Task and Benefits:

Create and update one or more pages on WatchungHistory.org. The site was started in 2022 and has gradually been updated by one member of the Watchung Historical Committee. 

This is an opportunity for a student or groups students, 7th-grade to college to showcase their talents while completing an important community service project for the larger Watchung Community. 

This is a fun and rewarding activity for a volunteer, adult, or student. Not only will they and their local friends be able to see the results of their effort, but anyone in the world with internet access will be able to admire it and learn from it also. As they create each page, the volunteer will be increase their skills in website building, as well as  learn about the history of their town, surrounding communities, state, and their Country (lots of the American Revolution happened less than 10 miles from Watchung!) 

Details:  

Web page building can be worked on a day at a time, an hour at a time or less. There is great flexibility in the schedule!

The site is currently hosted by SquareSpace that has a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) Word-like editor. No HTML or computer-tech experience needed. 

 Initially work under the supervision of the Watchung Historical Committee member,who began and continues to build the site with increasing independence.  This member taught website construction as a college professor and has been working with computers for over ½ a century.

Responsibilities: 

• Create a page on the WatchungHistory.org web site (in the testing directory) using images on the WatchungHistory google drive, found facebook posts, research from the web (request permission if required for image used), independent research at the Texier House Museum, or photographing items in the Texier House.

• Write descriptive and educational text about the focus subject. Use ChatGPT or other AI functions, if desired, to supplement the research conducted

• Mistakes can be easily corrected, and are isolated to the test page, and are obvious only to the few people with backdoor access to the Squarespace account until the page is live to the general public.

Qualifications:  

• The student should be comfortable using computers and the internet.

• Creative and organizational skills.  

• They should be careful in handling irreplaceable original historical documents.  

• The student should be able to work independently and be able to manage their time effectively. 

• Conduct research with help from the Historical Committee and keep track of sources used while conducting the research.