Education on the Internet
Number 103: 14th January, 2004
Introduction
Introduction
Education on the Internet is published by Spartacus Educational every week. The newsletter includes news, reviews of websites and articles on using ICT in the classroom. Members of the mailing list are invited to submit information for inclusion in future newsletters. In this way we hope to create a community of people involved in using the Internet in education. Currently there are 43,390 subscribers to the newsletter.
All reviews are added to our web directory. There are sections on Internet Services, Online Seminars, Primary Education, English, Mathematics, Science, Modern Languages, History, Geography, Design & Technology, Business Studies, Special Needs, Media Studies, ICT, Sociology, Music, Politics, Economics, Photography, Art & Design, Theatre Studies, Physical Education and Religious Studies.
John Simkin
Online Seminars
History and Art: Is this seminar Stephen Drew argues that: "One of the most interesting, useful, engaging and effective methods of delivering the History curriculum is through the medium of art. All periods in the history of the world have produced paintings, sculptures, buildings and many other forms of artistic presentation. All of the art produced within a time period in some way reflects upon that time period, and can provide students with a way to access the past different to so many others." If you have views on this subject, register with the History Forum and join the debate.
News and Articles
International Student Debate: The Education Forum is organizing a series of student debates on international issues. The debates will be in English but it is hoped that those running the different language sections (German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Greek) will also offer similar debates. It is a project that lends itself to the very able student. Debates like this will enable bright students from all over the world to intellectual challenge each other. There will be two parallel debates: one for students and one for full members. The first topic will be Education and Nationalism. Please register if you are interested in joining this project or want to take part in any of the other debates taking place on the International Education Forum.
The Irascible Professor: "Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself." This Chinese proverb is quoted in the article on good teaching by Nils Clausson. It is one of the many interesting articles on teaching that can be found on this excellent website run by Dr. Mark Shapiro, a professor at California State University-Fullerton. Begun in 1999, the prime purpose of the site is to provide intelligent commentary on the nature of education. Most of the articles are written by Shapiro but also includes several gems by guest commentators such as Peter Berger and Felice Prager.
Future Classrooms: Could better classroom design help teachers to use their time and energy more effectively? A number of schools are to find out thanks to a scheme where a £10 million grant will allow schools design and build their own classrooms. Some schools intend to provide enhanced staff facilities for planning, preparation and assessment. Other schools plan to construct e-learning and resource centres for staff and pupils.
History
Northumberland Fusiliers: For a number of years now, Neil Storey has been researching the 4th (Territorial) Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers for the period 1908 to 1919. This all began as a family history project, to determine what happened to his Great Grandfather during the 1st World War, but very quickly developed into a plan to publish an account of the 4th battalions' exploits and compile a database of all those who served with the battalion during this period. The website now contains data relating to more than 2,200 men who served with the Battalion between 1908 and 1919 and the day to day location and actions of the Battalion throughout the 1st World War.
Council for British Archaeology: Archaeology is the study of the material remains of past human societies. It is not concerned only with the prehistoric period but with all periods of the past, including the most recent. The remains may be long since ruined and buried (and need to be excavated) or may be still standing and even still in use. Many buildings still occupied and used have a history that can be studied archaeologically. This website provides a gateway to British archaeology online. It also includes information on the Council for British Archaeology conference to be held at the British Academy on the 26th February 2004.
Media Education
Wizard of Oz: Since its publication in September 1900, L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has become America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale. The first totally American fantasy for children, it is one of the most-read children's books. It has also engendered a long series of sequels, stage plays and musicals, movies and television shows, biographies of Baum, scholarly studies of the significance of the book and film, advertisements, and toys, games, and other Oz-related products. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of this timeless American classic, the Library of Congress has supplemented its unparalleled collections with costumes and other memorabilia borrowed from museums, other libraries, and private collectors.
PBS Frontline: When Frontline was launched in 1983, the prospects for television news documentaries looked grim. Pressure was on the network news departments to become profitable, and the spirit of outspoken journalistic inquiry established by programs like Edward R. Murrow's "See It Now" and "Harvest of Shame" had given way to entertainment values and feature-filled magazine shows. Therefore, it fell to public television to pick up the torch of public affairs and continue this well-established broadcast news tradition. This PBS website previews future shows as well as providing an archive of past shows, which can be browsed chronologically or by subject.
Politics
John Stuart Mill: Born on May 20, 1806, John Stuart Mill was raised in London by his father, James Mill. Deliberately shielding his son from other boys his age, James dedicated himself to John's education. He believed that this rigid system of intellectual discipline would give young John a sizable upper hand over others his age. Mill was later to claim that "he grew up with an advantage of a quarter century over his contemporaries". Eric Hochberger's website features a biography, timeline of his works, including online versions, papers about his works, and links to sites about this 19th-century British philosopher.
Tom Paine: In 1791 published his most influential work, The Rights of Man. In the book Paine attacked hereditary government and argued for equal political rights. Paine suggested that all men over twenty-one in Britain should be given the vote and that this would result in a House of Commons willing to pass laws favourable to the majority. The book also recommended progressive taxation, family allowances, old age pensions, maternity grants and the abolition of the House of Lords. The British government was outraged by Paine's book and it was immediately banned. Paine was charged with seditious libel but he escaped to France before he could be arrested. This website provides a biography of Paine and some extracts from his work.
Music
Music By Women: This website provides a catalogue of recordings (CDs and tapes), books and resource packs in 12 main sections, including acappella, feminist and political, folk, world music and women composers from the 11th century to the present day. Women composers featured include Hildegard of Bingen, Francesca Caccini, Barbara Strozzi, Isabella Leonarda, Lucretia Vizzana, Maria Margherita Grimani, Anna Amalie, Maria Agata Szymanowska, Louise Farrenc, Louise, Josephine Lang, Clara Schumann, Cecile Chaminade, Ethel Smyth, Amy Beach, Alma Mahler, Rebecca Clarke, Ruth Crawford Seeger, Elizabeth Lutyens, Grazyna Bacewicz, Minna Keal, Lili Boulanger, Germaine Tailleferre and Priaulx Rainier.
Lionel Hampton is one of the most extraordinary musicians of the 20th century and his artistic achievements symbolize the impact that jazz music has had on our culture in the 21st century. Hampton had a long association with the School of Music at the University of Idaho, and this website serves as a testimony to his talents. It includes a biography and material about his long performing and recording career. There is also a video section that provides some clips of Lional Hampton performing at the University of Idaho.
Modern Languages
Projecte Spring Day 2004: Núria de Salvador has produced a summary of pedagogical proposals on what to do for Spring Day 2004 aimed at Spanish teachers in general, and Spanish teachers of English in particular. Useful proposals on getting to know the EU and the New Member States, working on values, sharing information, etc.
Google Language Tools: This Google page will be most helpful to persons looking to translate short passages of text or entire web pages. First, the page provides an engine that allows users to search for pages composed in over thirty languages. The most helpful feature, though, is a translator that lets users translate text passages and web pages from English into five different languages, and several different European languages back into English.
Internet Services
Quandary is an application for creating Web-based Action Mazes. An Action Maze is a kind of interactive case-study; the user is presented with a situation, and a number of choices as to a course of action to deal with it. On choosing one of the options, the resulting situation is then presented, again with a set of options. Working through this branching tree is like negotiating a maze, hence the name "Action Maze". Action mazes can be used for many purposes, including problem-solving, diagnosis, procedural training, and surveys/questionnaires.
netTrekker is the award-winning trusted search engine for schools that saves educators' and students' time. Specifically designed for school use, netTrekker provides fast and easy access to over 180,000 relevant educator-selected online resources that enhance teaching and learning. netTrekker delivers results across the curriculum, and features an interactive timeline, famous person list generator, and easy-to-use collaboration tools. netTrekker integrates technology and standards-based curriculum resources into the classroom and daily education experience.
Book Section
A War in Words: This tremendous book tells the story of the First World War through the diaries and letters of its combatants, eyewitnesses and victims. Powerful individual stories are interwoven to form an extraordinary narrative that follows the chronology of the war, in words written on the battlefield and on leave, under occupation and in prison. The book starts with the testimony of Vaso Cubrilovic, one of Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassins. Each chapter focuses on one important episodes of the war told from opposite sides of the conflict. Thirteen different nationalities are represented in this excellent book. (Svetlana Palmer & Sarah Wallis, A War in Words, ISBN 0 7432 4831 7, £14.99)
