Peer Review

America the Gutted

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Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This collection includes several videos, articles, slideshows and short stories on the challenges that arise as businesses take their companies and jobs offshore to find cheaper labor. It looks not only at the impact of such business decisions on people here in the US, but also in China and the Philippines. The videos and stories focus on a few specific industries in a story type format to highlight the issues around the relocation of decent jobs.
Type of Material:: Collection of videos and articles.
Recommended Uses:: Could be used in class to discuss globalization and relocation of jobs, or the disappearing middle class. Students could watch the videos or read the articles for homework and could be used to set up a debate in class.
Technical Requirements:: Must be able to play video.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Students will be able to identify some of the challenges to workers associated with relocation of jobs and to consider the costs to society of businesses being driven primarily by profit margins. Additionally, students will gain an appreciation for the complexity of globalization.
Target Student Population:: High school and up.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Need to understand the political economy of market and production/consumption cycles.

Rating:
Strengths:: Great visual reinforcement for learning about the outsourcing of different industries -- denim, iron and law. The videos are well made, articles well written and the content provides accurate information in a clear and concise manner.
Concerns:: Strictly USA focused, non-critical of "American Dream" ideology. Could cite more research or include more material that is outside of the three specific industries it chose to focus on.

Rating:
Strengths:: The site uses introductory videos and posts to guide the learner along. It is efficient and could easily be integrated into any curriculum. It was not designed specifically as instructional tool but can be used as a resource to complement other material.
Concerns:: It merely presents information and does not offer specific ways of assessing or measuring student outcomes.

Rating:
Strengths:: Click and play. Good resolution and quality of video. Attempts to provide different perspectives by interviewing both Americans and workers in the countries where the jobs have been outsourced. The videos are engaging and the site as a whole is visually appealing and very intuitive to use.
Concerns:: Some concerns about accessibility requirements for the videos. Requires internet connection.

Other Issues and Comments:: Good for talking about class issues. However, it does make it seem as if this is only a USA issue, but the offshoring of services and goods' production is a wider phenomenon. Surprised it does not address banking. Has not been updated since 2012. There are some links on the page that don't work.
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