This web site has been prepared to provide information about a range of issues related to "Homeland Security," "The Patriot Act," and "Civil Liberties." The goal is to provide information that can empower site visitors who are interested in reviewing, and critically thinking, about these issues. Each of the five pages includes "reflection questions" that can be used for individual learning or incorporated into course assignments.
Type of Material:
Presentation -- Five pages with reflection questions about USA security and policy including the Patriot Act. Links to each page are found below and at the top of each of these pages. It can be seen as a tightly organized compendium of pertinent web pages regarding the topics listed. These can be used as a segment of a course which revolves around the key critical questions in each of the pages. The answers to these critical study questions require delving into the resources linked.
Recommended Uses:
1. The Instructor can use this site as a learning module for courses in social policy, political science, government, sociology, and social work, among others.
2. The Reflection Questions can be used as a guide for team or individual papers and/or class discussions.
3. The web site can be used as a resource for students in the above courses to be used in conjunction with other assignments.
Technical Requirements:
Since this is a resource of web pages, all that would be needed initially would be the apt use of a web browser and high speed internet connection. It is possible that some of the linked pages may require additional technical tools and skills.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
1. Discover web resources concerning the following topics:
a.)The current definitions and interpretations of Civil Liberties
b.)An understanding of Homeland Security, how it is defined and its role in the Federal government
c.)The question of 'Why Now?' challenging the reader to understand the changing global events that have lead to the current change in policies and laws regarding Homeland Security.
2. The use of this compacted form of web research to develop critical opinions concerning homeland security and its balance with civil rights as guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution
Target Student Population:
Because the site is a compendium of multiple resources, it would be appropriate for both undergraduate and graduate courses in social science and political science.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Introduction to sociology and/or political science with some historical background on security policy in the USA.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
This is well organized. The first page clearly explains both the content and focus of the web site.It addresses some key issues regarding our citizen responsibility in insuring our civil rights while taking into consideration the need for homeland security. It has ample resources to be explored by the students while being guided with the critically based Reflective Questions. The site is also easy to use and has convenient links in several places on each page.
Concerns:
The web site will clearly require high maintenance. Many of the links attempted did not work. The website needs to be updated. Many of the links were no longer current. This historical website should be consciously connected with current political events.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Diversity of links means that it can be structured pedagogically in any number of ways and the reflection questions are broad enough to fit a variety of courses, from ethics, to history, to political sciences. Because it is so well organized and compact, it can be a hub of learning information from a variety of sources.
Concerns:
There are several links on each page, many of which were not self explanatory by their name only. For that reason, a short explanation of them would have been helpful. Also, the Reflective Questions are useful. It would seem the nature of the subject materials would lend itself to a greater variety and breadth of these types of questions.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The main strength is the categorization of individual pages and the easy link from one page to another. There are also resources in the left hand column.
Concerns:
Beyond the web links, there are no other interactive visuals that would make for ease of use or allow for an intuitive navigation through the topical areas. The visual effect for each page may appear both busy and overwhelming to some readers. Many of the links were not self explanatory by their name only. For that reason, a short explanation of them would have been helpful.
Other Issues and Comments:
Several of the links are not live and need to be fixed.
Creative Commons:
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