|
WebExhibits.org
http://www.WebExhibits.org
An Interactive web-based museum challenging visitors to think and explore scientific and cultural phenomena in new ways. Suitable for secondary school students.
What is the site about?
The main articles on the site are:
There are shorter articles on Bogus Science, Vinland Map and VanGogh's letters. The Photographic exhibitions include Ash Factories, based on Crematories in Switzerland accompanied by text from "The Bonfire" by Robert Frost; and Building Views, described as "painted abstract constructions with an architectural basis".
Why was it chosen as site of the week?
It was chosen because:
- It offers students and teachers and opportunity to investigate topics in a structured manner.
- The articles are very thorough and well-researched, with lots of academic references.
How can it be used as an educational resource?
The site could be displayed using a data-projector or whiteboard for whole-class teaching. For individual use, it would be most useful for an investigative type of lesson - the teacher poses a question and students use the site to research the answer.
Art students:
Titian's painting "The Feast of the Gods" is comprehensively analysed. There is background information on what the painting represents, the Italian Renaissance and Venetian Art. The painting itself was overpainted at least twice. The painting styles of the three artists involved are discussed, and different parts of the painting attributed to each painter.
How x-ray and infrared photography have been used to reveal what was overpainted is clearly explained. Seeing how these techniques were applied to a particular painting will be facinating for many art students.
The exhibit on "Color, Vision and Art" considers how new notions of vision were used by artists. It discusses how colours interact and contrast with each other, and explains the artistic effects caused by luminance and equiluminance. There is an interactive version of Andy Warhol's "Marilyn Monroe" print which allows students to explore the impact of different colours and intensities on the final image.
Science students:
The "Causes of Color" exhibit explains the different physical and chemical causes of colours. The relationship between light and colour is discussed. There is a comprehensive explanation of how the brain and the eye work together to affect our perception of colour. How animals see colours and different types of colourblindness are also discussed.
How can you recognize questionable scientific claims? What are the warning signs of scientific fraud? "Bogus Science" lists seven signs that you should look out for.
History students:
The most interesting exhibit is the "Vinland Map". This map, supposedly dating from the years 800 - 1100, was uncovered in the early 1960s and became famous because it proved that the Vikings discovered America before Colombus. There is a tool attached to the exhibit which engages students in the process of authenticating the map for themselves. The parchment used, the pigments, the type of map and reasons why it might have been forged are all explained, allowing students to make up their own minds about each piece of information to arrive at a conclusion.
The analysis techniques used are relevant in many other areas of history.
Have Your Say
 Let us know what you think
Site of the Week Archive
Check out reviews of other sites.
|