3Schools are connecting to the National Grid for Learning and teachers are being trained, but what software, materials and support will be out there for them? George Cole investigates the role of good content for the cyberschool generation, followed by a subject-by-subject stock-check
The variety of science software on disc and on the Internet is staggering, and the good news for science teachers is that many titles are developed with class work in mind and well structured. Science titles often include useful features like worksheets too.
Science software has come a long way in a short time. From simply being an electronic version of a book, the best software now brings its subject to life on the screen through simulations, animations and interactive experiments and activities. However, some of the most effective software is short on what might be termed “bells and whistles,” such as graphics and video.
Content that can be customised or adapted offers more flexibility and programs that let students enter their own data allow practical activities to be linked with desktop work. It’s also not unusual to find science CD-Roms with built-in web links; by clicking on these links, users can access websites that hold related material.
The Internet is packed full of science-based sites and the biggest headache for teachers is searching for the most appropriate places. Some teachers have set up their own websites and are sharing their ideas and experiences with others. If you want to find an expert in a particular area, there is probably a site somewhere that will more than meet your needs. A promising development is the growing number of science teachers and departments that have created their own websites and pages. If you should ever use any ideas or suggestions put on a web site, a quick email back to the author(s) to acknowledge the fact is not only courteous, but encouraging too.
10 websites
BBC science in action site
www.bbc.co.uksia
Science ideas and experiments
www.explorescience.comuk
Austrian site with many good ideas in English or German
www.hasnerpl.asn-graz.ac.atphysikindex.html
Science Museum’s pages
www.nmsi.ac.ukeducationngfl.html
Simulated experiments
www.newbyte.comuk
Links to various science sites
www.yahoo.co.uk
New Scientist home page
www.newscientist.com
Created by science department at Reigate School, includes quizzes and reports
www.markanderson.ndirect.co.ukindex.htm
Links to Channel 4‘s science programmes.
www.channel4.com
Science teacher training
www.scienceconsortium.com
10 resources
Junior Insight, pound;47 from Logotron. Tel: 01223 425558 www.logo.com
Being a Scientist, pound;45 from Anglia Multimedia. Tel: 01268 755811
www.anglia.co.uk
Simple Circuits, pound;25 from Soft Teach. Tel: 01985 840329
www.soft-teach.demon.co.uk
Smudge the Scientist, pound;39.14 from Storm Educational. Tel: 01935 817699 www.stormeducational.co.uk
Science Fair, pound;40 from Sherston. Tel: 01666 843200 www.sherston.co.uk
Science ExplorerScience Explorer II, pound;59 each from Granada Learning
Tel: 0161 827 2887 www.granadalearning.com
Chemistry Set 2000, pound;149.95 from New Media. Tel: 01491 413999
www.new-media.co.uk
Electricity amp; Magnetism by Two-Can, CD-Rom, pound;9.99 from Beagle Direct. Tel: 01933 443862
Practise Science for Key Stage 2 and National Tests at 11, pound;45 Semerc
Tel: 0161 627 4469 www.granadalearning.comcatalogs_index.html
Insight 2, pound;79 from Logotron. Tel: 01223 425558 www.logo.com
