Research and Education
http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/case.html
To some, the idea of using the case method to teach science may seem a bit like a novelty. This pedagogical method is quite common in the fields of law and medicine, and in recent years, it has been gaining a foothold in some of the sciences. Fortunately for those interested in learning more about this method of instruction, there is the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, based at the University of Buffalo. Over the past fifteen years, they have been working on using this method in large and small classes, and they have developed a number of helpful resources along the way. Visitors can look over the case study collection, which is divided into topical areas, such as anthropology, astronomy, food science, and nutrition. Interested parties may also wish to take a look at their upcoming conferences and workshops. Overall, this is a most valuable resource, and one that science educators will want to revisit several times. [KMG]
http://vanat.cvm.umn.edu/WebSites.html
With one of the most well regarded veterinary schools in the United States, the University of Minnesota continues to break new ground in the training of new veterinarians. Of course, more and more of these training materials are finding their way to the web, and this site will be quite helpful to those persons with an interest in this particular field. Created by different faculty members, the materials here are categorized by the course they are most commonly associated with, such as gross anatomy or neurobiology. In the gross anatomy section, visitors will find materials that include a glossary of terms related to veterinary anatomy and dissections, animations that illustrate the major gaits of various quadrupeds, and the nervous system pathways of canines. The neurobiology section contains instructional materials that include information about brain dissection neuroanatomy and neurohistology. [KMG]
http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/
As more people become interested in learning American Sign Language, there have been a number of individuals who have begun to create websites that offer free resources related to this language. Dr. Bill Vicars is one such individual, and his site contains resources for students, teachers, parents, and your garden-variety web surfer. In the section designed for students, visitors can use the online sign language dictionary (complete with demonstration photographs), fingerspelling lessons, and numbers lessons. The section for teachers is a real gem, as it includes a number of sample syllabi, general guidelines for instructors, as well as an online library that includes subjects such as regional dialects in ASL, Chinese Sign Language and the National Theater of the Deaf. Finally, the site contains a special section for parents. Here, they can learn more about communicating effectively with their child who is deaf. [KMG]
Some of you gentle readers may be asking: “What’s historical archaeology?” Simply put, this field is “the study of the material remains of past societies that also left behind some other form of historical evidence.” With a membership base that ranges from newcomers to seasoned professionals, The Society for Historical Archaeology is a group whose work will be of general interest to those with a yearning to learn more about history and archaeology. After delving into their “About” section, visitors should mosey on over to their “Projects & Research” area. Here a number of organizations and research teams have submitted websites that document their own recent excavations, such as those around Harpers Ferry and West Point. Finally, the site’s “Futures” section contains helpful information on careers in archaeology and a guide to programs in historical and underwater archaeology. [KMG]
http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/
As Alan Lomax recorded the sounds of hundreds of different indigenous musical traditions throughout his sixty-year career as a musicologist, the legendary Jacques-Yves Cousteau did similar work throughout the world’s oceans. Following in his footsteps, his son, Jean-Michel Cousteau continues to inform and delight with his own series of programs on public television. On this site, visitors can learn more about the work of Cousteau and his colleagues as they examine the lives of sharks, gray whales, and the unique underwater ecosystems off the coastline of the continental United States. For each of these episodes, visitors can view clips of each program, learn about the goals of each expedition, download podcasts, and read a glossary of terms. Of course, there are also some fun items here as well, including free ringtones, interactive games, and screen savers. [KMG]
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTMENA/Resources/MainReport.pdf
In the 1970s and 1980s, many countries in the Middle East found themselves flush with an oil boom, both in terms of production and in terms of its buying power and price. This recent 142-page report created by the World Bank reports on what some of these countries are planning to do with these increasing revenue streams, and some of the results may be a bit surprising. The report notes that oil producers are turning these monies gleaned from oil into a way to pay down debt, build up substantial savings, and also to set up oil stabilization funds. The report also notes that this windfall has not necessary translated to some of the more resource-poor economies in the area, such as Lebanon and Morocco. [KMG]
http://www.hurricanesafety.org/home2.shtml
After the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, a group of organizations (including the National Hurricane Center and the National Emergency Management Association) decided to band together to crate the National Hurricane Survival Initiative. Along with their other public outreach programs, they created this website to bring information about hurricane preparedness to the general public. The site includes a storm readiness checklist, a hurricane questionnaire, and basic hurricane evacuation procedures. The “Storms Stats” area provides a primer on what exactly hurricanes are, along with concise summaries of the wind and water damage that hurricanes can inflict. The site’s materials are also available in Spanish, and it is worth noting that the music that is synchronized with the homepage is rather loud. [KMG]
http://www.ushistory.org/index.html
When one wants to discuss early American history, one must include the city of Brotherly Love. If one is talking about that fine city’s history, one must discover one of its most well known organizations dedicated to preserving that city’s past, namely the Independence Hall Association. Founded in 1942, the Association moved to secure the future of the Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and other such historical structures. Since that time, their mission has expanded greatly, and they have become interested in similar projects all over Philadelphia. This website provides a treasure-trove of material on such Philadelphia notables as Betsy Ross, Benjamin Franklin, as well as historic places, such as the Paoli Battlefield and Germantown. Along with these features, visitors can watch an actor playing Benjamin Franklin talk about the Internet and take a gander at a video of historic Philadelphia. [KMG]
