This web-based resource for secondary science is attractively designed and easily navigated. But while information architecture is king here, the queen of content hasn’t taken up residence yet.

The heart of the site is the searchable resource centre, including models, simulations, PowerPoint presentations, Excel worksheets and a collection of datalogging activities. Science Online obviously plans to become a one-stop science teaching site, but at present much of what it attempts is done better elsewhere, and free of charge.

The site offers “study rooms” where pupils can be presented with previously selected material away from the (limited) distractions of the rest of the site. ScienceNow contains topic-related news items and activities (which seem to be a few questions about the piece - no answers provided). Everything looks current and is interesting, and useful if you cannot access the BBC science website.

Science Online also promises book, CD-Rom and website reviews, although the reviews are sparse. You may turn up a useful website, but why pay to access a links list?

In the teachers’ forum, messages from third parties have yet to arrive, and those that do may face a lonely existence, as even well-known sites still remain quiet places.

This site isn’t ready. Bookmark it and drop by in a couple of months and see what the good intentions have amounted to before buying a subscription. If you can’t wait, a free 30-day trial is offered at www.scienceonline.co.uk For science news, the BBC site http:news.bbc.co.ukhienglishscitechdefault.stm and Newscientist.com are great places to start. The Association for Science Education website http:www.ase.org.uk is probably the best for science discussion boards for teachers. It also maintains a list of reviewed websites. Also, www.sciencenet.org.uk has started to review science books and recommend websites.

Ian Francis is a science writer and teacher