Roles
Browser
One of the distinct user roles we foresee engaging with the Crossing Fonds platform is the Browser: someone with a general knowledge of or curiosity about the subject matter presented by the case studies. There are many ways users can browse through the Platform. Potentially, Browsers can move into a Contributor role (more on that below).
Browse and find one item on a Case Study page
Step One: Click through the Case Studies available at the Navigation Bar at the top of the webpage.
Step Two: Explore items grouped by the themes being researched by the project.
Step Three: Take a look at one item and its existing description
This type of browse is already pre-curated by the nature of the items already grouped by case study. Consider if you could have found this item without this grouping.
Browse and find one item by keyword search
Step One: Type in any keyword search in the Navigation Bar at the top right of the webpage. Try things like “women” or “strike” or “labour”.
Step Two: Browse your search results to see what materials were pulled by your keyword.
Did you get lots of results from your search? None at all? How did it feel as a Browser to search through the platform without any pre-curation?
What was intuitive for you? Do you have a preference for one browse method? What was missing?
Prepare responses to questions below.
Contributor
The Crossing Fonds platform has been designed to encourage connections with our platform users. There are several ways in which individuals can contribute to the platform: through comments on specific items; contributing new descriptive metadata that enhances context and information about an item and ways in which to access these items; and contributing new content to the platform.
How to comment on an item:
Step One: Select item
Step Two: Scroll down to "Comments” section
Step Three: Type your comment, then click “Comment It!”
Make 2 metadata suggestions:
Step One: Select an item
Step Two: Scroll down to “Contributions” section
Step Three: Click “Edit this Item”
Step Four: Under “User Contributed Tags” click “Add value”
Step Five: Input suggestion then click “Submit” at the bottom
Repeat above steps for "User Contributed Subject”
As you are completing this task, think of the types of metadata that you would like to see or contribute to. Is there anything missing or unclear? Are the fields easy to understand?
How to submit a new item:
Step One: Choose a photograph to upload from this link: Media
Step Two: Click “Add Item” in nav bar
Step Three: Upload media by clicking “Choose File”
Step Four: Input corresponding metadata
Step Five: When done click “Submit”
Are there any metadata fields you would like to use that are missing?
Were the tasks intuitive? Did you encounter any difficulties in completing these tasks? What resources could help the user with this process?
Prepare responses to questions below.
Curator
When the platform is fully functioning, registered users can curate their own collections of digitized material from the platform using a number of tools. Curators can use existing material and/or items that they contribute to the platform.
Make 2 metadata suggestions:
Step One: Select an item
Step Two: Scroll down to “Contribute” section
Step Three: Click “Edit this Item”
Step Four: Under “User Contributed Tags” click “Add value”
Step Five: Input suggestion then click “Submit” at the bottom
Repeat above steps for "User Contributed Subject”
As you go through this task, think of the types of metadata that you would like to see or contribute to. Is there anything missing or unclear? Are the fields easy to understand?
How to submit a new item:
Step One: Choose a photograph to upload from this link: Media
Step Two: Click “Add Item” in nav bar
Step Three: Upload media by clicking “Choose File”
Step Four: Input corresponding metadata
Step Five: When done click “Submit”
Was this intuitive? Did you encounter any difficulties in completing this task? Are there any metadata fields you would like to use that are missing? What resources could help with this process?
Curate four items you think are interesting together:
Step One: Select item
Step Two: Click the “Add to Selection” button under the image
Step Three: Select “Curation” in the top menu to see selected resources
Did you encounter any difficulties in completing these tasks? Was anything unclear? What additional tools are of interest to further curate the material?
Prepare responses to questions below
Questions for Discussion
- How do you see this platform supporting and/or being implemented in your research and/or curriculum / student assignments?
- What was missing or unclear as you performed the tasks?
- Describe any design modifications or user documentation that would be helpful to facilitate completing these tasks.
- What types of tools would be the most helpful to achieve your own projects?