Resources

toc Here we will upload handouts, worksheets, forms, info from Maine Historical Society (MHS) as well as any materials that we conceive for ourselves that will help our team do their job better (from the digitizing/cataloging/content end -- see the "Forms" section for forms and handouts related to the business/logistical/administrative end ).

A LOT of great resources to help us do our job when it comes to the content of our Web site are already gathered in one spot on the Maine Memory Network's Web site: http://www.mainememory.net/cp/cp_resources.shtml

=Understanding MCHP= These handouts were given at the June 2008 orientation meeting from MHS. This is the introduction to what is MCHP and a general overview of the project from the state level:

What is the digitization process and what are the steps to go through:

What are the components of the Web site--the big picture?

What is an exhibit (of which we will have several on our Web site)?

What are the general requirements of the overarching/summary narrative that is a part of the Web site?

=Understanding MMN= Though this handout is intended for middle school teachers to use with their students (and can certainly be used well for that purpose), it's a great introduction to the Maine Memory Network (MMN) and its features and purpose, including how to search on MMN and how to make an album.

=Educator's Guide= From: Kristie @ Maine Historical Society Subject: MCHP Educator's Guide Date: August 28, 2008 8:28:58 PM EDT

Hello! Attached you'll find an MCHP Educator's Guide. It's geared a bit towards those educators that may not know about the MCHP and those that might be looking for some ways to incorporate it into their curriculum. It includes a brief synopsis of MCHP and lists some suggested activities and how those activities might connect to the Maine Learning Results. Feel free to use all, some, or none of it - just thought I'd pass it along to you. If you have any thoughts or suggestions about the content, I'd love to hear from you. As always, don't hesitate to be in touch if you have questions or need any help with the MCHP school piece. See you next week!

Wishing you a pleasant long weekend, Kristie

=Handling Artifacts= Though this handout is intended for middle school teachers to use with their students, it's very important for all of us to be aware of and to follow these guidelines in order to keep our artifacts in tact and to have them last for a few more generations to see and to handle.

=Selecting Artifacts= A handout from MHS at our June orientation meeting describing the answers to the question "what is good history?" Great info that we need to keep in mind when we are determining what to upload to the MMN.

This "web" or "concept map" from MHS shows a way to organize and to think about inventorying all the rich resources and artifacts you have available in your town. Melanie used this to help us create our first inventories and it is the basis for our "brainstorm" template in the Themes and Topics section of this wiki.

=Digitizing= Again, here's a handout geared towards middle school students but it REALLY helps explain the scanning proces for anyone who wants to know both how and why to scan the way we need to for our artifacts to be included in the MMN.

These standards and procedures reflect best practices as identified by MHS: http://www.mainememory.net/cp/cp_scanning.shtml

This video from the MMN website really helps, too. Our scanner for Farmington MCHP is the same kind as in the video, our version of Adobe Photoshop Elements is the same, but our scanner software is just a smidge different. You can still, however, learn a LOT from this video to help you be successful in scanning our artifacts: http://www.mainememory.net/videos/MMNScanning.shtml

=Cataloging & Uploading= From: Kristie Subject: MMN Cataloging Date: October 7, 2008 11:24:16 AM EDT

Hi, all!

I thought I'd pass along some information and potential materials that we've put together for cataloging that were mostly designed for students, but might also be helpful for others too. Please don't think we're pushing for students to be involved in cataloging - I just thought I'd pass it along as an fyi...

The first attachment is one that Stephanie sent previously - it's screen shots of the actual cataloging record that a contributing partner completes for the Maine Memory Network.

Our experience has been that often a cataloging worksheet can be helpful if you have different people involved with the digitization, uploading, and cataloging of a particular item. The second attachment is a blank cataloging worksheet that can be filled out before somebody sits down to enter the information on the cataloging record.. The third attachment is a cataloging worksheet that provides some information and explanations that might help in understanding how to complete the worksheet/cataloging record.

There's also a short video on how to catalog for the MMN in the Contributing Partner's Section of the MMN. Here's a link to the resources page: http://www.mainememory.net/cp/cp_resources.shtml

Best, Kristie