return to ENG 303

You will be participating in the Kellogg-funded Digital Writing Heritage project. The aim of the project is to create digital records and presentations of historical items from the Scott's Run, WV area. More information is available here.especially under People and Places.

In planning and designing this project, draw on our reading and discussion of McLoud (for the rhetoric of image and text), Norman (for the design/logic of objects), and Rosenfeld and Morville (for the organization of web sites).

Currently, the project is cataloging items in the Scott's Run Museum, using the Dublin Core metadata system. Eventually, these items will be entered in a database; a subset of the items will be presented on the Web.

Visit the Scott's Run Museum in Osage. Open hours are Saturdays 1-4pm. Other times can be arranged by appointment. Contact information is here.

Choose one set of items in the main coal mining room (the back room with the coal mining tools etc.). A set is defined as a group of objects related in some way, e.g. a set of tools, or a set of belt buckles, or a set of photos, or a set of domestic items. The set should have at least as many items as there are group members. Fill out Dublin Core metadata sheets for each item.

Create a small web site presenting each item. The site should include the following:

  1. At least one page per object.
  2. Graphic representation of the object i.e. at least one photo per object (there may be more images).
  3. Textual representation of the object.
  4. A navigation and classification scheme for navigating the objects.
  5. Textual representation of the whole group of objects i.e. some explanation and background of these items, along with an explanation of the project, the approach you followed, the metadata scheme, etc.
  6. Splash page with group members' name, class name, project name.
  7. Clear links on all pages navigating back to the splash page, as well as other identifying information on all pages i.e. so the user always knows where she is.
  8. Note: the site should reside on one group member's account but be linked to and from all other members' accounts.
Pay especially close attention to #4 above. Consider the site a mock-up or sample of a potentially much larger site containing all the items in the museum. Your nagivation scheme must reflect a careful metadata approach to the objects. What does this mean? Work from your metadata sheets. Create a model that describes all the objects. To do so means coming up with a composite lists of terms/concepts/attributes that apply in significant ways to all the items. The model is an abstraction from the set of objects. Then, as you design the pages in the site, be sure each reflects the model. Finally, implement a nagivation/searching scheme that reflects the model. You can use links or a search engine (get a free Google here) or both. Things to consider: Remember: this is a group project and all group members will receive the same grade. Work together! Some deadlines to think about:

4/18 You should have visited the museum, created metadata sheets, and come up with a model by this day.
4/28 Each group will present the project to the class. At this point you should have at least a splash page and a sample data page.
5/5 The final version must be uploaded by 6 pm.