Thursday, November 03, 2005

U. S. History Site by a Teacher


History’s Happening is a site for history by a retired teacher. His name is Pete Loeser, a retired high school teacher, now living at Laytonville in Northern California near to the city of San Francisco.


The site has been located with the help of Miland Brown where a reference has been given to this site.


There is a huge list of links to other useful history sites.


For the US history student, the U. S. History link can be highly useful. (Click on the phrase U. S. History Link to reach there).


The students with English medium may find it a good solution for the notes. Secondly, the site is full of photographs which helps in understanding and comprehension of the text. Though, the administrator has used lot of graphics and backgrounds and gives a lit bit on one sheet which force the person to spend more time, yet the method is quite effective. As there is no such effort in India, (This is what I understand and I may be wrong) such a site may be highly useful and an experience in learning for the students. I insist that one should learn with the help of maps. In addition to maps, the sketches and photographs convey more.

In case U. S. history, there is abundance of material in that category. With the help of technology, a teacher may not have to depend on the authorities of the institutions to provide the best to the students. Here one can provide their students all that which is expected from a teacher. The administrator of site has tried to bring many links after an intelligent categorization.


While exploring the site and links given there, the students may not find the required titles. The Punjab University syllabus is mainly structured on such topics which are found in H. B. Parkes history. However, an intelligent student may use imagination to select the desired link.


I myself have started exploring the site. Soon I will specify which link is more relevant to the U. S. history syllabus of Punjab University Chandigarh. No doubt, there is a talk in Board of Studies to provide such type of references in the Syllabus itself along with suggestive readings. In case of U. S. history, this task may be achieved in a better way and can be completed, as this field (people and scholars of America) is more pro-active in the ICT. Secondly, they do reach the people through use of technology. There is more effective execution of Right to Information. Whereas, we have yet passed the law and it will be definitely an issue to watch in coming days. As far as Edusat is concerned I do not know what it will be like as the institutions are still buying computers. The funds are coming for it but there is no talk of uplinking. If that thing ever materilize then they may take time to learn about WiFi.


Finally do access the site. It will be definitely useful.