The main focus of my project was to create a web enabled database that my students could use to help them with their research for our Living History Project.  It has been my experience that students have a difficult time finding information on 19th century life using a 21st century search engine.  Finding information on Lincoln, the Civil War, or other important historical topics is not difficult, but finding out what it was like to live back then is not easy.  A typical web search done by my students will turn up sites that can tell them about photography, law, or games of today, but they won't tell about how those careers or pastimes were practiced 160 years ago.  It will also turn up lots of sites that can sell them books or other items dealing with their topics, but not information on the topics.  The purpose of my database is to give the students links to several websites that will provide them with the information that I know they will need.

    In addition to the database, I also decided to include in this website a streaming video clip that provides an introduction to the Living History Project.  I have found that both students and adults who are involved in this project have a difficult time understanding exactly what their roles in the project will be.  I intend to use this video clip as a way to show them the different phases of the project and what will be expected of them during each phase.

    I have learned a great many things while creating this website.  I have to admit that when I started I wasn't even sure exactly what a web enabled database is.  I was completely stymied as to how to create one.  I have since learned that there are several sites on the internet that provide services to people who are creating websites, including hosting web enabled databases that are easy to create.  While creating the video clip, which was probably the most frustrating thing I have ever had to do,  I learned the difference between streaming media and other types of audio and video presentations.  I also learned a little about HTML, which had been pretty unfamiliar to me.  One thing I learned while creating this website that was completely unexpected was how to edit graphics.  I had played around in the past with photo editing programs, but my attempts were usually pretty unsuccessful.  This time I learned how to add color to a graphic and how to make the background transparent.  I had not expected to learn either of these skills during this course.

    Overall I think that creating this website was a great learning experience for me.  I hope that using the website will be a great learning experience for my students.