The Virtual History Museum: A Web-Based Environment for Improving History Instruction
By Okolo, Cynthia M.; Englert, Carol Sue; Bouck, Emily C.; Heutsche, Anne M.; Journal of Special Education Technology, Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 48-50Publication Date: Winter 2006
Article focuses on ways in which information and communication technologies can be used when teaching students with disabilities. A web-based teaching environment called the Virtual History Museum is discussed, as educators can create virtual exhibits and artifacts, which can appear in the form of images, movies, music, or text. The museum has five main features: (1) Exhibit Space, where historical artifacts are put on display, (2) Analytic Space, where students can access information and tools to help them analyze the artifacts on exhibit, (3) Interpretation Space, where students can make interpretations about the exhibit with support from literacy and historical tools, (4) Collaboration Space, where students can collaborate with other students about their analyses and interpretations, and (5) Publication Space, where students can communicate in writing about their interpretation of the historical artifacts on display. Examples of sample history lessons created via the Virtual History Museum are provided. The Virtual Museum Project is supported by a United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs grant, which was awarded to Michigan State University.
Published by: Exceptional Innovations (Website:http://www.exinn.net)
Technology and Media Division (TAM) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) (Web Site: http://www.tamcec.org )
