Education on the Internet
Number 67: 23rd 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 35,675 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
Learning Online: Andy Walker's excellent website offers revision materials for GCSE History, A1 Sociology, A1 Physical Education, Unit 1 Advanced Health and Social Care and Key Stage 3 ICT. By far the most advanced collection of learning materials can be found in the Sociology section which has been designed as a distance learning resource and is comprehensive in its curriculum coverage. The main features are introductory PowerPoint lessons, cloze exercises designed to generate more detailed notes, interactive testing, and schedules of work, essay practice and coursework advice.
Revision Guide: This impressive website offers practical tips on how to revise in the run up to your exams. Each subject section (English, Maths, Science, ICT, History, Geography) offers link to sites that have revision test, quizzes and skills based activities. Students can use these alongside the practical tips in the 'How to Revise', 'Exam Tips' and coursework pages. Help can also be obtained on how to cope with the stress of the exams period and writing techniques for last minute coursework along with a range of links to handy revision exercises.
TeacherNet Mailing: This TeacherNet website contains the very latest documents sent to schools. Registered users can sort and prioritise the information they receive. The Archive enables you to search for documents sent to schools in the past. Select the type of document you are looking for or use the search box provided. Registered users can also use the Pinboard to save shortcuts to important documents they wish to view again quickly.
History
Paths of Memory (War in Europe 1914-45): This website covers locations in six European countries (UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Belgium) relating to the two World Wars and the Spanish Civil War. The idea is to enable the public to compare different national experiences during, and memories of, these three wars (including military/naval/air operations, the home front, repression, occupation and liberation). The text was deliberately written to be non-academic and easy to understand.
Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale: In 1850 Kingston, Jamaica, was hit by a cholera epidemic. Mary Seacole, using herbal medicines, played an important role in dealing with this disease. During the Crimean War soldiers began going down with cholera and malaria. When Seacole heard about the epidemic she travelled to London to offer her services to the British Army. There was considerable prejudice against women's involvement in medicine and her offer was rejected. However, soon afterwards, the government changed its mind and sent Florence Nightingale and a team of thirty-nine nurses to treat the sick soldiers. Seacole visited Nightingale at her hospital at Scutari but once again her offer of help was refused. This classroom activity looks at the careers of these two remarkable women.
Science
Museum of Microscopy: Microscopes, first invented more than four centuries ago, have undergone many changes over the years. The Molecular Expressions Museum of Microscopy is a historic exploration of the beautiful and functional instruments. Examples range from rudimentary sixteenth century Dutch designs, to the ornate microscopes of eighteenth and nineteenth century Europe, to the latest microprocessor-powered models.
Natural Interaction: How will machines interact with humans? Natural interaction research is related to the study and development of systems and methods to allow people to interact with computers and machines in a simple, natural and satisfactory way. The purpose of this website is to provide an informal meeting place for people interested in this area, to share knowledge and ideas. The website is organized as a collection of links, organized into eight categories.
Design & Technology
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. This section covers Design & Technology. 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.
Bridge to Classroom: Designing and building a bridge to withstand earthquakes is no easy challenge. With this website you can explore the science, technology and people involved in the new Oakland Bay Bridge with these interactive learning modules and simulations! Learn what causes earthquakes and see what scientists are predicting for the coming quake. Take on the challenge facing bridge designers and design a bridge that can withstand a Maximum Seismic Event - then test your bridge to see how it fares. You can also explore key moments in the bridge's construction and meet some of the people and technologies involved in the new bridge.
Geography
CREATE: The Centre for Research, Education and Training in Energy is a not for profit education organisation promoting energy efficiency and sustainable development. There are resources to download, including teaching energy as part of the geography curriculum and a guide to energy-related topics in the National Curriculum. You can also subscribe to a free newsletter, Energy Watch.
USA Information: This website has been produced by the United States Department of State for foreign audiences seeking information about American society. The material is organized under the following headings: Facts, Geography & Travel, Economy & Trade, Government & Politics, Laws & Treaties, Media, Education, Arts & Culture, Information Technology and Civil Rights.
Modern Languages
Open Directory in French: The Open Directory follows in the footsteps of some of the most important contributor projects of the 20th century. Just as the Oxford English Dictionary became the definitive word on words through the efforts of a volunteers, the Open Directory follows in its footsteps to become the definitive catalog of the Web. This new part of its website gives you access to the Open Directory's French-related listings through a French-language interface.
Don Quijote: Free Spanish language resources including the Spanish word of the day, level test, online dictionary, online Spanish course, information on the Spanish culture, city guides and much more. A perfect site for you who is looking to start learning Spanish or for you in need to brush up their Spanish.
Politics
International Affairs Resources: This section of the WWW Virtual Library system presents over 2600 annotated links in a wide range of international affairs, international studies, and international relations topics. Most of the sites are in English and are carefully selected for their long-term value, favoring those with cost-free, high-quality information and analysis online. Each site is described only in general terms because of the typically rapid changes in the details of its contents.
British Occupation of Iraq: In 1920 the League of Nations granted Britain a mandate to control Iraq. Winston Churchill, Secretary of State for War, estimated that around 25,000 British and 80,000 Indian troops would be needed to control the country. However, he argued that if Britain relied on air power, you could cut these numbers to 4,000 (British) and 10,000 (Indian). The government was convinced by this argument and it was decided to send the recently formed Royal Air Force to Iraq. An uprising of more than 100,000 armed tribesmen took place in 1920. Over the next few months the RAF dropped 97 tons of bombs killing 9,000 Iraqis. This failed to end the resistance and Arab and Kurdish uprisings continued to pose a threat to British rule. Churchill suggested that chemical weapons should be used "against recalcitrant Arabs as an experiment." He added "I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes to spread a lively terror". This information appears in Jonathan Glancey's recent article on the history of of Britain's involvement in Iraq.
Internet Services
Groowe Toolbar: This toolbar that gives you easy access to searching Google and many other search engines, as well. With a click, you can query Yahoo, Teoma, AllTheWeb, AltaVista, MSN Search and others. In addition, it makes it easy to perform specialized searches with many of the search engines it supports.
Word Search Factory is designed to help you quickly and easily create professional looking word search puzzles to provide your students with the extra vocabulary and spelling practice they need in a format that they will find enjoyable. You can choose from a wide variety of grid sizes and word orientations for your word search puzzle. Then simply print as many copies of the puzzle as you require, along with the automatic answer key.
Book Section
British Infantryman in the Far East: This book by Alan Jeffreys focuses on the experience, tactics, training and weapons of the British soldier from the Fall of Malaya and Singapore until the Reconquest of Burma. It takes a close look at jungle warfare training in India and the ensuing action in Burma, tracing the development of tactics and doctrine that formed the basis for the victories in the Arakan and the battles of Kohima and Imphal. The soldier's view of India, the entertainment available on leave, food rationing and other supplies such as cigarettes, the introduction of the forces newspaper 'SEAC', and the medical problems of malaria are all explored in detail. (Alan Jeffreys, Osprey Publishing, 1 84176 448 5, £10.99)
