Peer Review

Whole Cloth: Discovering Science and Technology Through American History

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Apr 15, 2010 by History

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This is an interesting website. Its uses include navigation of the various modules that deal with whole cloth. Each module has sections on textile technology, sewing machines, industrialization and modernization of textiles. It provides an excellent combination of photos, factual information, assignments, videos and games and scholarly essays which probe the history of industrialization, both scientific and social through the production of textiles.
Type of Material:: This may be classified as a learning object repository.
Recommended Uses:: The best way would be to download the games and plays and distribute them to the
students, after accessing the student packets in the classroom. However, if the
classroom doesn't have this capability, the material can be downloaded and
printed out. For college level, would probably download the essays and place
them on reserve.
Technical Requirements:: Must have Quicktime, can be downloaded free, to view videos, also a later
version of Netscape or Explorer to access material from site.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: To learn how industrialization of the textile industry affected society and the
lives of men and women during the 19th and 20th century in America.
Target Student Population:: While many of the assignments are targeted towards middle and high school
students, some of the scholarly essays as well as some of the information on all
the sections can bu used in college level US survey classes, and even in
selected US upper level history courses
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Knowledge of basic computing is required. Younger students will need to be taught how to navigate the website.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: This is a focused, easy to use site that can be used in a variety of ways at
many academic levels. Everything functions well, it loads quickly and is easy to
use.
It has rich textual data. There are matching images to accompany texts.
Concerns:: Some of the links do not work. For example when you click on the links they do not take you to the stated modules. The college level material is is embedded in all of the modules so it has to be isolated. Some of the assignments are too youthful for college level students.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: The material is easy to understand. The materials are paced in segments and seem to be chronological. The units are put together in a combinations of primary sources, essays and thought provoking questions. Since assignments are included, it's very easy to adapt to the classroom.
Concerns:: Only major concern is some of the links do not work. This may be due to the internet connections or problems with the host site.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: This was a very easy site to navigate; everything seemed to work very well,
although I couldn't view the video at first, because I didn't have quicktime.
Students can navigate these sites better than their teachers, so am sure they
will have no problems.
Concerns:: Only major concern is some of the links do not work. This may be due to the internet connections or problems with the host site.

Other Issues and Comments:: Excellent thought provoking site, thought the essay on Zoot Suits, a
particularly good one, and certainly college level. I like the way the authors
have incorportated primary documents and activites in each module.
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