Site Improvement for the Summer

Job Description:
Make improvements to the Hyperhistory.net website in form, function, and content.

Applicant Attributes:
Be a self-directed worker, take creative initiative, welcome constructive criticism, and set own work schedule.
The successful applicant will have shown efficient use of HTML through endnotes and quiz questions, and have obtained some perfect scores on published essays during this year's field trips.

Payment:
$150. This may be used to subcontract tasks, acquire consultation, purchase software, and/or pay self per task or per hour. All the money is yours up front without strings and is not dependent upon completing any of the proposed tasks. Really.

Dates of employment:
June – August: following successful completion of the course.
It is hoped that any site improvements will be made before August 15, 2005.

How to apply:
Actually, you have already applied as judged by your school work. Send an email to Mr. N. which explains any additional skills and desire which may not have been made apparent over the course of this past school year.

Proposed tasks to choose from:

  • Make the list of essays in sortable tables, for example, the biographies list is sortable by date, name, and region.
  • Fix data collection forms, e.g., communications
  • Implement a login process for registered users that gives them access to unique sections of the website and tracks their usage (through cookies). Thus the site owner could see how many students are visiting the "suggested readings" or reading their own revised essay.
  • Implement a replacement to using Quizlab so that quizzes may be password protected on the hyperhistory.net site and scores are automated. This may require knowledge of PHP and cgi interaction with a database. huh?
  • Find and implement a discussion board that can be hosted on the hyperhistory.net domain.
  • Add a public counter on each essay that will let a student author know how many visitors they have had over time.
  • Analyze the web site usage to correct broken links and enhance frequently accessed pages.
  • Check for broken links and make updates to the history links to external sites and add a link submit form.
  • Add HTML endnotes and questions to articles linked to on the Assignment Bank (AB).
  • Read through existing essays linked from the AB. and make internal links to other existing essays where appropriate.
  • Other task proposals to be announced...

    Teacher's personal goals:
  • Have a password protected site for registered students.
  • Have a weekly audio lecture covering the main ideas of each week.
  • Define a list of measurable lessons objectives for each week: “The student will…”
  • Include more graphics in the assessments, e.g., population graphs, maps, architectural structures, political cartoons, which require interpretive analysis.
  • Offer a password protected web based discussion board organized by weekly topics.
  • Include Flash animations showing migrations, battle maneuvers, exploration routes, etc.
  • Make a yearlong summary calendar that contains hyperlinks to each weekly lessons and assignment.
  • Replace all the off site required weekly readings with on site readings.
  • Send in a resource CD to NSA director by August 1 of each year with the updated web site.
  • Place the whole site on DVD for students with limited Internet access.