This site offers various collections for teaching Shakespeare (everything from lifestyle to Tudor music insult kits). It is a partnership among the Victoria & Albert Museum, The Royal Shakespeare Company, The British Museum, Into Film, British Film Institute, and TES (Times Educational Supplement).
This site can be used for independent research, group investigations, homework, and reference by high school through university teachers and students and those interested in Shakespeare.
Technical Requirements:
Up to date internet browser, high speed internet connection, ability to view video clips on your computer or device
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The goal the Teaching Shakespeare site is to provide resources for exploring and learning about Shakespeare through cultural approaches, themes, context, genre, and plays.
Target Student Population:
high school through university students; anyone interested in Shakespeare
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Knowing a bit about Shakespeare before visiting this site will heighten the appreciation of the items found in the collection, although no prerequisite knowledge or skills are required.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
This site is really a collection of collections about Shakespeare. The content is organized under cultural approaches, themes, context, genres, and plays. Going to any one of these selections users will find several collections. For example, under cultural approaches you can view materials under design, film, objects and images, and performance. If the user selects design, then there are more resources to be found under costume, set and stage design, and the role of the designer. Users can also see featured resources, one or more video clips, and specific image credits under the five main categories. The materials provide background for users to enable them to appreciate the plays and the time period in which they were written. There is a listing of videos of the plays, some of which are free to download.
Concerns:
None.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Because there is so much varied but well organized content on this site, high school through university instructors could use the site to get resources for introducing topics or units, supplementing course texts, or enhancing existing curriculum. Furthermore, students could use the site for study, research, or to support class presentations. Because of the organization of the site with categories and sub-categories, learning material can quickly be found and integrated into existing curriculum. Some of the Shakespeare plays are available for free download.
Concerns:
The site is closely tied to the British Museum, and that fact may impact use of the materials by teachers in other countries. However, some of the older films of the plays are marked "free to download."
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The Teaching Shakespeare site has a clean, visual, intuitive layout. The site is easy to navigate. Information can be shared from the site via Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and email. Information about each the partners in this site (See Overview) is available on the bottom of every page within the site.
Concerns:
None.
Creative Commons:
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