Elementary Science Links



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Elementary Science Links

Secondary Science Links

Elementary Math Links

Secondary Math Links

Elementary & Secondary Math, Science & Technology Links

Using Information & Communication Technology Links

Elementary Science Links

Zam's Quest ZAMWorks



Zam's Quest is a unique standards-based curriculum for 5th and 6th grade students that engages, empowers and activates kids to learn about nature and take action to address local conservation issues. Using the time-tested, role play technique, students are able to: understand different points of view in a conservation issue, successfully analyze an issue and discuss solutions, understand the complexity of today's problems, and personally take action on a local conservation dilemma. The Zam's Quest Web site extends the curriculum by offering multimedia resources, experts' blogs from the field, a Comic Book Maker that lets kids create and share their own stories and solutions for conservation issues, and much more.

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Secondary Science Links

World Science



Web Science magazine with lots of great, detailed science information, graphics and pictures.

World Meteorological Organization



Founded in 1950, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is one of the oldest specialized agencies of the United Nations. With information available in Arabic, English, Spanish, French, and Russian, their website brings together information on weather, climate and water that will assist researchers and members of the pubic interested in meteorology and related fields. From their homepage, visitors can look over drop-down menus titled “Programmes” and “Topics”. While the “Programmes” area contains more specialized information, the “Topics” section contains links to thematic pages on over four dozen areas of interest from aerosols to women in meteorology. Of course, there’s plenty of information on weather conditions themselves, and visitors should move to the “Official Weather Forecasts and Warnings” area to be redirected to the WMO’s Severe Weather Information Centre which contains a real-time interactive map of the world. As an additional suggestion, visitors should take a look at their online art gallery, which contains an exhibit that features artistic impressions of different weather conditions from around the world.

Science from the Poles



While many have asked the question, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" fewer have asked, "How do you get to the South Pole?" One way might be to complete a doctorate in ecology, but for those with a computer and a connection to the Internet, this fine site from the Exploratorium in San Francisco will do quite nicely. Designed to celebrate the start of the International Polar Year, this site includes a number of very informative webcasts that highlight the work of scientists at both the North and South Poles. On the homepage users will find a section that contains presentations on climate change, and another that focuses on the work of scientists who are currently constructing the largest telescope ever utilized in a polar region. In addition, users will also enjoy clicking on the sections that address different themes, such as "sense of place", "ice diving", and of course, "penguins".

Teaching Geology



The study of geology at the University of Colorado has a long and distinguished history, and in recent years they have also become increasingly interested in providing online teaching resources in the field. Educators will be glad to learn about this site's existence, as they can scroll through a list of interactive demonstrations that can be utilized in the classroom. Specifically, these demonstrations include a shaded interactive topographical map of the western United States, a magnetic field of the Earth, and several animated maps of various National Park sites. The site comes to a compelling conclusion with the inclusion of the geology department's slide library, which can be used without a password or registration.

Introduction to Electronics, Signals, and Measurement



MIT’s OpenCourseWare initiative has garnered favorable mentions from educators around the world since its inception several years ago, and new material is added to the site every semester. One recent addition to the site was this particular set of materials for an introductory course on electronics. Under the direction of Professors Manos Chaniotakis and David Cory, this course is designed as a ‘practical-hands on-introduction to electronics with a focus on measurement and signals.’ Included on this site are a set of lecture notes, laboratory assignments, review notes, and practice exams. While students from around the world could definitely benefit from this material directly, educators could also peruse this material in an effort to gain some sense of how they might structure their own course.

Science Café



More and more, research institutes and specialized centers of learning are turning to the world of podcasts, vodcasts, and other such multimedia devices to reach out to people from Peoria to Patagonia. The University of California, San Francisco recently opened up their own virtual science café, and this website represents an attempt to provide lively and interesting conversations about the ‘story of science.’ As a statement on their website remarks, ‘From stem cells and what sells to great ideas, yeasty trends and budding controversies, we will be developing a menu for your mind.’ They have delivered on this intriguing promise quite well, as visitors to the site will quickly discover. With close to a dozen talks online so far, visitors can learn about the mysteries of aging from researcher Cynthia Kenyon and how the world of basic science research differs in the United States as compared with Germany. One can imagine that this program could be used as a nice complement in science education courses for both high school and college.





Sea turtles are fascinating creatures, and they have a lovely online home here at the Sea turtle website. It is an ambitious site that contains everything from the latest scientific research on sea turtles to a blend of materials designed for the more casual visitor as well. From the homepage, visitors can read the Marine Turtle Newsletter, view recent news headlines about these animals, and also view updated announcements about job opportunities in the field of marine animal research and advocacy. The ‘Tracking’ section is a true gem, as visitors can look at an interactive map that shows the location of tagged sea turtles and also learn more about the status of sea turtles who are in marine hospitals. Additionally, the ‘Multimedia’ area contains some fine podcasts that deal with sea turtle conservation efforts and rehabilitation.

vPlants



Starting in 2001, three institutions in the Chicago region began to create the vPlants database, which allows interested web-surfing parties to browse through various data from 90,000 plant specimens. Even more impressive is the fact that users can also view digital images for almost 50,000 of the specimens. Currently, these institutional partners are also in the process of adding 12,000 fungus specimen records. From their well-designed homepage, visitors can search for plant names by family, genus, or common name. Additionally, visitors can also browse a glossary of terms and a set of external links. The database brings the plant life of the region to life through its mix of visual materials and well-written descriptions. Neophyte botanists will appreciate its accessibility, and more experienced persons can find items of use here as well.

Chem1 Virtual Textbook



Chemistry serves as a fundamental discipline for those who will go on to careers in everything from medicine to nutrition and it is important for students of this science to have a wide range of resources at their disposal. One rather useful online resource is this virtual textbook for general chemistry created and updated by Professor Stephen Lower of Simon Fraser University. Visitors to the site can dive right in by reading an introduction titled "What is Chemistry all about, anyway?", and then proceed through a very well-structured set of chapters dedicated to the basics of atoms, equations, chemical energetics and other topics that would be typically covered in such a course. The site is rounded out by a good set of links to related interactive chemistry tutorials and exercises.

General Chemistry I Digital Lecture Material



Dr. Mark Ott, a professor at Jackson Community College in Wyoming, has created a set of compelling screencasts and accompanying audio tracks that are designed to complement his general chemistry lectures. Visitors can look over these materials at their leisure, and they will find very well-thought out lessons that cover such topics as unit conversion, molecular formulae, balancing chemical equations, and ionic and covalent bonding. All of these materials are lucid and might be used both by students who are becoming more acquainted with the world of chemistry, or by educators who might be seeking to assist their students in the learning process. These learning modules are available here in either the Flash format or via Google video.

Virtual Courseware [Macromedia Flash Player]



As part of a collaborative project between faculty members at the California State University-Los Angeles and the National Science Foundation, the Virtual Courseware website brings together a number of thematic instructional resources for science educators. Some of the resources include activities that deal with earthquakes and global warming. Within each module, visitors will find a number of self-guided tutorials and explanatory materials for instructors to use in their classrooms. One real gem here is the “Virtual Dating” section, as students and educators will get the opportunity to learn how geologists and archaeologists determine the ages of rocks and ancient artifacts. The site also makes the module on earthquakes available in Spanish, titled “Terremoto”. With a mix of activities, assessment exercises, and instructor materials, this website will be a great find for science teachers working with college or high school students.

NOAA Watch: NOAA’s All-Hazard Monitor



When the weather outside is frightful (or even when it isn’t), budding meteorologists will want to turn to the NOAA’s All-Hazard Monitor website. Drawing on an impressive array of weather-tracking devices, satellites, and so on, visitors can monitor a number of types of weather here, including tropical weather, droughts, volcanoes, earthquakes, and oil spills. Along with the “Weather Summary” map that is front and center on the homepage, visitors can also click onto detailed maps of surface weather and the current drought outlook. The site also features information about weather in space, rip currents, and harmful algae blooms. One can imagine a number of educational uses for the map, from displaying the map in a visual communications class to a basic course on meteorology.

Astronomy Online



Ricky Leon Murphy decided to create this website when he was working towards a master’s degree in astronomy, and he still keeps it updated regularly, along with the assistance of his wife, Chanthirar. The site has been the recipient of several awards over the past few years, and visitors looking for basic and accessible information about the world of astronomy will not be disappointed. Near the top of the homepage, visitors will see a number of thematic areas, including ‘Our Galaxy’, ‘Cosmology’, ‘Exoplanets’, and ‘Astrophotography’. In the ‘Our Galaxy’ section, visitors will find a number of short and informative essays on our own galaxy, along with pieces about the evolution of formation of other galaxies. Visitors will also appreciate the wide range of images available in the ‘Astrophotography’ section, which happens to include both professional and amateur images.

National Association of Biology Teachers: Instructional Materials



For several years, the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) has created a number of very fine instructional materials designed for use in the classroom, and even seasoned educators will find new approaches to teaching bioethics, gene sequences, and other related topics on the site. The materials are arranged in one simple list, and they include lesson plans that take on the subject of forensic science and the world of the ‘hooey stick’. The ‘hooey stick’ exercise is quite a bit of fun, and along with being aligned with National Science Education standards, it allows students to learn about empiricism and logic in science. Overall, there are some very good resources for educators here, and a few of the resources are so intriguing that even casual visitors may find themselves making repeat visits here.

How the Heart Works



Figuring out how the heart functions in a metaphorical sense can be an unending and highly metaphysical process (just ask John Donne), so it’s nice to find a place online where visitors can learn how the heart functions in a literal sense. This website was created by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, and begins by answering the basic question: ‘What is the Heart’? After reading this short and informative piece of writing, visitors can meander through sections titled ‘Anatomy’, ‘Contraction’, ‘Circulation’, ‘Electrical System’, and ‘Heart Disease’. Each section provides a brief summary of each topic, complete with graphic illustrations and several digital animations. It’s a well-constructed and user-friendly introduction to this important topic, and one that will be of use to those entering one of the health care professions, or those who are intrigued with various body systems.

Physlets



Understanding how various concepts and processes in physics can be an exasperating experience for students beginning to study the field, so finding sites like this one can be quite a delight. These Java-based applets were developed at Davidson University by Wolfgang Christian, and they are a real delight. First-time visitors may wish to read through the introduction on using these physlets, and then move on to look through the different sections on the site. In total, there are over 100 physlets here, and they include those that illustrate (or animate) such processes as linear momentum, elastic linear collisions, and the movement of sound waves.

Six Ideas That Shaped Physics



Developed by Professor Thomas A. Moore of Pomona College, the Six Ideas That Shaped Physics textbook was designed to help students gain a contemporary perspective on the discipline, along with giving them the ability to better understand the organization of physics concepts. While the site doesn’t allow visitors to access the actual textbook, physics instructors will find a number of helpful instructional materials here that they can use in the classroom. These resources include sections on optics, links to a number of useful computer programs, and some notes for instructors on how best to use these materials. Finally, a FAQ area rounds out the site.

Physics Applets



Multimedia instructional tools for the physical sciences are rather in vogue these days, and a number of universities and colleges have developed creative resources in this area. One such set of resources happens to be the Physics Applets collection, created by staff members at the University of Oregon’s physics department. The interactive applets are divided into four sections, including mechanics, thermodynamics, astrophysics, and energy & environment. In total, there are over thirty different applets, and they include those that illustrate the concepts of potential energy, Kepler’s Third Law, and atomic emission. The site also includes a listing of credits, a help section, and information about this initiative.

Astronomy 162: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology



Young students can find the world of college physics difficult at times, and it’s always good to have a wide range of instructional materials on hand in case they need them. The University of Tennessee’s Physics Department has placed a number of these materials online, and this particular resource deals with the course Astronomy 162, which covers stars, galaxies, and cosmology. On the site, students and educators will be delighted to find twenty-eight separate sections that cover this material through illustrations, animations, and written explanations. Some of the specific topics covered here include the properties of light, energy production in stars, and stellar motion. Overall, it’s a great way for students to refresh their knowledge of these subjects, and educators can draw on some of these materials for their own lessons.

Dream Anatomy



For centuries, artists and physicians have rendered the human body and its anatomy in a myriad of ways, and with the invention of the printing press in the 15th century, the number of anatomical drawings and their like multiplied. Drawing on the collections contained within the National Library of Medicine, this revealing digital exhibit explores some of the ways in which human anatomy has been imagined and represented over the past five centuries or so. These images are divided into a number of thematic sections, including ‘Anatomical Dreamtime’, ‘Getting Real’, and ‘Visionary & Visible’. Visitors to the site can also view the winners in a related contest which asked children to draw what they thought the body looked like ‘under the skin’.

Saturn Moons Explorer: Titan



Only now are we beginning to learn about Titan, one of Saturn’s most intriguing and enigmatic moons. This particular site provides an overview of Titan, courtesy of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, located at the California Institute of Technology. After watching an introductory video segment about Titan, visitors can learn more in the ‘Quick Facts’ section. The ‘Latest Images’ area contains twelve of the latest images of Titan as captured by the Cassini spacecraft. Visitors should also not miss the ‘3D Globe’ area, which contains an interactive rendering of Titan which allows visitors to visit a number of features on this moon, including an ice volcano, drainage channels, and ‘The Smile’, the brightest spot on Titan’s surface.

The Future of Coal



Across both the developed and developing worlds, the continued use of coal as an energy source has been of some concern as an agent in the process of global warming. Recently, a group of scholars at MIT convened to create an ambitious and forward-looking report titled ‘The Future of Coal’. The report was made possible through financial support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and a number of other organizations. Released in March 2007, the report emphatically states that carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is the ‘critical enabling technology’ which will help reduce CO2 emissions. The report also suggests that a significant charge on carbon emissions is needed in the near term and that the U.S. government should provide assistance only to coal projects with CO2 capture in order to demonstrate technical, economic and environmental performance. Visitors to this site can read the report in its entirety, along with a complete glossary and appendices.

Introduction to Genetics [Macromedia Flash Player]



Keeping the world of base pairs straight can be a challenge, but fortunately this well-developed introduction to the world of genetics will be a boon to students and those members of the public who are craving a refresher on this exciting area of science. Created by GlaxoSmithKline, the site includes a number of interactive animations that illustrate the workings of DNA and genes. Along with these animations, visitors can read over brief introductory pieces on mutations and genetic disorders. The site also has a brief multiple choice quiz that users can take after they make their way through the different sections here.

Kepler’s Three Laws of Planetary Motion



Four hundred years ago, the German astronomer Johannes Kepler described his concept of the laws of planetary motion in his work, ‘Astronomia nova’. These important laws remain important concepts for students of physics, and those who work with such students will find much of interest on this particular site. Created by David P. Stern (a retired physicist at the Goddard Space Flight Center), the site consists of an overview of Kepler’s laws, with examples, applications, problems and related history. The material is based on a talk that Stern gave in Maryland, and visitors will find that this resource is both accessible and very thorough

Physics 620D: Electricity, Teacher Investigations



Stephen T. Thornton, a professor in the department of physics at the University of Virginia, has created this website to bring together a number of lesson plans for teachers in the field. Within this ‘Teacher Investigations’ section of the site, visitors can look over three different classroom activities. The investigations include explorations into the world of light bulbs, the workings of circuits, and so on. Each activity includes a number of helpful diagrams, instructions, and questions for group discussion. Additionally, the site contains a list of recommended readings for physics teachers.

Structural Geology Resources



The Cutting Edge group at Carleton College has created a number of fine teaching resources for college-level instructors working across the geological sciences, and this website is no exception. This particular area of their larger site is primarily intended for educators who teach structural geology. As visitors scroll through the site, they will find thematic areas that include links to computer applications, geologic maps that can be used for instructional purposes, and specific classroom activities. Some of these activities include ‘Using Field Lab Write-ups to Develop Observational and Critical Thinking Skills’ and ‘Analysis of Sidewalk Fractures’. Additionally, visitors can sign up for their listserv discussions and view presentations from different workshops they have conducted in the past.

US National Virtual Observatory



While obtaining astronomical data can be an expensive endeavor, locating this data online can be a time-consuming task. Fortunately, the US National Virtual Observatory’s website makes that process much simpler. The Observatory and the website are funded the National Science Foundation’s Information Technology Research Program, and seventeen astronomy and computer science organizations in the US and Canada have been involved in its development. Most visitors will want to browse through the FAQ section, which gives specific details on what can be found here. Additionally, visitors will want to look over the ‘Getting Started’ section, as it uses screenshots and annotations to lead users through the operation of five key applications that are available through the Observatory.

Microscope Imaging Station



The Exploratorium in San Francisco continue to break new and intriguing ground with their latest online project, the Microscope Imaging Station. The actual physical Station resides at their museum, and was opened in 2004. Developed to complement this interactive exhibit, this online manifestation of the Station allows visitors to peer into the cells of living organisms such as sea urchins and zebra fish. The sea urchin feature is a real treat, as it is accompanied by a well-written essay on how this spiky creature may help unlock the secrets of genes, reproduction, and cancer. If that wasn’t enough, the essay (as with other features on the site) includes a short video clip. The ‘Gallery’ is definitely worth a stop as well. Here, visitors will find a wide range of high-resolution images and movies created with research-grade microscopes. Watching cells move, the fertilization process and the world of mitosis is a rather nice way to spend a few minutes, and visitors will probably want to pass the site along to friends and family.

Exploring Magnetism on Earth



Understanding the power of magnetism on Earth isn’t always easy, and students and teachers alike will be glad to find out about this handy guide to the subject. Created by experts at NASA, this 15-page teacher’s guide was designed in partnership with other educators at Berkeley as well as several other participating institutions. The guide contains problems which examine Earth’s changing magnetic field in time and space, and how these changes can impact navigation on Earth’s surface. In terms of specific activities, the guide includes exercises on navigating the earth with a compass, the declining magnetic field, and the reversal of magnetic polarity. Each of these activities is explained in detail, and they all include relevant illustrations, graphs, questions, and an answer key.

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Elementary Math Links

National Library of Virtual Manipulatives



Learning about various branches of mathematics can be tough at any age, and this fine set of resources created by staff members who are primarily based at the Utah State University is designed to make this process just a bit easier. With substantial funding from the National Science Foundation, they have successfully developed a large set of interactive online learning units that deal with topics such as geometry, arithmetic, and trigonometry. First-time visitors may want to begin by looking over the "About" section, which includes a tutorial designed for educators who wish to use the materials as well as another tutorial that will teach educators how to create lessons and activities. Delving into the learning materials at the site, visitors can browse through the learning modules by subject or grade level. Visitors can also browse teacher published lessons, all of which have been vetted by staff members at the National Library. Finally, visitors will want to definitely look over the virtual manipulatives library, which includes instructional materials that students will find quite engaging.

InterMath



With funding from the National Science Foundation, the Learning & Performance Support Laboratory at the University of Georgia has created this website for mathematics educators. Their primary focus is to build teachers’ mathematical content knowledge through mathematical investigations, and the resources presented here reflect this commitment. The primary mathematical fields covered here include algebra, geometry, number concepts, and data analysis. Within each of these sections, visitors will find “Recommended Investigations”, which are classroom-tested activities. These activities are engaging and well-written, and it is easy to see how they could be incorporated into a variety of lesson plans. Finally, the site also contains an interactive math dictionary that covers everything from absolute value to z-score.

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Secondary Math Links

Tutorials and Web Resources for College Mathematics Courses



A number of websites provide access to very fine educational resources designed to assist college students master their subjects of study. This site, created by Ken Foster at the Southwest Tennessee Community College, provides a detailed list of links to sites that cover topics such as art education, accounting, automobile repair, and computer sciences. By clicking on the ‘Table of Contents’, visitors can also learn more about which specific subject areas are included within each broader category. The sites are all basically contained within one extended list, so visitors may have to scroll around a bit to find what they are looking for, but other than that, the site is easy to use. For educators looking to provide students with a way to find supplementary learning materials, this is an excellent place to look.

Math Review: Basic Mathematics



A number of community colleges across the United States have been actively working on creating helpful online tutorials and educational guides to a variety of subjects. Created by the staff at the Student Learning Assistance Center at San Antonio College, this site offers a set of online presentations and exercises that review topics such as whole numbers, integers, fractions, decimals, and statistical measurement. For each of these topics, users will find a slideshow overview and a set of short exercises designed to make sure that students understand the material. Additionally, visitors can click on the ‘Mathematics handouts’ section to examine worksheets that cover the concepts of beginning algebra, exponents, and other more advanced mathematical subjects.

Online Mathematics Textbooks



More and more instructional materials in the field of mathematics can be found online today, though for several years, it was difficult to find high-quality textbooks in their entirety. Fortunately Professor George Cain of the Georgia Institute of Technology has created this website to remedy that situation. As Professor Cain notes on his site, “The writing of textbooks and making them freely available on the web is an idea whose time has arrived.” Here he offers links to sixty-five different textbooks, including those that deal with multivariable calculus and several introductory texts on probability. Overall, the site is a fine resource, and it will be of use to both budding math scholars and those who teach them.

Exploring Data



For many students who wish to embark into the world of statistics, the whole process can be a bit daunting. Fortunately, the Exploring Data website makes such a proposition a bit easier for both students and teachers. The site is easy to navigate, and the homepage contains an index of topics and materials ranging from linear regression to sampling. Each of these sections includes activities, worksheets, and datasets that can be used in a variety of ways. More advanced students will appreciate the fact that the site also contains material that goes beyond some of the basic concepts within the field, and educators will also want to recommend this site to students who might need a bit of a refresher on certain key areas.

Insights into Algebra 1: Teaching for Learning



Teaching algebra can be a difficult proposition, and at times, those who have just entered the field of mathematics education can feel a bit overwhelmed. Stepping in to provide a bit of assistance is this series of instructional videos, created by WNET in New York, working with funding from the Annenberg Media Foundation. The program contains eight parts, and interested parties will have the opportunity to explore strategies for teaching a number of topics, such as variables, systems of equations, linear functions, and exponential functions. After visitors complete a free registration form, they will have access to all eight parts of the series. It’s a well-done set of instructional programs, and the exercises draw on a number of practical situations, such as a proposed hot dog vending scheme and other business situations.

Journal of Online Mathematics and its Applications



Published by The Mathematical Association of America, the Journal of Online Mathematics and its Application was started in 1998. All of the materials in the Journal are peer-reviewed, and each issue contains original research articles on student learning via online materials, class-tested web-based learning materials, and substantive reviews of important online resources. First-time visitors may wish to utilize the online keyword search engine, or they can also view a drop-down subject list that covers such topics as number theory, basic algebra, and arithmetic. Of course, visitors can also look over the ‘Featured Items’ on the homepage, if they wish. Some of the featured items in the past have included primers on how to use HTML to create math worksheets and how to effectively use video conferencing as a way to tutor students in math. Finally, ambitious visitors may also wish to look over the Journal’s requirements for submitting material to be considered for inclusion in future issues.

Online Resource: Geometry



Along with their substantial instructional resources, the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) has worked to place valuable mathematical materials online to aid both teachers and students. This particular site contains links discovered and vetted by George Alexander, who works on behalf of the AMATYC. Here visitors will find links to materials that can be used to teach students about the fundamentals of geometry, including plane motion, polyhedras, symmetry, and tessellations. In total, there are links to 33 resources here, and suggestions for new materials are always welcome.

Math Lessons



The creator of this site is one Gisele Glosser, who happens to be the ‘Mrs. Glosser’ referenced throughout the site. She is also an experienced math teacher who has worked in New York and New Jersey. In an effort to assist her fellow educators, she has created this delightful collection of math lessons. Visitors will want to look over the lessons, which are listed in full here. While some of the materials require a fee, there are a number of lessons offered completely free of charge. In total, there are thirty free lessons here, and they cover such topics as probability, symbolic logic, understanding percent, and number theory.

Journal of Statistics Education



Published since 1993, the Journal of Statistics Education (JSE) is a publication of the American Statistical Association. Given the wide range of material found within its pages (both virtual and print), it can truly be considered one of the most important resources available for those who wish to make the world of statistics lucid for their students and others. Visitors can wander through the current issue and view full-length peer-reviewed articles and also check out some of their departments, which include ‘Teaching Bits’ and ‘Datasets and Stories’. Recent articles have included ‘Critical Values and Transforming Data: Teaching Statistics with Social Justice’ and ‘Probability in Action: The Red Traffic Light’. Those who feel up to the challenge may wish to contact the editors and submit their own work for inclusion in a forthcoming volume, or just to send along suggestions and comments.

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Elementary & Secondary Math, Science & Technology Links

AMSER

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AMSER, the Applied Math and Science Education Repository, is funded by the National Science Foundation and serves up information about applied math and science resources in an easy-to-use format. Though specifically created for teachers and students at community and technical colleges, AMSER is free for anyone to use and is part of NSF's larger National Science Digital Library initiative. Users can find a wide assortment of materials at AMSER, from large web sites focusing on an individual applied science or math topic to Flash animations that demonstrate specific science or math principles in action. AMSER also offers users a variety of features including rating and commenting on resources and having new resources recommended to them. They hope that you will stop by AMSER, take a look around, and provide them with any feedback you may have on its features and resources.

Tools for Understanding



For the past seven years, Professor John Woodward and his colleagues at the University of Puget Sound have been creating materials for this unique site. Designed as a way to bring together resources to assist mathematics teachers at a variety of skill levels, the site is divided into four primary sections. The first stop for first-time users should definitely be the "Math Concepts" area. Here, educators can learn about how to introduce spreadsheets and data tables into the curriculum. Additionally, there are subsections within this area that provide detail-oriented plans on how to integrate prime numbers, functions, and fractions into lesson plans. Perhaps the true gem on this site is the section that discusses how math teachers can use journaling to get students thinking in different and creative ways about understanding various aspects of mathematics.

United Nations Environment Programme: The Billion Tree Campaign



Painters and poets throughout the millennia have explored the aesthetic beauty of trees in great detail, and in the past few centuries, humans have become intimately aware of how trees form the foundation of many natural systems. Recently, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched their major worldwide tree planting campaign, “Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign”. One major component of their outreach efforts is this very fine website, which includes sections such as “Facts and Figures”, “Trees and Humanity”, and of course, “How to Plant a Tree”. On the site, visitors also have the option to pledge their support for the project in a variety of ways. The “Facts and Figures” section is also helpful, as it contains answers to a number of basic questions such as “Where are forests found?” and some more specific information on the importance of this project.

Mid-American Earthquake Center



Understanding earthquakes is a complex process, and the Mid-America Earthquake Center is one of three national earthquake engineering research centers set up to work on a variety of approaches to a broad set of related scientific concerns. Based at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Center consists of a consortium of nine core institutions and is funded by the National Science Foundation. The Center’s primary work is within four areas, including information technology and consequence-based risk management frameworks. Recognizing that they serve a broad range of visitors to their website, the Center has established a number of informative introductions on their homepage for the general public, potential industry partners, members of the press, and K-12 educators. While a number of visitors may be interested in their technical reports and software packages, most visitors will want to look over the graduate and undergraduate teaching modules, which will be of great use to educators in the engineering and geophysical sciences and their students. Additionally, the Center’s site provides access to a number of informative webcasts, including presentations on seismic performances of bridges.

PBS Teachers: Math



PBS has developed a number of websites for educators, and their PBS Teachers site has received a number of accolades and high praise from diverse quarters. First-time visitors to the site may wish to first use the drop-down menus here to select a grade range and a topic that interests them. After doing so, a set of relevant materials will be offered to them, organized by topic and intended grade level. Also, visitors who sign up can customize their searches and sign up for reminders and newsletters. The site also provides definitions of the general topics, such as applied mathematics, discrete mathematics, and statistics. If visitors find themselves a bit overwhelmed, they can also just click on some of the ‘Featured Educational Resources’ to get a feel for the materials contained within the site’s archive.

Earth Day: Climate: Electronic Resources



Started by the late Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, Earth Day has become a world wide event in its over thirty years of existence, and educators will find this site most helpful as they begin to develop lesson plans and exercises around this event. Created by the American Chemical Society, this site contains links to online resources that deal with the climate, various climatic regions, and ongoing changes in climate. The links are organized into three sections, and visitors can also read brief descriptions of the materials they can find on each site. There are some very fine links here, including one to NASA’s Earth Observing System and the Global Climate Change site offered by The Exploratorium Museum in San Francisco.

The Math Worksheet Site



For people of a certain age, the phrase ‘math worksheet’ may conjure images of pieces of paper with wet purple ink, freshly mimeographed. For others, they might just say: ‘What’s a mimeograph’? Both groups will find things to like about this website, which brings together a number of math worksheets for general use. The site is maintained by Scott Bryce, and while some of the materials require a subscription, there is enough free material to warrant several visits. Visitors should take a look at the ‘Preview’ section, where they can look over examples of instructional worksheets that cover concepts such fractions, mixed numbers, graphing, and measurement. The site is rounded out by a weblog, which is updated with additional materials and suggestions on using the site.

International Polar Year



During the International Polar Year, which started in March 2007 and runs through March 2009, a team of thousands of scientists from 60 nations will be examining a wide range of physical, biological, and social research topics that deal with the Arctic and the Antarctic. The project is sponsored by a number of organizations, including the World Meteorological Organization and the International Council for Science. Visitors to their homepage will find that they can look over such thematic sections as ‘Atmosphere’, ‘Ice’, ‘Land’, ‘Oceans’, and so on. Within each of these sections, visitors can look over news items, events, blog listings, and of course, a set of links and resources. Educators should not pass up the ‘Educators’ area, as it contains a selection of classroom tested activities and links to the International Polar Year Youth portal which is designed for both students and educators.

Workshop of the World



The West Midlands region of England has been an important center of commerce and industry for well over five hundred years. The city of Coventry was a dominant center of wool and clothing manufacturing in the Middle Ages, and Birmingham was a prime location of industry during the Industrial Revolution. Drawing on the collections of museums in Birmingham, Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent (and others), the Workshop of the World website brings together some of the compelling inventions that came out of the West Midlands region in the 19th century. Visitors can look over several dozen of these inventions, including an automatic wood screw making machine, a button shank making device, and a rotative steam engine. Each object is accompanied by a photo or illustration, and a short essay gives detailed background information about the object’s importance and use.

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Using Information & Communication Technology Links

Microsoft Word Training Modules



With a variety of training modules designed for those in the field of medical administration and general business environments, these well-thought out educational materials will be a most welcome find. Created by the staff members at the Internet4Classrooms site, these modules address such topics as inserting images in MS Word, creating signs with MS Word, and keyboard shortcuts. Each of the modules is written with introductory users in mind, and they include helpful graphics that illustrate different actions and tools. Additionally, the site also includes a series of ‘Beyond the Basics’ learning modules that provide guidance on how to use the mail merge function and how to create hyperlinks within MS Word.

Flash Cards 1.0



Perhaps you would like a way to help memorize important chemical equations? Or perhaps you are preparing to memorize certain Gallic phrases for an upcoming trip to Lyons? This helpful application can help users with both situations, and a number of other similar dilemmas. Flash Cards 1.0 allows users to create their own flashcards, and they can import data from other sources, including websites and text documents. Additionally, a setup page gives users the ability to set the interval time between cards, their text color, and other variables. This version is compatible with all computers running Mac OS X 10.2 and newer.

The Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education: Resources



Located at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, The Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education is primarily interested in creating resources for educators working on these topics. First-time visitors should definitely start by looking through the ‘Resources’ area, as they will find classroom tested exercises that cover basic topics in algebra, trigonometry, and a number of related fields in math. Moving along, the site also features teaching modules that will help educators explain different concepts in technology, which can be most useful, particularly for beginning students. Finally, if visitors to the site have questions, there is a contact form and a place to make suggestions about material that might be covered in future projects and modules.

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