Peer Review

Folger Shakespeare Library

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Apr 2, 2018 by English

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This comprehensive online resource has information about the plays, sonnets, and research on Shakespearean age and his plays. It is very useful for the teachers and students. E-mail subscription gives individuals opportunity to participate in blogs and receive newsletters. Access to all Digital texts is free. The digital texts have retained the format and the page numbers of the 2010 Folger Shakespeare Library Editions. They are easy to locate and download as they are searchable. The mobile apps are free.
Type of Material:: Reference Material
Recommended Uses:: • Digital texts for classroom use • Research material- scholarly articles
Technical Requirements:: Works with IE, Chrome, and Firefox. JAVA should be updated Material can be downloaded in many forms including XML and PDF
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Provide a learning platform for students as well as researchers. Satisfy Common Core Standards when teaching with Digital Texts. Incorporate themes and settings from studies on Shakespeare’s plays. Research the plays and demonstrate insight about Elizabethan times and Shakespearean plays.
Target Student Population:: College General Ed, University Students (Graduate and Undergraduate), University Teachers, and Researchers • High School and College students. • Scholars and Researchers
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Familiarity with Shakespeare’s plays would be helpful. Readers should have the ability to open a browser and type URL, Download and save files.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: •The digital texts can be used in the classroom for a core curriculum on Shakespeare Studies. Access to Research material on any topic related to Shakespearean drama and the Elizabethan period is an added advantage.
Concerns:: None noted

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: • The digital texts can be effectively used a teaching, and students can use these texts for learning. With the available background information through research, high school or undergraduate students can get a firm grip about the times when Shakespeare lived. This will enhance their appreciation of the plays. • For advanced scholarly students, the digital texts will provide an insight into the different versions available for a play and the way the editors decide on their choice of dialogues from different Folios.
Concerns:: • Since the Digital Texts are learning materials, the goals have to be set by the instructor. • Folger Shakespeare Library’s statement on the way the Digital Texts can be used to meet Common Core Standards is very useful. Based on the document “Declaration on Common Core Standards,” I have marked A through E as ‘strongly agree.’

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: The accessibility to the content of this website is not problematic at all. The website users can always refer to Folgerpedia, the Folger’s encyclopedia. This encyclopedia tackles the topics of the Folger’s collections. So readers may target the specific information in a very practical fashion in a short period of time, and without wasting so much time. Just in case the website users can not access the information online, they can visit the on-site Library. Navigation through the site is very efficient. The content is very well organized.
Concerns:: H and I- The Digital Texts are available through mobile apps also. G- could not locate the accessibility statement on the Folgers Library site.

Other Issues and Comments:: Should the website users have inquiries or questions to ask about the content of the website, they can follow Folger Research on Twitter.com.
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