Peer Review

Le Québec en images

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Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: Le Quebec en images is an image database created and maintained by the Centre
collegial de developpement de materiel didactique with the financial support of
the Information Highway Fund from the Ministry of Culture and Communication of
Quebec. Its primary aim is to provide much-needed access to royalty-free
pictures of Quebec, its regions, society, and culture for educational uses.
According to the authors, "the Quebec en images website thus contributes to the
conservation and circulation of a significant part of Quebec's collective
memory." Users are encouraged to donate high-quality photos that can be used
royalty-free. Conditions for use include mention of the source (CCDMD) and
maintenance of the integrity of the image. The database currently contains
thousands of images.
Type of Material:: Collection
Recommended Uses:: Images can be used to supplement lecture material, to create presentations on
Quebec, and to enhance culture lessons.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Uses can enhance their cultural knowledge of Quebec and its regions.
Target Student Population:: Students of Quebec history and civilization, French as a second language
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: n/a

Rating:
Strengths:: Images in Quebec en Images cover a wide range of categories such as people,
society, landscape, construction, society, events, and even flora and fauna.
Some images are in
black and white and some are in color. A fact sheet appears with each image with
the title, date, photographer/contributo, and a brief description of the
content.
Information on the owner of the copyright appears on this fact sheet as well.

There is a wide variety of clear high-quality photographs, some dating back in
history and therefore creating a historical record. Users can create their own
personalized albums and add comments to them.

Rating:
Strengths:: There are many classroom uses for the photos in Quebec en images. Students can
search for images that correspond to readings on Quebec and include them in
presentations. Instructors can create a personal collection to supplement
lectures.The inclusion of visual images enhances instruction for all learners,
but is particularly valuable for visual learners. For example ,including some
winter images while studying Gilles Vigneault's classic "Mon Pays" makes for a
more multisensory experience.
Students can be asked to use the postcard feature to mail the instructor a
virtual postcard from the collection on which they can write information
about the photo in the target language. Time on task is increased as the student
selects images, resulting in a more solid conception of Quebec and its
regions.

This collection is a much needed resource for units on the Francophone world.

Rating:
Strengths:: Navigation is clear and the design is straightforward and attractive. The use of
the grey background rightly puts the focus on the images themselves.

Viewing and downloading images in Quebec en images is very easy. Clicking on a
thumbnail image opens a new window that displays the image in 17.8 cm x 17.8 cm
(7"x 7") format and all the accompanying data. From this window, one can print
or download the image, or add it to a personal album.

The advanced search is very effective. One can search by region using a map or a
drop down menu. One can search by category, date, color or black and white, or
by
image orientation (landscape or portrait).

The Help page contains straightforward, easy to use instructions.