Education on the Internet
Number 66: 16th April, 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 35,765 subscribers to the newsletter.
All reviews are added to our web directory. There are sections on Internet Services, 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
Microsoft's Windows Update: This week Mike Nash, vice president of the Security Business Unit at Microsoft, outlined the next steps in the company's high-profile Trustworthy Computing initiative. This will, hopefully, prevent repetition of the numerous security risks (Nimda, Love Bug etc,) which have taken advantage of weak default configuration. For consumers and small businesses, Microsoft's Windows Update and Automatic Update are the primary vehicles for delivering security patches for the Windows platform. Microsoft wants to extend these services over the coming year to a wider variety of Microsoft products. To simplify security management and operations for all customers, Microsoft will reduce the number of patch installer technologies used across the company and offer new security configuration wizards.
Discovering Democracy: Collaborative projects are suitable for both primary and secondary schools and offer opportunities for involving the broader school community in participation. One of the main purposes for including collaborative projects on the Discovering Democracy website is to allow students and teachers to identify topics of interest and concern to them. By identifying projects specific to individual needs, some of the objectives of the Discovering Democracy project can be realised in a local setting using local concerns. Any school or class can participate in a Discovering Democracy collaborative project. There are only two requirements. The first is that the topic should relate to civics and citizenship education. The second is that participants must have the minimum necessary equipment for the project. Schools can contribute to a project or host one themselves. Descriptions of projects related to civics and citizenship is listed on the Discovering Democracy website.
Special Needs: Children with special needs are increasingly being educated in mainstream classes. This key issue is being tackled at the Special Needs IT exhibition at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton on 19 and 20 May. Teachers can also learn more about how technology can help their learners in the free How-IT-Works seminars. These take place in conjunction with Special Needs North, National Association for Special Educational Needs (Nasen) and TES Special Needs Exhibitions.
History
Weimar History 1918-1930: A comprehensive website dedicated to the provision of AS/A2 Level notes, essays, articles and reviews for students, parents and teachers. This site contains hypertexted links to full annotated notes, exercises and other website content. Sections include: Background, Incomplete Revolutions, Constitution and Dilemmas, Consequences of Versailles, Hyperinflation, The Ruhr Issues, Munich Putsch, The Golden Years (1924-28/9), Foreign Policy and Women in Weimar Germany.
Ancient History: This website from the British Museum explores the people, culture, beliefs and history of ancient India using animations, 3D models and objects from the British Museum's collection. It is designed for primary school teachers and pupils, and includes online activities, background information and worksheets.
Air Mail Pioneers: This website is dedicated to the men and women of the U.S. Air Mail Service, a little-remembered organization that laid the foundation for commercial aviation worldwide. With the cooperation of the US Air Service, the US Post Office flew the mail from 1918 until 1927. Air Mail Service pilots are the unsung heroes of early aviation. In their frail Curtiss Jennies and postwar de Havillands, they battled wind, snow, and sleet to pioneer round-the-clock airmail service along the world's longest air route, the US transcontinental. In the process, thirty-four pilots lost their lives.
Mathematics
Maths Skills Trainer: This website has over a 1000 games to test and improve addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills. These timed online tests are selected at random, and the ability level can be set to suit the individual. Registration is required to use the site, but sample activities are available.
ICT and Mathematics: This free Inset pack has been specially devised for use by teachers who may or may not be mathematics or ICT subject specialists. The lesson plans and ideas are designed to give some starter lessons showing how ICT can be integrated into the teaching and learning of mathematics and some ideas for further developments. There are five modules in the Inset pack. The first is an introductory presentation looking at the rationale for using ICT in the teaching and learning of mathematics. The other four modules cover: number, handling data; shape, space & measures and problem solving. Each module includes activities which are referenced to the National Numeracy Strategy Framework for Teaching Mathematics, though they can be adapted to use with other curriculum subjects.
ICT
Internet Proficiency Scheme: Becta has launched the Internet Proficiency Scheme for Key Stage 2 pupils on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). The scheme consists of a teaching pack containing lesson ideas, pupil worksheets and pupil certificates. There is also an interactive website hosted by GridClub. The site encourages children to explore safety issues and develop safe and responsible behaviours. The pack offers guidance on how to use the scheme in the classroom. There is also information on technologies such as chat rooms, email, instant messaging, Short Messaging Service (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS).
Celebrate User Group: Educational publishers increasingly see Learning Objects as the way to develop, maintain and deliver digital, online educational content that schools can afford. The launch of the Celebrate User Group will provide a community for European organisations working in this field and a bridge to international initiatives developing Learning Objects for schools. This initiative supported by the European Commission’s Information Society Technologies Programme (IST). The project will particularly investigate how different types of Learning Objects and a new generation of Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS) impact upon the learning process and support new constructivist learning models.
Science
Science, Optics and You: This is a science curriculum package being developed for teachers, students, and parents. These activities are designed to promote the asking and answering of questions related to light, color, and optics. The program begins with basic information about lenses, shadows, prisms, and color, leading up to the use of sophisticated instruments scientists use to help them understand the world. The goal of Science, Optics and You is for students to acquire the skills with which they can do microscopic analysis of a variety of samples in multiple ways.
Bionet: This website that lets you explore and debate the latest discoveries in life sciences. Should we clone human embryos to cure disease? Would you choose your child's genes? Would you eat genetically modified food? Will new drugs keep you healthy and make you live forever? This website has been created by eight European science centres and museums, and is presented in nine different languages. You can explore the science, look at the ethical issues, compare the laws in different countries, play games and express your opinions.
Music
Music Teacher Resource Exchange: This website is designed to help teachers develop and share ideas for activities and resources. Contributions take the form of simple ideas and questions, to complete lesson plans or schemes of work, which will enable other teachers to use these resources within their own lessons. You can browse and download resources without registering. You will, however, need to register if you would like to submit new resources and add comments or materials to existing resources.
Vocalist: This site for singers of all standards provides free online singing lessons, vocal exercises and singing tips for beginners, whilst the more advanced performer can find repertoire books, news, humour plus articles on various aspects of the music industry including music law, management, marketing, advertising and merchandising your act. Even voice teachers have their own sections with a free online singing teachers listing service, resources and links to free online lesson plans.
Media Studies
War Propaganda Bureau: In September, 1914, the British government established the War Propaganda Bureau. Over the next four years famous writers were paid by the government to produce a series of articles, pamphlets and books on the First World War. In May 1916 the War Propaganda Bureau began sending artists to record events on the Western Front. Overall, over ninety artists produced pictures for the government during the war. Many of the artists found the work very difficult. Paul Nash complained about the control over subject matter. Nash told a friend: "I am not allowed to put dead men into my pictures because apparently they don't exist". On another occasion he said: "I am no longer an artist. I am a messenger who will bring back word from the men who are fighting to those who want the war to go on for ever. Feeble, inarticulate will be my message, but it will have a bitter truth and may it burn their lousy souls."
International Education Media: This website provides an a-z listing of countries who are looking to recruit students from overseas as well as nationally. Click on the 'courses' button to browse the different study topics available worldwide. Click on the green button beside each topic to read articles and features about studying a particular course that is of interest to you. Alternatively use the site search to find all relevant information. If you do not find what you are looking for on the site you may contact International Education Media through its contact button on the navigation bar across the top. A directory listing is free of charge and can be done via the website.
Internet Services
Mailwhiper: It is estimated that 70 percent of all e-mail today can be classified as junk mail or "spam", according to research firm eMarketer. The problem is that it's a huge waste of your time, it's an invasion of your privacy, and worse, some junk mail is plain disgusting and ugly. MailWiper carefully checks your incoming mail before it reaches your email program. MailWiper knows who your friends are and what mail you do want, by utilizing a highly sophisticated matrix of intelligent stealth email id's that cannot be processed by email servers or computers. All of this takes place in the transparent MailWiper software engine, so you don't have to lift a finger.
Web Online Surveys is an all-in-one service which is especially designed for people who aren't computer experts and have the need to conduct web surveys or questionnaires by themselves. Its particular good because you don't need any special downloads or products to install as it all works via the web. You create your survey - enter the email addresses of people you want to invite and then click send. Once your email or web survey has finished you pick up your results from an easy to use report section - it even has the ability to download results into Excel for further analysis. The system doesn't have to be used only for surveys - you could create online web exams or even student checklist for the hockey team - the possibilities are endless.
Book Section
Japanese Castles: This brand new series from Osprey takes a detailed look at fortifications and defensive systems throughout history and examines how they fared in war. The book by Stephen Turnbull covers the crucial developmental period of Japanese defensive architecture, in the key age of Samurai siege warfare. It details defensive works from early stockades, through wooden castles, to the great stone fortifications. (Stephen Turnbull, Osprey Publishing, 1 84176 429 9, £10.99)
