Tuan Hoang

HUM142 Internet Communications

Professor: Sheila Booth

11 June 2009

Search Services

I was assigned to value the search services website http://edsitement.neh.gov/. The website was the mess when I first looked at it. However, it had all information for education related; it could be either from Art to Social Studies.

 The homepage has lot of information which made me confused; I stared on the screen to see what this web site is about. I was not sure what to search for due to many icons on the screen, it took me a little bit of time to adjust my brain to pick up information about this website.

The search engine of this website provides education information for all levels. Teachers, parents can use this search to find materials for their students, kids. The levels are used for all ages from kindergarten to vocational education, it is pretty nice. Each color icon represent different field, I clicked on “ALL WEB SITES” icon, there were  tons of website that I can view, and the color coded next to each website indicates what the website site about, some website with one color coded while some website with all four colors coded. Beside that, there were a short description next to the website link and those were useful information. All web sites arranged in alphabetical order, this was so easy to find information as long as I remember the first letter of the website name.

I clicked on History title, I chose “300 Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae” in all subcategories section. I was very so surprised when I found out that the 300 Spartans movie was based on real history; I could see all links related to this subject. It was convenience to do a research project (especially in education) because all information already posted in the page; it was step by step created in details to help people who do their research projects. I also tried to search on Google about the 300 Spartans, but it turned out that there was lots of website with the information that I did not need. They were all junk website.

I checked again on different subject, I clicked on Art & Culture title. I chose “Angkor What? Angkor Wat!” this page was about a temple in Cambodia. Cambodia!! That was my neighbor, Vietnam. I was impressed how they set up all the pages, there was a map to take me where all the information taken. That was so beautiful when I was able to understand more about Cambodia culture, history. I could view pictures, story related to Angkor Wat temple. Again, this site had all links which can take me to where and what I want to know about Cambodia.

All navigation bars were easy to access; I could go back to where I begin. These navigation links helped me to access to other link without need permission to access. This website has calendar to tell me what information or lessons will be posted. Therefore, this website is a good information source due to its updated regularly.

I would like to use this website to get information to educate my son. There are many topics that I can use from this website; it does not take long to get information compare to other search services available. For instance, Google search service can not direct me to the site that I want; it sometimes leads me to the website which requires paying for the services. The http://edsitement.neh.gov/ is totally difference compares to Google, it has its own limited and all of them are useful for education. That is what people want to improve now.