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EDST Web Site Critique: Poverty

February 18, 2002

Terra Marcuzzi and Valerie Wong

www.bctf.ca/LessonAids/online/la2030.html 

Summary:

This BCTF lesson aid web site gives a complete overview of issues relating to poverty, specifically in British Columbia.  The definition of poverty, and who the poor are, start the information on this page.  Issues regarding social assistance is discussed, and then a day-in-the-life-of-a-minimum-wage-earner is presented.  A different perspective of how the poor might feel is presented clearly in both the sections: Blaming the Victim and The Gap Between the Rich and the Poor.  Information is well supported with statistics and other sources.  There is also a large amount of information regarding Food Banks.  Finally, a global connection is made regarding the problem of poverty and unemployment.  New terminology is learned such as maquilas (free-trade zones usually located near large cities or foreign borders) and a better understanding of the trade relationship Canada has with a variety of other countries like Mexico, El Salvador and Guatemala is introduced.

Critique:

This web site is an excellent resource for teachers and students.  It contains a well-organized table of contents and related links.  The connections between each page are easy to navigate and all the categories are well laid out.  In addition, the contributors’ names are listed on the main page, there is a list of phone numbers and there are links to other lesson aids and the BCTF homepage.  It is also available in French.  This web site was designed as a student resource.  It contains factual information on poverty issues in Canada and B.C. as well as questions and suggested activities for students.  Facts, articles and data are on the left-hand column and student assignments, questions for discussion and project ideas are on the right-hand column.  The activities are logical, well thought out and very applicable in a classroom setting.  This web site could be improved by having more visuals (photographs and designs) as well as the date it was made, and when it was last updated.  Overall, it is a useful lesson aid, which provides relevant information on the realities of poverty in Canada. This site is thought provoking and encourages students to think critically about the issues related to poverty, prompting them to apply and respond to the information.  Best of all, it can be used by teachers as a way to incorporate technology into lesson plans.