Integrating
Technology Into Science
It is arguable that science
education has benefitted most from technology. From the massive
amount of interactive applications to the hands on technologies
like probeware, students have an even better chance than other generations
to be involved with real science that engages them in the scientific
method and the thrill of discovery.
The Internet alone has
been a transformative technology. There is a a variety of different
resources that both teachers and students can take advantage of
on the Internet from interactive activities to collaborative projects
that connect classrooms around the world in scientific investgations.
Timely content and information like weather satelittes, astronomical
photography have made it a simple process to have the same access
to information as professional meterologists and astronomers.
Interactive
Applications
Provide students with
interactive activities to test and expand their knowledge of scientific
principles. Through these web sites students experience and experiment
with many of the concepts that are normally statically presented
in images and text.
Froguts
(K-12)
http://www.froguts.com
DNA
Interactive (6-12)
http://www.dnai.org
Explore
Mars Now (3-12)
http://www.exploremarsnow.org/
Genetic
Learning Center (3-8)
http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/
HHMI
Biointeractive (9-12)
http://www.biointeractive.org/
Visual
Interpretation of the Periodic Table (3-12)
http://www.chemsoc.org/viselements/index.htm
Strange
Matter (K-8)
http://www.strangematterexhibit.com/
WISE:
Web-based Inquiry Science Environment (5-12)
http://wise.berkeley.edu/
Collaborative
Projects
Creating
a realistic, collaborative environment is the best way for students
to experience the real world life of a scientist. These resources
provide collaborative connections with scientists and call on the
students to contribute to the different ongoing projects that the
scientists are involved in.
JASON
Project (3-8)
http://www.jasonproject.org/
Voyage
of the Odyssey (3-12)
http://www.pbs.org/odyssey/
Ask
A Scientist (6-12)
http://www.askascientist.org/
NASA
Quest (K-12)
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/
Content
Databases
The Internet is the home
of several content databases that go beyond what students generally
have access to in the traditional curriculum resources. Many of
these contain not only text, but images and animations that provide
opportunities for students to reinforce and extend upon their scientific
knowledge.
Planetary
Photojournal (K-12)
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/
Science
World (9-12)
http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/
Brainpop:
Science (K-8)
http://www.brainpop.com/science/seeall.weml
Biodiversity
Hotspots (6-12)
http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org
Directories
Finding the best resources
for each area of the content that teachers must teach to students
can take a long time if one does not use existing resources directories.
The best directories subdivide the resources into each content area,
making even easier to locate specific resources.
SCORE
Science (K-12)
http://scorescience.humboldt.k12.ca.us/
Blue
Web'n: Science (K-12)
http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/bluewebn/contentarea.cfm?cid=11
ENC
Online
http://www.enc.org
Frank
Potter's Science Gems (K-12)
http://www.sciencegems.com/
