Education on the Internet
Number 27: 22nd May 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 22,820 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
VISIE Conference: Participants from a dozen of European countries will attend an international conference in June (13th to 16th). By hosting the VISIE conference the Dutch Ministry of Education stresses the importance of computer technology for the Dutch and European educational systems. VISIE will be aimed at participants in the European Schoolnet (EUN), especially the EUN Virtual School participants, and a selected number of Dutch educational participants and experts. The conference will bring together the different departments of the EUN Virtual School and the different departments of the Dutch national Virtual School as Kennisnet and joined networks related to Virtual School concepts from all over Europe such as Digischool, European Network for Innovative Schools (ENIS), Compact and UNESCO ASPnet" in an awe-inspiring and interactive conference on education. VISIE is initiated and organised by e-linQ a young project organisation that focuses on implementation of ICT in education and internationalisation. The general purpose of the conference will be to explore the different aspects of the concept of a virtual School as a hands-on example of the e-Learning environment for the future.
getCITED is a free, online, member-controlled academic database, directory and discussion forum. Its contents are entered and edited by members of the academic community. By putting its content in the hands of its members, getCITED makes it possible to enter in and search for publications of all types. This means that, in addition to the books and articles accessible with other databases, book chapters, conference papers, working papers, reports, papers in conference proceedings, and other such research outlets can all be entered and then searched for within getCITED. In addition, getCITED makes it possible to link publications with all the publications in their bibliographies, thereby making possible a wide variety of publication and citation reports.
European Schoolnet is a unique international partnership of 23 European Ministries of Education developing learning for schools, teachers and pupils across Europe. It provides insight into the use of ICT (information and communications technology) in Europe for policy-makers and education professionals. This goal is achieved through communication and information exchange at all levels of school education using innovative technologies, and by acting as a gateway to national and regional school networks.
History
Parliamentary Reform: A comprehensive encyclopedia on the struggle for the vote in Britain. Each entry contains a narrative, illustrations and primary sources. So far there are sections on: Parliament in the 18th Century (6), Moderate Reformers: 1700-1820 (18), Radical Reformers: 1750-1820 (8), The Scottish Martyrs (6), Revolutionaries: 1700-1820 (8), Early Reform Groups (8), Parliamentary Reform: Artists and Writers (12), Newspapers & Parliamentary Reform (14), Parliamentary Reform: The Monarchy (4), Important Events: 1800-1820 (10), 1832 Reform Act (18), Politicians and Reform: 1832-1890 (18), Chartist Biographies (30), Chartist Tactics (10) and Parliamentary Reform Acts (8).
Encyclopedia Titanica: This website is a unique resource for anyone interested in the Titanic. Over 2,100 individual passenger and crew biographies, regularly updated passenger and crew listings, exclusive research articles and ongoing discussions about the Titanic.
School History Revision: A new section of Andrew Field's excellent School History website is designed to help pupils revise for their history exams. The website covers four topics in detail (World War I, USA 1929-41, Superpower Relations and Impact of war 1900-50) together with useful links for other areas. The revision section includes innovative new revision diagrams where pupils can revise and recap essential information. A blank diagram is shown on screen - pupils can type in their own notes and print out the results. Extensive help is automatically available to complete the diagrams. Pupils can either use this as a recap and revision aid or to learn additional information.
English
Experience of War: An anthology of over 100 extracts, both prose and poetry, dealing with war - with particular reference to the First World War. Maintained by Steve Brown, the website includes work by Rupert Brooke, Julian Grenfell, John McCrae, Isaac Rosenberg, W. B. Yeats, Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen, Edmund Blunden, Edward Thomas, Charles Hamilton Sorley, Robert Graves, Rudyard Kipling, Ivor Gurney and Carl Sandburg.
Glossary of Technical Theatre Terms: This website produced by Theatre Crafts includes a list of over 1250 definitions. The material is listed under Lighting, Sound, Stage Management, Costume, Stage Design, Rigging, Theatre Building, Directing, Theatre Jobs, Administration and Forms of Theatre. A useful website for any teacher or student who wants to develop detailed knowledge of theatre terms.
Maths
EasyMaths: Produced by Echelon Systems, this website provides free Maths Tutorials. The notes can be used as a gentle introduction to topics the student is not familiar with, or as mathematics revision notes. Students can try out some real exam-style questions, then look at the model answers to see how they did. The practice maths problems include tips on solving them. To help students relax when revision gets too much the website also features a collection of magic, jokes, games and puzzles.
GCSE Maths Revision Website: A site providing comprehensive and concise revision notes for students studying mathematics at GCSE level, particularly aimed at higher tier candidates. The site includes all areas of the GCSE Mathematics course and the site is easy to read and navigate and contains no advertisements. Included in the site is a section on number, which contains topics such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportion. The algebra section deals with ways of manipulating algebraic expressions and solving equations using a variety of different techniques. There is also a section on shape and space, which details the circle theorems and theorems relating various angles. Areas and volumes are also addressed, along with details of how shapes can be transformed. There is a small section on graphs, which explains how to draw and analyse graphs of various functions along with travel graphs. The statistics section includes all of the relevant topics, such as probability, histograms and standard deviation. Finally, there is a section on trigonometry which explains all you need to know about sine, cosine and tangent, along with Pythagoras's famous law for right-handed triangles. The site also includes practise questions, with answers, along with some advice for those doing GCSE coursework.
Design & Technology
Bad Designs: A scrapbook of illustrated examples by Michael J. Darnell of things that are hard to use because they are badly designed. Objects are listed under the following categories: Things that don't work the way you expect. Things that are hard to see. Things that don't work well together. Things that get in your way. Things that are hard to handle. Things that are hard to remember. Things that don't fit you. Things with ergonomic designs. There are also sections on Signs, Names and Labels, Displays and Controls.
Philippe Starck is on of the best-known contemporary designers in the world. He has not only received public acclaim for his amazing building interior designs but has also proved to be an accomplished architect and product designer. This website produced by Andrew Davis allows you to examine the variety of projects that Starck has been involved in from the mid sixties to 1991.
Science
A Critical Decision: This educational organization provides research and thought-provoking insight on the relationship of science within society and its effects upon the environment and biodiversity (our life-support system). The organization also provides a nature gallery (with many stunning photographs) for visitors to enjoy. Bill Gladish, the man behind this website, writes, "As a concerned citizen (with a background as a military officer), I'm hopeful that you will find the information useful in your personal and professional life. If these issues are not addressed soon, all of us will suffer greatly (especially young citizens)."
Science Year: Science Year is a 12 month packed calendar of events, projects & resources designed to stimulate the imagination about science & technology. It’s for everyone, but it’s focused particularly on people between the ages of 10 and 19 and the adults around them - especially their teachers. Science Year is not about test-tubes, voltmeters and bunsen burners though. It’s about raising awareness of the wide and wonderful world of subjects and careers that are underpinned by science and technology. Working with other science-related organisations, projects and teaching resources have been developed to promote and enhance science, technology and engineering during Science Year.
Search Engines
BBCi Web Search: The BBC has launched its own online search engine. The new service allows users to search the entire web from within the confines of the BBC website. The search-engine, developed in-house by the BBC in conjunction with Google, is designed to be particularly useful for those new to the web. Ashley Highfield, the director of BBC New Media argues that "the BBC, with its 80 years of know-how and editorial expertise, is ideally placed to provide a UK-focused search engine that will not be tainted by paid-for results."
Google Answers: Everybody has questions. In most cases, Google search is an incredibly fast way to answer them. But some questions are trickier or more time-consuming than others. To help users over those hurdles, Google has launched Google Answers, a service powered by human researchers with search expertise. When you post a question, you say what you're willing to pay and how quickly you need a reply. To spread the benefit around, your answer is posted to the Google Answers site. Google Answers boasts a research team with expertise in areas from biochemical engineering to public policy.
Book Section
1000 Really Useful Websites: For beginners the internet can be totally frustrating. There's just too much out there to confuse you and rob you of a useful experience. With this book, you can make sure that doesn't happen. Kevin O'Driscoll continues to research new sites to make this collection ever more useful. These are then published on the Foulsham website before being added to the next edition of the book.
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.
