Education on the Internet
Number 22: 13th March 2002
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 19,000 subscribers to the newsletter.
All reviews are added to our web directory. There are sections on Primary Education, English, Mathematics, Science, Modern Languages, History, Geography, Design & Technology, Business Studies, Media Studies, ICT, Sociology, Music, Politics, Economics, Photography, Art & Design, Theatre Studies, Physical Education and Religious Studies.
John Simkin
Tutors-Online is a directory of teachers and tutors. Having access to a computer is not a prerequisite; the service is also available by telephone or post. Tutors-Online offers 'tutors' and 'students' to teach and learn on their terms. Viewing tutor profiles within the directory affords the student an opportunity to gain more in depth information of their selected tutor - this being the tutors personal ‘window’. The directory makes it easy for all educational organizations to access unusual and obscure subjects; to encourage day workshops, talks and demonstrations. Subjects covered includes Maths, English, Geography, History and Science; Languages, Music, Arts and Special Needs; Sociology and Therapies; Skills, Sports and Pastimes.
Biography: The American television show Biography is one of the most popular shows on the A&E Network. Now in its thirteenth season, it is also one of the longest running documentary television programs. It offers new thematic prime-time programming, from Great Women, Great Entertainers, Wealth & Power, Action Heroes, Lives of Crime, Leaders & Legends, to Lifespan - a four-hour Sunday evening special on one of civilization's greatest figures. The show has an impressive companion website, with detailed biographies of more than 25,000 people. Each biography includes a chronological list of achievements, and links to other biographies of "related people."
European News: Echoes of the Rights of Man and Tom Paine can still be heard in the aims of Lewes Links. The organisation emerged from a merging of several voluntary groups in the East Sussex county town of Lewes - where the 18th century philosopher and revolutionary Tom Paine lived and worked for a time. The Lewes Links website describes Lewes and its history in several central and eastern European languages. It reports on the achievements of ten years trying to forge a variety of links with former Iron Curtain countries. As a contribution to understanding current affairs in these newly independent nations there is a compendium of recent news from 21 central and eastern European regions, updated regularly. Running topics throw light on historical problems, on current issues such as their aspirations to join the EU and NATO, and on current internal and international politics.
History
Kennedy Assassination: Ever since the death of John F. Kennedy on 22nd November 1963 investigators have speculated on the people responsible. This website provides a collection of articles on the subject including The Special Group (Sue Morrison), Jeff Orr (Cover Up), Dirty Politics (Mark Edwards), Magic Bullet (Mary Tracy), Vietnam Connection (Mat Wilson) and Secret Service (Vince Palamara).
Julius Caesar: The Death of Julius Caesar is an online activity aimed at students beginning their study of history in a secondary school. Students are introduced to historical interpretations and bias within their investigations and have their knowledge checked using the online tests. Extension activities and resources are provided at the end of this activity.
Rudiments of Wisdom: Medicine: Tim Hunkin trained as an engineer, but then became a cartoonist, drawing the Rudiments of Wisdom Encyclopaedia for the Observer newspaper for 14 years. These educational cartoons later appeared in book form and now they are available free on Tim Hunkin's website. This includes a good section on the history of medicine. Subjects covered include Anaesthetics, Antiseptics, Bacteria, Bubonic Plague, Cancer, Cholera, Homeopathy, Influenza, Surgery and Vaccination.
English
Literacy Lessons: Joy Simpson's website dedicated to literacy planning for years 8 to 11. Each year group is divided into terms and planning relating to the range for the term is listed covering fiction, non-fiction, poetry and plays. Each block of work is planned according to the latest ideas from the National Literacy Strategy and the DfES and shows the ways in which literacy teaching can be creative and fun for pupils. If you would like to reduce the amount of time you spend planning on a Sunday evening then visit the site and download the free lessons and resources.
International Educational Services: The introduction and use of computers for students presents an immense opportunity for teachers and students to be innovative, to enhance and extend their classroom experience! The International Educational Services website based in New Zealand contains English teaching resources for age 11 to 17. This includes units on novels, poetry, genre, drama and English skills. Units can be ordered and downloaded off their website. International Educational Services also provides a free online English resources newsletter with sample units and free puzzles.
Maths
Waldo's Maths Pages is a secondary level maths site, which uses Java (tm) applets to demonstrate different mathematical topics. It is aimed at Key Stage 3 (11 to 14), GCSE (14 to 16), but mostly AS/A2 Maths and Further Maths (16 plus). Its content is 100% original and the creation of a maths teacher (and self-taught programmer) in Kent. The programs are used by him and others as classroom aids, and as investigative resources for pupils individually. New material and improvements are being added all the time, and suggestions from teachers and pupils for future inclusion are always welcome.
Quantum Brain Benders: This website provides a series of highly entertaining math-based puzzles. Each puzzle consists of three rows of numbers. The skill level - easy, difficult or braniac - determines how many numbers are in each row. The task of the student is to find a string of numbers that add up to the "finish" number provided in the puzzle.
Media Studies
Masters of Photography: A collection of articles on the world's leading photographers. This includes Ansel Adams, Berenice Abbott, Alvin L. Coburn, Imogen Cunningham, Walker Evans, Arthur Fellig, Lewis Hine, Dorothea Lange, Jacob Riis, W. Eugene Smith, Edward Steichen, Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Timothy O'Sullivan, Edward Weston and Clarence White.
Women Photographers: A website produced by the California Museum of Photography that includes images by some of the best-known names in the history of the medium as well as significant or exemplary images by other less famous photographers. There are illustrated articles on Frances Johnson, Julia Margaret Cameron, Gertrude Kasebier, Alice Boughton, Berenice Abbott, Marion Palfi, Alma Lavenson, Imogen Cunningham, Susan Meisalas, Barbara Morgan, Mary Ellen Mark, Rosalind Solomon and Olivia Parker.
Film Education is a registered charity supported by the film industry and the BFI in the UK. The website's aim is to encourage and promote the study of film and other media within the Curriculum through online resources, CD ROMS, downloadable study guides and educational video packs. In addition to providing a range of free educational materials, the site also includes information on INSET courses, workshops, seminars, free screening events and television programmes. The Film Library section, currently one of the site's most visited areas is a comprehensive list of titles recommended by Film Education by Key Stage and subject area and includes downloadable study guides for many of the films listed.
Science
Environment Challenge: The National Grid for Learning environment challenge is an online event for children and adults which tests their knowledge of 'green' issues and encourages them to think about how their day-to-day lives impact on the environment. The challenge focuses on recycling, energy and conservation, and there are levels for under 11s, 11-16 year olds and adults. Users will be given activities to carry out on and off line, including quizzes, games and experiments, and they will be able to use NGfL-approved resources to help them complete the tasks. A special environment challenge certificate will be awarded to everyone that successfully completes the experience before 28 March, and they will also be entered in a draw to win a tree. The trees will be dedicated at woods managed by The Woodland Trust, the UK's leading woodland conservation charity.
Earth Teacher Science is a free online education site featuring lesson plans, educational downloads, free stuff, product links, and more. This interactive site is perfect for parents who want to improve their child's learning, teachers who want to be innovative in the classroom, and students who need homework help or just to have fun. The science search engine saves time for everyone and the science java applets for teachers allow for the creation of technology integrated lessons.
ICT
EDU Forum: The site, created by Simon Morgan of St. Alsager School provides free high quality ICT resources for both teaching and supporting ICT in secondary education. To this end, you will find a variety of practical tutorials covering such things as introducing the Internet, presentation skills using Word, core areas of Key Skills IT and much more. Recent additions to the Resource Section includes Top Tips, Open Flexible Learning and Y7 ICT tests.
Cyberhunts: Produced by ICTeachers, Cyberhunts are question-based guides through a series of websites on a particular subject. Cyberhunts available from this website include, Literacy Cyberhunt, Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt Cyberhunt, Art Picturehunt, Britain Since the 1930s, Harry Potter, Human Body, Cyberhunt Maths, Lord of The Rings, Millennium Cyberhunt, Olympics Cyberhunt, Rainforests, Rivers, Romans, Saxons & Vikings, Tudors, Victorians and Solar System Cyberhunt.
Religious Studies
Church of England: A good source of factual information about the Church of England. Sections include 'History of the Church of England', 'What it means to be an Anglican', 'The Church of England's Liturgy', 'Organisations of the Church of England' and 'Relations with other denominations and faith'. Teachers will find 'The Church of England's view on…" particularly useful. After putting the subject in its historical context, it uses statements from official documents explain the latest thinking on subjects such as animal welfare, hunting, factory farming, abortion, alcohol, drugs, genetically modified organisms, contraception, homosexuality, capital punishment, divorce, etc.
Hindu Universe: The Hindu Universe has been created by the Hindu Students Council, an organisation based in Boston. A web directory designed in the style of Yahoo, enables you to quickly obtain information on different aspects of Hinduism. The material arranged under the following categories: Arts, Customs, Worship, Books & Resources, Dharma & Philosophy, Hindus Around the World, History, Temples & Organisations, Languages, Interfaith Relations, God, Sages & Gurus, Sciences, Scriptures and Social & Contemporary Issues.
World Religions: This website is for Secondary school pupils and teachers. It covers the main six world religions, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Judaism. There are introductions on each religion, plus additional sections for pupils who wish to go into greater depth on any of the religions. There are links for each religion to external sites of interest. For teachers there are teacher resources and interactive lessons for Y8 (Creation, The Hajj, World Festivals) and Y9 (The Resurrection). The resources can be used in school or you can use them as part of their homework tasks. The site also covers the Edexcel GCSE Short course and aspects of the Philosophy & Ethics A level.
Do you want to have your website listed in our web directory? If so, send a brief description (about 150 words) and the URL to spartacus@pavilion.co.uk.
