I came across a website full of resources for science classrooms…http://www.learningscience.org/. It contains links to a wide variety of learning tools including interactive websites, gizmos, real-time data, and a bunch more that provide opportunities for students to engage themselves in learning science content. The great thing is that the tools featured on this site are evaluated by science teachers as well as other scientists. I’ve used many of the websites named on their site in my own class (before finding them at learningscience.org) and they are awesome. This helps me to trust the panel’s approval of the links that they post. Also, it is free to access the site along with most of the tools presented. The organization of the site makes it very easy to find tools specific to a topic. The site first organizes the tools by major scientific branches including sections for both inquiry and the nature of science. From there categories are further broken down by both grade level and standards taken from the National Science Education Standards. Teachers (and anyone else who is interested) are invited to share links for review to keep the site growing with good and useful tools.
What a cool site! I love how the site has different categories (life science, earth/space science, etc.). That, and the grade-level and education standard divisions, would make it really easy to use. You say you've used many of the websites named on the site...have you used any of the tools and gizmos? Is this just a collection of other websites, like a clearinghouse of resources for science teachers, or are there tools unique to learningscience.org? Great resource!
ReplyDeleteI have used several of the websites listed under the life sciences category, and students seemed to enjoy doing some of the interactive activities. I have also used learn.genetics.utah.edu which is a great website created by the University of Utah. My mentor teacher used it in her genetics class and I also continued to use it when I taught the class. It has great interactive activities and videos as well. Its really cool...you should check it out if you haven't already!
ReplyDeleteKelly,
ReplyDeleteScience is a subject near and dear to my heart. Sadly, I think it is ignored too often in elementary school these days. This site sounds amazing! I especially like that all the submissions are reviewed by actual scientists (for accuracy and realism). Any way teachers can make science more fun for students is great in my book! I also like that the National Science Standards are included in these submissions and recommendations. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Hi Terri, I have experience with some of the gizmos through online courses that we offer at my school. I think that in order for students to really learn content while using a gizmo it is best to use it as a tool via projection as a whole class activity. It is difficult for all students to understand the effects of manipulating the variables in the gizmos. However, highly motivated students who learn well on their own or in small groups could benefit from these without the need of teacher input. From what I can tell the site is a clearinghouse. I don't believe that any of the listings are original to the site. I believe that all resources were recommended by teachers and/or others and then reviewed before posting.
ReplyDeleteLibby, I do use the Utah site quite a bit too. Surprisingly I don't think that one is listed on learningscience.org. There are several categories that don't have much listed. They ask for people to make suggestions for resources to add so if you know of any other great ones you should send them in to be shared with others. I wish I would've had a site like this when I started teaching to help me find great activities all in one place. Another one of my favorites is DNAi.
ReplyDeleteThis website is an excellent collection of science topics. I like the page design to begin with. The category of information by grade levels also makes it easy to search instructional materials for the right age group. It answers many questions that my son has been asking such as what is a cell like, how is hurricane formed, etc. This is one of the best sites in science. Thanks for sharing.
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