Research and Education
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/visualization/collections/rock_cycle.html
Many people might know about the life cycle of a rock, but it can be a process that is hard to understand without a handy visual aid. Just such a series of aids can be found right here, courtesy of Mark Francek of Central Michigan University. These rock cycle animations display some of the most common rock-forming processes, including the crystallization of magma to form igneous rock, rock erosion to create sediment, and several others. That's not all, as visitors can also examine a comprehensive Flash animation which contains three separate movies, each of which looks at the formation of igneous rocks in environments that include a deep magma chamber and rocks forming from a pyroclastic flow. The site is rounded out by an interactive igneous rocks classification chart, arranged by texture and chemical composition. [KMG]
http://www.exploratorium.edu/poles/index.php
The Exploratorium recently decided to celebrate International Polar Year 2007-2008 by giving cameras to a group of penguin biologists, glaciologists, cosmologists, geologists, and marine scientists working in Antarctica and the Arctic. The results of this interesting idea can be found on this site, and visitors will enjoy learning about the thoughts and experiences of the scientists working in these two regions. Visitors can get started by clicking on the "Check out the dispatches" button. Visitors can learn how penguins function as barometers of climate change, get up close and personal with a smattering of charismatic marine mammals, and learn about the fascinating South Pole Telescope. Visitors can also browse through archived materials and they should definitely revisit the site, as they will be adding posts from scientists in the Arctic over the coming months. [KMG]
http://www.radiologyeducation.com/
Created and maintained by Dr. Michael P. D'Alessandro, this site provides visitors with a host of links related to radiology education. The site is organized quite simply, as it consists of several hundred links vetted by Dr. Alessandro, all of which are related to radiology. At the top of the homepage, visitors will find the links organized into categories which include radiology textbooks, radiology teaching files, continuing education, and podcasts. The links are also organized for use by different groups of professionals, including medical students, residents, and patients. The anatomy and embryology atlases area is quite strong, as is the one dedicated to radiology textbooks. [KMG]
http://phet-web.colorado.edu/new/index.php
Funded by grants from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the National Science Foundation, the Physics Education Technology (PhET) site features many well-designed and engaging physics and chemistry simulations for use in the classroom. Currently, the site offers fifteen simulations, which cover projectile motion, salts & solubility, wave interference, and other related areas. Visitors can run the simulations from their computer, or they can also elect to download them individually. The simulations are all interactive, full of color, and very engaging. Of course, they have also provided a "Teachers Ideas & Activities" area. Here visitor can browse through activities created by educators across the country which are based on these simulations. Visitor can look over the activities by type or grade level, and they can also submit their own activities for inclusion. The site is rounded out by a list of FAQ's and a troubleshooting section. [KMG]
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/geo/egeo/welcome.htm
From subduction to the world of hot spot volcanoes, this online resource for students and teachers of geology will please users with its fun and useful animations, crossword puzzles, and well-written articles. The site was designed to complement a textbook created by W.W. Norton, but many of the materials can be used as stand-alone exercises. Visitors will want to begin by looking through the visually enticing animations, which cover the Earth's magnetic field, the spread of the sea floor, and the formation of ocean crust. All told, there are over sixty animations, and teachers may wish to recommend them to students. Additionally, visitors should note that they can also browse through the materials offered on the site by clicking on the chapter listings located near the top of the screen. It's hard to pass up a crossword puzzle, and visitors may find themselves spending more time there than at any other part of the site. [KMG]
http://people-press.org/reports/pdf/384.pdf
Many pundits and political scientists have wondered where Americans are getting their information about political campaigns as of late. Some have said that the internet continues to grow in popularity, while others contend that nightly news programs remain popular sources of information. This 32-page report, from The Pew Research Center for the People & The Press, takes a close look at this very subject. Released in January 2008, the report is based on a survey conducted with 1430 adults near the end of December 2007. The report notes that a quarter of Americans say they regularly learn something about the current presidential campaign through the internet, which is almost double the percentage of those polled during the 2004 campaign. Interestingly enough, 42% of those ages 18 to 29 say they regularly learn about the campaign from the internet. [KMG]
Online visual arts collections can be used to enhance an art history lecture, give students a refresher on various types of architecture, and for community history projects. The Visual Arts Data Service (VADS) offers up just those types of collections, and it's one that users will definitely want to bookmark for future reference. The VADS is based at the Farnham Campus of The University College for the Creative Arts and currently they have over 100,000 images available for use. First-time users may wish to get their feet wet by clicking on the "Search" tab on the left-hand side of the homepage. From this page, they can take a look at the "Image of the Day", browse through popular searches, and also browse the materials offered by theme. Clicking on the "Collections" section gives visitors a sense of the broad coverage offered on the site, as they will find links to digital archives of Romanesque sculpture, war posters, a massive photo archive of East London, and a diverse set of textile collections. Finally, the site also has a list of case studies and a guide to good practice for those who might be working on digital projects in art education. [KMG]
Founded in 1947, the National Education Writers Association (EWA) was created in order to improve education reporting to the public. Currently the EWA has over 1000 members, and their number includes those who work in a variety of media, including broadcast news and print publications. Visitors to their homepage can take a look at their new weblog, "Education Reform", which reports on what various political candidates are saying about education on the campaign trail. Also, they should browse through the "Reporter Stories" area. Here they can find news articles which cover topics such as school voucher debates, urban school system reform, and developments within higher education. Moving on, the "Resource Center" includes high-quality online materials on all aspects of education, including funding and access, curriculum, school funding, and violence in schools. [KMG]
