Scavenger Hunt Website Evaluation:
_
1. Define: Imperialism
For the first question, students had to define the term imperialism. I chose the website http://struggle.ws/wsm/ws/2003/ws76/imperialism.html because I felt as though this website provided the best overall description of imperialism. This website provides a publication from the Irish Anarchist paper titled Workers Solidarity. The website seems very reputable and accurate in their information. Also, the information is unbiased which is one of the reasons I chose this website in the first place. The website is very simple and easy to navigate, which students would appreciate when trying to find their answers. However, this website does not provide links to other information rich websites, which would be very useful for students to gain further information regarding imperialism.
2. What were the three main reasons that European nations wanted to control African lands?
For this question, I chose http://www.fresno.k12.ca.us/divdept/sscience/history/imperialism_colonialism.htm as the website for the students to search for the reasons why European countries imperialized Africa. This website has numerous advantages, including that it is very easy to navigate through, provides links for students to research further information, is very clear with rich content and political cartoons, and is extremely relevant to the topic at hand. This website does not provide citations, however, which could be an issue for determining where the information originated from. Overall, the website served its purpose, which was to provide reasons for European imperialism in Africa.
3. Explain how Ethiopia and Liberia remained independent from European imperialism. What factors contributed to these countries remaining independent?
For this question, I used the following two websites: http://courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his312/lectures/eastafr.htm and http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/students/curriculum/m15/activity6.php. The first website’s main purpose was for students to understand why and how Ethiopia remained independent during a time period when all other African nations were experiencing imperialism. This website was created by West Chester University, making it a well-regarded resource for students to use because the information will be accurate and true. The website provides numerous links for further study, Also, the website was created in 2010, making it relevant and current. Also, the information is unbiased, which is important because it presents both sides of the issue.
The second website, used to provide information on Liberia and how it remained independent during European imperialism, is also a very valuable source. This website is also derived from an academic source, the University of Michigan, which makes it a dependable source for correct information. This website appears as though it was created for adolescent students to use to gain further insight on African affairs. Numerous links and readings are presented by this website, and its easy navigability makes it an extremely useful and valuable resource for students to use, especially with a topic such as imperialism in Africa.
4. What was the purpose of the Berlin Conference?
For this question, I used http://regentsprep.org/Regents/global/themes/imperialism/africa.cfm as my website. This is a great website, created for the purpose of helping students study for the New York State Regents exam that they must take for Global History. The website clearly states the author of the webpage, who is very reputable in the field. The website also contains the copyright dates, as well as dates when the website was last updated. The content of this website is superb, as it offers unbiased information for the students to use and engage with in order to answer the questions in the Scavenger Hunt. Also, the Regents Prep website is extremely easy to navigate, offering numerous links for students to go to in order to find more information regarding the Berlin Conference, or for information on any other topic regarding Imperialism for this Scavenger Hunt.
5. What is sovereignty? How would you define this concept in your own words?
For this question, I used http://www.hawaii-nation.org/sovereignty.html as the website for students to go to to find information regarding the concept of sovereignty. I chose this website because it clearly states several definitions of sovereignty, which students could then use to define the concept in their own words. The website is easy to navigate. However, it is very plain in nature, which may be a drawback for students who are not interested in the topic because the website doesn't really draw them in. However, the information provided by the website is accurate in information, because the information is derived from law sources and law dictionaries. Although there are cons to this website, it serves its general purpose of defining the concept from several perspectives.
6. Was there any resistance to European imperialism in Africa? Explain one attempt at resistance.
I used the website http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/fight-against-colonialism-and-imperialism-africa-grade-11 in my Scavenger Hunt because it is an extremely valuable source of information regarding South African affairs. The website appears very professional in nature. It is easy to navigate, presents links with clear and precise information regarding imperialism, and is relevant in content. Also, South African History Online provides great maps and pictures which would be beneficial for all students, especially those who are visual learners. In addition, this website is continuously updated, providing current information regarding Africa and imperialism. I chose this website due to its impressive description of the rebellions and uprisings in Africa by the natives against the European imperialist powers. It presented an unbiased perspective, taking into account both sides of the conflicts.
7. Choose 3 African countries. Describe which imperial power they fought in order to gain independence. In what year did your countries gain their independence from imperial rule?
For the final question, I used http://africanhistory.about.com/od/eraindependence/l/bl-AtlasOfIndependence.htm as the website to reference for information. I liked this website because it broke the continent of Africa up into six sections, and then provides short blubs regarding every country on the continent. These small paragraphs include information such as the date the country gained independence, from which power they gained independence, as well as the president of the country etc. The website was extremely relevant to the information in the Scavenger Hunt, and was easy to navigate through. However, I am usually concerned with using a website like About.com. The information that I browsed through seemed very accurate, so I would favor using a resource such as this website in order for students to gain insight on each African nation in particular.