Don't forget! • Title Page • Process Paper • Annotated Bibliography Web Site Rules More about Web Sites • Latest from NHD about Web sites! • Web Site Checklist • Web Site Judging Form

Web Site

A Web Site should reflect the student's ability to use Web Site design software and computer technology to communicate a chosen topic's significance in history.

The historical research, analysis, and interpretation must be clear and evident to the viewer through the content and navigational structure of the site. The presentation should include primary materials, but it must also be an original production.

Web Sites are the most interactive of history fair projects. In designing the entry, the student should include elements that actively engage viewers in learning about the topic. These elements do not have to be technologically complex, but they should let the viewer participate in exploring the topic.

Web Site entries will use the NHD Web Site Editor beginning at their school level - DO NOT put any entries on the Internet or another live program - this is in direct violation to NHD rules. In addition submit four print copies of the process paper with a home page in correct format, and the annotated bibliography. The printed materials must all be submitted to the Heart of Texas Regional History Fair office for judging by the deadline, approximately four to six weeks in advance of the regional fair itself.

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Steps to Create a Web Site

NEW INFORMATION - the NHD Web Site Portal is ready for student access, please read the following (September 11, 2009):
The National History Day Web Site Portal is now ready for access by your students who will create Web Site Category projects for your local judging, and later on advancing your three winning projects to the Heart of Texas Regional History Day Fair. Advancing winning Web Site projects to HOTRHF will take place between the registration window beginning December 1, 2009 and closing January 6, 2010 at midnight.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS BEING FORWARDED TO YOU FROM the Heart of Texas Regional History Fair - THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE DIRECT FROM STEVE CURE, TEXAS HISTORY DAY COORDINATOR
THD has finally digested the material coming down from NHD about handling web sites.
1. First and most important, the system for students to go online and begin creating their web sites using the NHD Web Site Editor (Weebly) is operational and requires you to do absolutely nothing at this time. The MAIN thing you need TO DO is inform your students that they MUST use the "NHD Web Portal" found at http://www.nhd.org/CategoryWebsite.htm to create their projects. No disks will be accepted!
2. FROM HOTRHF: Instructions on this second part will be sent to you just prior to entering your advancing Web Site projects to your region for their regional fair. FROM THD: The second thing you need to know is that the existing Acuity Contest Management system will collect and track the web site information beginning when the teacher/student enters their project information while registering for regional contests. They must enter a very obvious and unique code found in the URL of the web site they have created using the NHD/Weebly Editor.

Remember - ALL Web Site projects that advance to HOTRHF HAVE TO BE advanced by or before midnight January 6 AND four print copies of their home page, process paper and bibliography IN THIS OFFICE. Regional judging of Web Sites takes place starting IMMEDIATELY after the entry entry deadline date of January 6.

OTHER NEW INFORMATION
Beginning the 2009-2010 school year, National History Day will require Web Site projects to be created using the NHD web site editor. This change occurred since the printing of this guide, so please note that certain information on software and templates is no longer current for use with your NHD project.

Below is some basic information about the NHD Web Site Editor. Also, please check our website, www.nhd.org, for all up-to-date information about the web site category and rules.

To participate in the Web Site category, students will need to build their sites on NHD's Web Portal. To be clear: STUDENTS MUST GO THROUGH THE NHD PORTAL TO ACCESS THE NHD WEB SITE EDITOR – THEY CANNOT GO DIRECTLY TO WEEBLY.COM.

A full suite of site-building tools will be available with the NHD Web Site Editor. While third-party tools may be used to develop objects and components for an entry, the final code must be uploaded with the NHD Web Site Editor. All objects or components constructed with third-party tools (e.g. Dreamweaver, iWeb, MS Expression) must be portable to and function correctly with the NHD web site editor.

All hosting will be performed by NHD servers. The 100 MB size restriction on entries will remain. Students are free to begin building their entries as early as September, and will work on the same NHD web site as they advance through levels of competition. With the NHD Web Portal, students are free to access and work on their sites at any time other than judging periods, periods during which their sites will be closed to any editing.

Four print copies of the home page, a process paper, and an annotated bibliography will still be required for submission.
Note: This new information is from NHD

1. Choose a topic. Your topic must be clearly relevant to the annual theme. One technique is to brainstorm or pool your ideas about possible subjects. The topic should be specific enough so that your Web site can explore it thoroughly. Also, be sure to choose a topic for which research sources are available to you.
2. Research your topic. Remember that good historical research requires using a wide variety of sources, including books, magazines, newspapers, and encyclopedias, as well as primary sources such as letters, diaries, oral history interviews, census records, and photographs. Record complete bibliographic information about all of the sources you use, so that you will be able to create an annotated bibliography in the correct form.
3. Look on the Web for a model of an informative, effective Web site that would be suitable to your topic. Use equipment and programs that you are familiar with or that someone can teach you to use effectively.
4. Create a Storyboard. When you have done your research and completed written material, divide the work into page segments with appropriate pictures, diagrams, etc., drawn in. This is often called storyboarding; a storyboard is a tool used by visual arts writers and directors to help them decide which picture, sound, and other audiovisual element will best suit the story. Your storyboard should display each page of your Web site. This will help you see which visuals fit best, which still need to be made, what audio segments need to be recorded, and what graphics, automations, or other elements need to be included. You can adapt the storyboard example for documentaries to plan your Web pages.
5. Run through your Web Site. When final scripting is done and the visual and audio elements are created and in place, make several trial runs. Make sure that every page of your Web Site is interconnected with hypertext links. Be sure that viewers will be able to navigate it successfully. Some problems to watch for and correct:
   • Web Site won't open or display information correctly
   • Too many pages or too many levels of links; viewers lose the flow of the story
   • Audio that doesn't match the visuals or written material
   • Not enough variety in visuals
   • Distracting animations and special effects. Your Web Site must communicate your historical thesis and demonstrate your research. Special effects which merely entertain your viewers will detract from the effectiveness of your project. Remember, this is a history competition, not a computer graphics festival.
6. Show your Web Site to others. Ask them for constructive criticism and their overall feelings about it, as well as comments on the historical content. Use their comments to help troubleshoot and finalize your production.
7. Finalize your process paper and your annotated bibliography. Check this Web Site for complete information on writing a process paper and creating an annotated bibliography.

Remember, the Web Site submitted for judging must be the student's own work. Parents, teachers, and friends may advise only. Advising includes assisting in locating information, evaluating project ideas, or reading and offering constructive criticism of written materials.