a historian, it is hard to get on board with Burns' view of human nature as the same across time. While the themes are relevant and can help students see connections across time periods, instructors would need to stress historical context and the differences between time periods when using this material (especially if they use Burns' introduction for the app).
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