The Scout Report -- Volume 23, Number 16

Memories/Motifs explores "how American Jews came to know stories about Holocaust survivors through American Jewish philanthropic activities in the immediate postwar period." The website was created by historian Rachel Deblinger and is based on her dissertation at the University of California Los Angeles. This website centers on the stories of three individuals who survived the Holocaust: Kurt Maier, Irene Gutmann, and "Hannah." Each of these stories illustrates different aspects of how Americans learned about the horrors of the Holocaust. Maier was a pianist who came to the attention of Americans in two different ways: first, through an April 1947 performance broadcasted by WNYC and sponsored by the United Service for New Americans, and then when The New Yorker penned a profile about him in August 1947. Gutmann, meanwhile, survived the Holocaust as a child and was featured in a 1947 issue of Life Magazine as a "war orphan." The third story is about "Hannah," the pseudonym of a girl who emigrated to Palestine after surviving the Holocaust with help from the organization Young Aliyah; "Hannah" was featured in brochures to raise money for the group. This powerful online exhibit embeds a number of primary sources into each individual's story, enabling visitors to examine materials that were crucial to raising American awareness about the Holocaust. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers this collection of materials for teaching the ecology of Panama. These curricular materials were designed by Sarah Oszuscik and Dana Thome, two Milwaukee public school teachers who participated in the NSF-funded Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Project in 2010. This curriculum is organized into five units and is designed for elementary school learners. Some of the accompanying resources are available in both English and Spanish. This website also includes video interviews with several university student researchers who worked in Panama, available via the Video Library tab. These videos allow young students to learn more about the process of scientific field research. Finally, science teachers may be interested in checking out the Participant Blogs of teachers who took part in the RET program in Panama between 2010-2012. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

In 1885, popular British writer Annie Edwards penned A Girton Girl. The title refers to Girton College, part of the University of Cambridge network and the first residential college for women in Britain. Despite the title, the main character in this novel does not attend Girton, yet the story nevertheless provides contemporary readers with a glimpse into Victorian ideas about gender roles in education and society. Here readers may browse the fully digitized book, along with a number of Edwards's other novels, curtesy of Oxford University and the Internet Archive. While published in limited numbers at the time, many of Edwards's novels were serialized in newspapers throughout the late nineteenth century or adapted for the theater. This resource will be of interest to literary and history scholars alike as it offers historical context and insight into popular literature at the turn of the twentieth century. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

Hunger on Campus is an October 2016 report that calls attention to the nature and prevalence of food insecurity among current college students. The 47-page report was authored by James Dubick, Brandon Matthews, and Clare Cady with support from four campus-based organizations: the College and University Food Bank Alliance, the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, the Student Government Resource Center, and the Student Public Interest Research Groups. The authors surveyed 3,765 students at 26 four-year colleges and eight community colleges, revealing that almost half (48%) of students surveyed had experienced food insecurity in the past month and nearly a quarter (22%) of these students experienced levels of food insecurity that qualified them as hungry. Rates of hunger were roughly equal at community colleges (25%) and four-year institutions (20%). [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

Philosophy for Beginners is a series of video recorded essays by Dr. Marianne Talbot, Director of Studies in Philosophy at the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Oxford. As the title suggests, this seven-part series provides an overview of the diverse field of philosophy as well as its history. In five lectures, recorded in 2008 for iTunes University, Dr. Talbot provides overviews of the subfields of Logic and Argument; Ethics and Politics; Metaphysics and Epistemology; and the Philosophy of Language and the Mind. Each episode is approximately ninety minutes in length and can be watched in video form. These lectures provide a great supplemental resource for a philosophy classroom as well as for anyone looking to learn a bit of philosophy on their own. Dr. Talbot also provides a reading list for each episode. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

The University of Michigan Library offers this helpful list of web resources for teaching mathematics. This list includes items that will appeal to K-12 mathematics instructors, adult educators, and college level mathematics instructors alike. Resources are divided into three categories: resources for teachers (most resources fall into this category), resources for algebra, and resources for statistics. While some of the links included on this list no longer work, most will take visitors to working pages. Included are teaching tips, videos to incorporate into the classroom, websites, free online textbooks, printable worksheets, games, and more. The diversity of these resources offers a useful one-stop shop for instructors looking for additional materials or ideas. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

As the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) notes, "Every year in the United States, natural hazards threaten lives and livelihoods and result in billions of dollars in damage. We work with many partners to monitor, assess, and conduct targeted research on a wide range of natural hazards so that policymakers and the public have the understanding they need to enhance preparedness, response, and resilience." In the spirit of promoting public awareness, the USGS offers this in-depth website dedicated to natural hazards. Featured scholarly publications, data, and news stories may be of interest to science instructors, researchers, and members of the general public alike. On the site's homepage, visitors will find summaries of the latest research developments at USGS. Those interested in more detailed information may want to check out the Science and Publications sections, respectively. There is also a variety of photographs and mobile phone applications (most aimed at weather and natural hazard awareness) in the Multimedia section. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

Between 1787 and 1867, the government of Great Britain deported about 160,000 convicts to Australia. This forced migration had a significant impact on the areas growth and development, as many of these individuals chose to stay in Australia after completing their sentence. Today, an estimated 20% of Australian citizens are descendants from these convicts. On this website, courtesy of the State Library of Queensland, researchers and students of Australian history can explore data about these convicts and learn more about this history. Researchers (or descendants) who know a particular convict's name can search records by name to learn more about each individual's place of birth, date of deportation, and conviction. Alternatively, visitors can explore records by ship name, which are organized alphabetically. Visitors can also browse convicts by the crime; the list reveals that while some were convicted of violent crimes, many were deported for petty offenses. For example, 25 convicts were convicted of stealing potatoes. Collectively, this database provides a useful research tool for anyone hoping to learn more about this chapter of British and Australian History. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

The Ultimate History Project is authored by a range of historical scholars, including public historians, tenured faculty, curators, historical consultants, graduate students, and tour guides. Through engaging articles and short-form essays, the project offers a learning space for both scholars and curious members of the general public. The project was founded in 2012 by Alexandra Lord, Victoria Lord, and Sheena Morrison and features the work of history scholars from the United States and United Kingdom. Topics covered include the history of baklava, the evolution of the American bookmobile, and the role of Irish soldiers during WWI. Past articles are organized by theme and cover Affairs of State, Borders and Identities, and Sex and Dating among others. History lovers will also want to check out the History Stuff We Love section, which features recommendations for books, film, and television shows. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

Are GM (genetically modified) foods safe to eat? How dire are the consequences of climate change? Is it really that bad for you pop a pimple? Science Vs is a podcast from Gimlet media dedicated to exploring a wide variety of scientific debates and disputes. Hosted by science journalist Wendy Zukerman, each episode (approximately 35-45 minutes in length) is dedicated to exploring a particular scientific debate in detail. To do so, Zukerman incorporates accessible summaries of new scientific research with lively interviews with a variety of experts. Science Vs is currently in its second season of production and new episodes are released every Thursday. Interested listeners can check out all current and past episodes on this website. Alternatively, listeners can also subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, or Google Play. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

From Europeana Collections comes this collection of curated vintage postcards from Southeastern Europe. These gorgeous postcards are organized by country/region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia) and accompanied by a short essay. These essays contextualize the postcards by describing the history, geology, architecture, and culture that they represent. Users can navigate between collections at the bottom of each essay. In total, this exhibition features hundreds of postcards that portray famous buildings, bucolic nature scenes, famous castles, and depictions of everyday life. While most postcards feature artistic renderings of their subjects, others feature photographs. The website's design makes for easy browsing and an enjoyable glimpse into the history and landscape of southeastern Europe. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

What is a "phishing" attack? How do you create a secure password? What is the difference between a website that begins with "http://" and "https://"? The Pew Research Center offers this ten question cybersecurity quiz that allows visitors to test their own knowledge of cybersecurity issues and see how their knowledge compares to 1,055 Pew research survey participants. After completing this multiple choice quiz, users can check the accuracy of their answers and learn more about a variety of cyber security issues. Visitors can also check out what percentage of survey participants were able to answer each question correctly. Those interested in learning more about the study may follow a link to the full report, "What the Public Knows About Cybersecurity." [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

France and Great Britain are home to a number of striking examples of gothic architecture built in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, including cathedrals and castles. On this website, created by Columbia University art historian and archeology scholar Stephen Murray and Vassar College art professor Andrew Tallon, visitors can explore photographs of these structures and learn more about the history of this architecture. On The Main Map, visitors can explore annotated photographs of structures by geographic pin. Many of these pins included multiple photographs, allowing visitors to examine the exterior and interior of structures in great deal from their own computer. The majority of structures are located in modern France, but this collection also includes a large number of buildings in the United Kingdom. Another way to experience the site is via The Historical Maps and Timeline section, which features an animated map outlining the intersections between the history of France and the construction of these buildings. Meanwhile, visitors with a passion for architecture will enjoy the Comparison feature, which allows visitors to layer a variety of exterior and interior architectural features on different structures. A work in progress, the Stories and Essays section provides more information about Gothic architecture as well as the history of France. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

For Arachnophiles, the Australian Museum of Sydney offers this website dedicated to facts and artistic depictions of spiders and other arachnids found in Australia and around the world. Those new to the world of arachnids may want to start by checking out Spider Diversity or A Spider's Life. These sections provide overviews of the lifespan, origin, and variety of spiders. Interested in identifying a particular arachnid or just learning what different kinds of spiders look like? Check out Australia's Spider Fauna for close up photographs and detailed descriptions of select species. This collection includes a number of unique looking spiders that stray from typical conceptions of the eight legged creature. Another highlight of this website is Spiders in Art and Culture, which features religious stories relating to spiders and the role that spiders (and spider myths) have played in cultures around the world. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

During the second half of the nineteenth century, the introduction of the post office changed daily life in the Western United States. Over the course of 50 years, the number of post offices in this region expanded from just a handful to several hundred. Some post offices were established and stayed in operation long term; others had much shorter life spans as the west continued to change. On this interactive timeline and map, created by historians at Stanford's Center for Spatial and Textual Analysis, visitors can explore a number of post offices that opened and then closed or remained active during any period between 1850 and 1900. Visitors can chose to view this data for durations as short as one year (e.g. data for the year 1873) or for a span of time (e.g. 1880-1892). Once a time period is selected, visitors can view this data via map. This well-conceived project reveals the rapid change of the western United States: for many years, the number of post offices established and closed far exceeded the number of post offices active throughout the year. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

The Library of Virginia has had an active digitization program for over ten years, resulting in a wealth of digital collections. A good entry point is this Digital Collections page that showcases What's New, select Featured Collections, and also offers many great ways to browse materials by topic, type of original records, or alphabetically. The Online Photo Collections are especially robust, including over 300 stereographs of landscapes and buildings in Virginia, the state artwork collection (mostly painted portraits of government officials), and digitized travel brochures. The Archival Web Collections consist of historically significant websites that the Library of Virginia began archiving in 2005. One example in this category is Tragedy at Virginia Tech, featuring government websites related to the shooting at Virginia Tech on Monday, April 16, 2007. [DS]

Comment on or rate this resource

Origins is for Apple users looking to improve their writing productivity. This minimalist tool, which can be downloaded for free on any Mac computer, allows users to write and save their work - and write and save only. Origins does not allow users to delete text, copy and paste, scroll, or edit and modify their work. The idea is to push writers to complete brainstorm sessions or first drafts without the constraints of editing or perfectionism. Origins is available in four different themes; documents are saved in plaintext. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

Twitter requires users to share their thoughts and ideas in 140 characters or less - which can be a tough skill to master. Storm It! is a free application, available for iOS devices, Android, devices, and Mac computers, designed to help. The tool works by inviting users to type (or copy and past) what they want to say without character limits. The app then calculates and suggests a way to divvy up the provided content so that it can be posted as a "tweetstorm," or a string of related tweets. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource