Research and Education
http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/Literature/subcollections/RinglBeowulfAbout.shtml
With its use of alliterative verse and rousing subject matter, the epic poem Beowulf has been adored and analyzed for over a millennium. The poem was originally composed in Old English, and it has been translated into dozens of languages over the centuries. Generally, translators have attempted to reproduce one or more of its features or qualities at the expense of others. This particular translation offered by Dirk Ringler of the University of Wisconsin is intended for "oral delivery", that is, to be read or recited aloud. Visitors to this site can listen to the poem in its entirety or access different sections at forty-three separate locations within the text. Additionally, visitors can search for keywords and phrases within the entire poem. Those with a penchant for this masterful work will likely want to share this site with like-minded friends and colleagues. [KMG]
http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/index.do
Impending coral catastrophes, digitally tagged manatees, and natural gas "eating" microbes are but a few of the topics covered between the pages of the magazine "Oceanus". Published by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), this nice publication features the work of researchers at WHOI via the use of photographs, interviews, and feature articles. Along the left-hand side of the homepage, visitors will find sections such as "Research News", "Features", "Interviews & Quotes", and "Students at Work". The "Features" area is a fine place to start, and visitors will no doubt want to look over pieces on "Will the Ocean Circulation Be Unbroken?" and "Fertilizing the Ocean with Iron". Persons looking for specific topics can click through areas that cover ocean chemistry, natural hazards, and twelve other thematic sections. Finally, visitors can sign up to receive email alerts about newly added materials. [KMG]
http://www.learner.org/interactives/garbage/intro.html
With a heading that includes the phrase "How can my community reduce waste?", this educational site provided by the Annenberg Media group is one that's hard to ignore. This resource is one of their "Interactives", and educators can use these various tools to help students learn "how to improve next year's environmental record." Educators and students can choose between one of five topical areas, all of which include various interactive components and activities. These sections cover solid waste, hazardous waste, sewage, global efforts to reduce solid waste, and links to related resources. Along the way, users will get the opportunity to test their knowledge about hazardous waste in their home, and they can even step up to try their hand at shrinking a landfill. [KMG]
From John O' Groats to Aberdeen, the Scottish Natural Heritage's Information (SNHi) site provides detailed information on many aspects of Scotland's diverse regions, flora, and fauna. The materials on the site are divided into six sections, including the "Facts & Figures" area, which is a great place to start exploring the site. Here, visitors can learn about SNHi's work by reading their annual reports from the past several years. From there, visitors should feel free to make their way to the "What's in my backyard?" (WIMBY) section. In this section, users can type in geographic place names to learn more about any given region, city, or district within Scotland. Finally, the site's "Trends and Indicators" area includes reports like " The Seas Around Scotland" and "Land Cover Change in Scotland". [KMG]
http://www.health.library.mcgill.ca/research/infoskills/learning.cfm
McGill University's Life Science Library has created this very fine online resource for medical educators, students, and other health care professionals. On the left-hand side of the page, visitors can peruse a list of thematic categories that include "Publishing in the Life Sciences", "Reference Manager", and "Health Statistics" that are worth looking at in detail. The core of the site consists of a long set of links that lead to medical databases, and most importantly, the "ABC of Teaching & Learning in Medicine" articles. These articles cover everything from creating teaching materials to learning and teaching in the clinical environment. [KMG]
http://www.hca.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/case_Studies/snas/index.php
There are many resources online designed to help educators teach about various aspects of history, but relatively few on teaching students how to practice and research history. This fine site from The Higher Education Academy at the University of Glasgow begins to fill that gap with a number of case studies and classroom activities. First-time visitors should read an introductory essay here by Alan Booth that offers some perspective on research-teaching relationships in history before looking over the other offerings. Looking through the offerings on the site, they include pieces titled "Introducing History Students to Research Techniques", "Encouraging Collaborative Learning and Student Research on a Computing History Module", and "Teaching Your Research: The Special Subject in History". [KMG]
http://www.aidsalliance.org/graphics/secretariat/publications/Positive_prevention.pdf
The International HIV/AIDS Alliance works to support "community action on AIDS in developing countries" through advocacy efforts, research, and outreach programs. Over the past several years, they have also released a number of papers designed to assist non-governmental organizations and service providers with providing quality health care to those living with HIV. This 36-page guide was released in September 2007, and is divided into four sections, including "Community Mobilisation" and "Individually focused health education and support". Each section contains concrete suggestions, along with examples drawn from case studies in Mexico, Senegal, and other places. After reading through this publication, visitors are welcome to offer their own comments and feedback on the International HIV/AIDS Alliance website. [KMG]
The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) has many accolades to its credit, not the least being their work on sequencing the human genome. They have made substantial contributions to every sector of genomic research since their founding in 1989, and their website is one that will be very useful to researchers looking for grant opportunities, medical professionals, and members of the genome-curious public. Visitors who might be less familiar with the Institute's work should start by browsing through the "Newsroom" area on the homepage just to get a sense of their mission and general focus. Moving on, just about everyone will find something of interest at the "Educational Resources" area. This area of the site is particularly strong, and it includes an online educational kit for understanding the human genome project, National DNA Day, a "talking" interactive glossary of genetic terms, and genetic education modules for teachers. [KMG]
