For major sites, breadth dominates depth. In contrast, standard textbooks include seven to twelve visual examples to contextualize the art by adding the temple plan, Acropolis diagrams or models, photos to clarify the location of the frieze, and reconstructions presenting the original location of pediment sculpture. Features The Art Historian software functions primarily as a catalogue of images with textual information. Each unit begins with a voiceover of an introductory historical essay. Text sections, divided into a paragraph for historical context and a paragraph for visual analysis, generally follow the synthetic approach established by textbooks.
Users can conduct self-tests using flash card, essay, or multiple choice formats.
Since the format for testing directs student learning, instructors should review the questions to determine if the material matches their educational priorities. The best features, the Compare option and the Notes, surpass the textbook format by promoting individualized interaction. Users can view two catalogue and text descriptions simultaneously or juxtapose two large images side by side on the screen, such as the sculptures of David by Michelangelo and Bernini. However, because of the two volume format, users with only one CD-ROM drive cannot directly compare Botticelli's Birth of Venus to Praxiteles's Knidian Aphrodite. In the Notes section, users can copy text sections to notes or write their own responses, then save the notes file as a text file, load the text file into a word processing program, and print the text.