Education on the Internet
Number 54: 22nd January, 2003
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 31,315 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
Insight: Policy makers, researchers, and education technologists can find information on four key topics: education and technology policy, school practice with information and communications technology (ICT), technology standards, and research on education and technology. Advanced search and comparison functions make the site a powerful tool for all who make decisions regarding the integration of ICT in education.
Zap is a multilingual website for children and teenagers aged 8-14 with fun and educational activities. In addition to offering tips on netiquette and safe surfing, based on research into young people's behaviour and needs on the Internet. It is a fun and educational place for children and teenagers to learn more about school-related topics and at the same time gain Internet skills. There is also a safe search engine of quality-checked sites.
Internet Education: A class last year that used a textbook at the University of New Mexico was replaced with one that used the Internet instead. Students in the university evaluation rated the Internet class at 91 percent over 58 percent for the textbook class. Other measures also went up dramatically. Students received their Internet assignments with "hot links" in their E-mails. A reading was only a click of the mouse away. Students went to more than 100 websites and read or scanned what they found. Some sites even had videos that students could watch on their computers. David L. Geary, who carried out the research, points out that students liked the diversity of views they found on the Internet, instead of the one view of one textbook.
Woody's Webwatch: This website site offers links to places where students or teachers/advisers can look for information on university issues, gap years, professions, jobs and lifestyle hints. Functional and accurate the online resource is free to all users. The site's creator is keen for a wide range of schools to use the resource, so that young people stay ahead of the game when it comes to higher education issues.
History
SchoolHistory Teachers Section: A newly redesigned area of schoolhistory.co.uk, the teachers section provides a 'one-stop shop' for advice, resources and practical help for all history teachers. Includes a 'case-studies' section that provides explanations and suggestions written from teachers' own experiences, a 'create your own' section that draws together the interfaces that allow teachers to easily create their own ICT activities, the downloadable resources section offering huge numbers of.pdf worksheets and PowerPoint presentations together with a recently developed section offering ideas for lesson starters and plenaries.
Air of Authority: This site is becoming established as one of the leading sites covering the history of the Royal Air Force. Its main focus is the organisational history of the service from its formation in 1918 to the present day and includes details of its predeccessors the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service, were this is relevant to the story. The site is constantly being up-dated and is in a constant state of change. It currently gives formation details for a wide range of RAF units from Ministry down to Squadron level. Air Council appointments, Command and Group Commanders are given and individual biographical details for over 500 senior RAF officers are given. Squadron histories for all RAF squadrons are being added with many now complete. Each squadron history is supported by a detailed break down of aircraft used together with colour profiles of many of the aircraft types used showing camouflage and markings."
English
Anthem for a Doomed Youth: This major exhibition of manuscripts, letters, diaries, works of art, photographs and personal mementoes is currently showing at the Imperial War Museum. The Anthem for a Doomed Youth website features biographies of the twelve poets in the exhibition: Edmund Blunden, Rupert Brooke, Robert Graves, Julian Grenfell, Ivor Gurney, David Jones, Francis Ledwidge, Wilfred Owen, Isaac Rosenberg, Siegfried Sassoon, Charles Sorley and Edward Thomas.
International Dialects English Archive: The International Dialects of English Archive, IDEA, was created in 1998 as a repository of primary source recordings for actors and other artists in the performing arts. Its home is the Department of Theatre and Film at the University Of Kansas, in Lawrence, KS, USA, while associate editors form a global network. All recordings are in English, are of native speakers, and you will find both English language dialects and English spoken in the accents of other languages. Each recording is briefly described so that you may better assess whether or not to download it.
Science
Yield: This interactive Irish based website was set up as a result of requests from young people and parents wanting accurate and non judgmental information regarding sexual health. It aims to answer honestly, using terminology that they use in every day life. The site looks at issues such as safe sex, contraception and HIV and at development from child to adult as well as the changes and challenges and the transitions teenagers go through. In a recent study by Generatin RX 1 in 4 young adults between the ages of 15 and 24 are using the Internet for health information, and the majority are acting on what they find. Nearly 40% of those surveyed say that they have changed their own behaviour. Many teachers and parents find that they are not fully equipped for the delivery of sex education, this site can be used as a resource in addition to the programmes carried out in schools.
A Level Chemistry: This website is designed to help anyone studying "A" level Chemistry or "AS" level Chemistry. It has 120 pages of Chemistry notes, tests and exam questions for students to use throughout your course. Browse the Revision Notes pages or search for the topic of your interest. If you can't find what you are looking for, join the mailing list and it will send you the latest lesson notes, tests and exam questions before they are published on the website.
MST: This is a website for science teachers, students and their parents. You will find many resources including lessons, units, experiments, a teacher pdf page, information and links for middle grades areas of study. The site is colourful and easily navigated. The site contains useful information for teachers as background knowledge or for lesson preparation. Students might use it in class for research, to do WebQuests, to review for tests, to play games, or they might use the information for tutorial or reinforcement of science skills.
Geography
Country Profiles: This BBC website provides key facts, figures, timelines and dates on all the world's leading countries. There is also a quick guide and timeline on Nato and a chronology of key events concerning the Vatican and the history of the Commonwealth.
Geography in Action: This website has sections on sand dune ecosystems, the urban structure of Belfast, the ethnic geography of Belfast and landscapes of Northern Ireland (including peat bogs and deciduous woodland). There is a geographical issue section with, at present, one based on aquaculture in the west of Ireland. There are a number of geographical images available as well. A section on vernacular rural housing may have a more specialised user base, but the remainder is, I hope, accessible to and useful for teachers of geography and pupils of geography from KS3 to Post-16.
Physical Education
Fitness Analyst: This website provides a unique database with over 1000 of pages of information specifically designed to enhance every single aspect of physical sports performance, from the amateur to the elite sports professional. The site guides you through each stage of your physical development in a clear, precise and easy to understand way. Attention to detail is paramount as we progress people on an individual basis so that they attain their goals. The website offers practical advice based upon fundamental principles of training. It also has 'Star Interviews' where noted sports professionals share their experiences and give advice to those wanting to achieve the same level of success.
Physical Education: Schemes of Work: The Standards Site is managed by the Department for Education and Employment's Standards and Effectiveness Unit (SEU). The main objective of the site is to supply teachers with "guidance and tools to help schools improve effectiveness, raise standards and reduce workload". This includes a selection of schemes of work for Primary Physical Education.
