The Scout Report -- Volume 27, Number 23

Following the Science is a data visualization project that celebrates the collaborative efforts of the global science community to help humankind understand and survive the pandemic. A testament to the value of empirical research, a feel-good perspective on the pandemic, and a toast to the hard work of science, the project explores research about COVID-19 published on PubMed Central (an online database of biomedical and life sciences research articles). In 2020, about 1 in 10 articles added to PubMed Central was related to coronaviruses. Using animated data visualizations, Following the Science honors the synergistic work of the researchers behind those articles, illustrating cooperation across the globe and across disciplines. Simply scroll down the page to view the project, and navigate all the way to the bottom to learn about the methodology behind it. Following the Science was created by Jeff MacInnes, a data scientist, visualization designer, and visual storyteller. [HCL]

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Readers preparing to start college in the fall, as well as those working on an independent research project, may enjoy this useful textbook covering research basics. Written by Walter D. Butler, Aloha Sargent, and Kelsey Smith (a team of California Community College librarians), Introduction to College Research helps readers hone important skills, with information about literacy tools, research strategies, fact checking methods, and much more. The textbook is available for online reading and can also be downloaded as a PDF, EPUB, or MOBI file. Dive in by clicking the "Read Book" button. The Contents drop-down menu in the left corner allows readers to jump to different sections of the text. For a brief overview of the book's content, navigate to the What This Book Will Cover page (found under Introduction). As indicated on the A Note for Instructors page, the textbook can be used jointly with the supplementary Canvas modules within the Canvas Commons. Introduction to College Research is supported by the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges' Open Educational Resources Initiative (ASCCC OERI). [EMB]

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"Where is the podcast that will help me do my job?" This was the question that led Amy Hermon, an elementary library media specialist with more than a decade of experience, to launch School Librarians United in August 2018. More than 120 episodes later, Hermon has created an incredible platform with valuable resources for new and experienced librarians alike. Guests join the show to bring unique perspectives on all aspects of librarianship and education. For example, Episode 120 discusses strategies for teaching during tough times (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic), and Episode 96 focuses on schools and social justice. The Episodes tab in the top right corner of the site allows listeners to sort materials in a variety of ways: by date (2018-present), category (education vs. general), or recency (viewing a list of all episodes). Have an idea for a future installment? Hermon gets episode inspiration from various sources, including listener suggestions, and welcomes feedback and topic suggestions. Readers will also find the podcast on Twitter (@LMS_United) and most popular podcast platforms. [EMB]

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The stories of fugitives from American slavery are told by newspaper advertisements from enslavers and jailers describing "runaways." Each ad paints a rare glimpse into the personality and life story of an enslaved person. Freedom on the Move is a crowdsourced database of these ads intended as a tool for students, teachers, researchers, genealogists, and citizen historians. The searchable collection of more than 30,000 ads can be filtered by location, date, name of fugitive, name of enslaver, and more. Some ads have full-text transcriptions. From the site's home page, click "Access the Database" then "Search" to view the ads. On the search page, under the Download tab, users can download search results in JSON or CSV format. Educators will want to check out the provided lesson plans, accessible from the home page by clicking "K-12 Educator Resources." These instructional materials were created in collaboration with the Teaching Hard History project. Freedom on the Move is a joint project by several universities and is funded by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Archives, and the Cornell University Institute for the Social Sciences. Keep up with them on Twitter (@fotmproject) and on Instagram (@freedomonthemove). [HCL]

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Immigrant Voices, a project of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, provides a platform to hear "personal stories of immigrants to the Pacific Coast, from Angel Island Immigration Station detainees to those arriving today." These narratives, comprised of pictures and text, share intimate themes across the human experience: pain and hope, family and fear, and education and discrimination, among others. Under the Discover tab readers can explore stories by country, year of arrival, and theme. The advanced search feature allows for more specific filters (including the ability to enter a search term). Readers are also welcome to scroll through all stories, absent any filtering. Many stories are told from the perspective of family members who recount oral histories passed down through generations. Collectively, these narratives add context and dimension to historical moments. In addition to reading and honoring the stories included on the site, users can also submit their own tale (note that one must register and create an account to do so). [EMB]

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Summer provides a well-deserved opportunity for educators to rest and rejuvenate. It is also a time when instructors prepare for the upcoming school year. STEM|ED Magazine is the perfect publication for science teachers looking for guidance on fresh learning strategies they can bring with them to classrooms in the fall. Bringing together evidence-based pedagogy and plenty of practical examples, the magazine features "free innovative and passionate STEM education ideas." As a fairly new publication (Issue One was released in February 2021), only two issues are currently available. However, both are packed with helpful information and lesson tips, as indicated by the hundreds of subscribers who have already tuned in. Plus, the third issue will be hot off-the-press tomorrow; so, be sure to check back then. Readers will also find subscription information and social media channels linked at the bottom of the Home page. Fi Morrison serves as STEM|ED Magazine's editor-in-chief, with support from Dr. Sandy Nicoll, editor. [EMB]

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Aspiring math wizards can bolster their classroom learning while completing epic quests and befriending magical pets in the Prodigy Game. Game-based learning engages kids and boosts their math confidence without feeling like homework, making it ideal for summer studies. An adaptive algorithm matches kids' skill level and learning style as they play. The game is suitable for grades 1-8 and requires a free account to play. An optional parent account gives access to curriculum progress reports and monthly report cards that clue parents in on where their kids excel and where they could use more practice. Parents can also set customized goals and in-game rewards for kids. Teachers can level up, too, by aligning Prodigy with their curriculum. With a free teacher account, educators can connect Prodigy to Google Classroom or Clever, as well as connect with parents to synchronize at-home learning. Teachers can give students plans, assignments, and test prep materials, all integrated seamlessly with the in-game world. A dashboard gives teachers real-time data on student performance (no grading needed, because teachers need a summer break, too). [HCL]

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Curiosity is more than welcomed at Ask Dr. Universe; it is encouraged. Young learners are invited to submit science questions to Dr. Wendy Sue Universe, an intelligent cat character who collaborates with field experts to find responses. In addition to getting queries answered, young scientists will quickly realize how fun STEM fields are. Though this resource is wonderful year-round, it is especially nice during summer months when other educational resources may be less accessible. Users can scroll through past questions and responses on the Explore page or submit a question of their own on the Ask Me! page. Most questions are answered via email, but some are featured on the Dr. Universe podcast or video channel. Check out the Activities page for further fun, including a field guide and coloring pages. Stay up-to-date with the latest by signing up for the weekly e-newsletter and following Dr. Universe on Twitter and Facebook (@AskDrUniverse on both). Ask Dr. Universe is a project of Washington State University. [EMB]

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Caretakers searching for an educational way to entertain young people should look no further than this virtual field trip series from the media outlet Great Lakes Now. Though the experience is designed for middle school students, children (and adults) of all ages may enjoy the content. Three embedded videos welcome viewers to venture through sand dunes, lily pad lakes, marshes, and more, encountering plenty of animals, plants, and people along the way. The virtual field trip helps participants learn key conservation priorities in a fun and accessible format, with a focus on coastal wetlands, algal blooms, and lake sturgeon. In total, readers will need to allow 15 minutes to complete the 3-part tour. Those yearning for more content at the conclusion should not fret. Additional lesson plans and materials are available on the Education tab. Plus, several other Great Lakes-based educational institutions are linked on the right hand panel. [EMB]

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Readers wondering what is going on inside their heads will enjoy this interactive look into the human brain. Activities, videos, and images explain neuroscientific phenomena like why people see faces in everyday objects and how a musical soundtrack influences emotions. Readers can also learn about the relationships between the brain and crime, addiction, youth sports, aging, Alzheimer's, and more. In the menu bar located underneath the Your Brain heading, hover over Interactive, Galleries, and Videos to explore the different themes, or select from the clickable tiles below the menu bar. Some videos contain graphic descriptions of violence, as indicated by a note above the video, so readers should exercise caution. Your Brain is a project of the Franklin Institute (featured in the 02-21-2012 Scout Report) and supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health Blueprint for Neuroscience Research. [HCL]

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We last featured this resource in the 03-20-2020 Scout Report. Readers looking to stock up on summer STEM activities may want to revisit these fun DIY experiments. The STEM Book Club (under the STEM Activities tab) also offers inspiration for summer reading.

From homemade bath bombs to toothbrush-and-rubber-band robots, the Do It Yourself Science collection from Carnegie STEM Girls has over three dozen at-home experiments for aspiring scientists. The experiments show that science is everywhere, even in common household or classroom objects. Each experiment is accompanied by a materials list and set of instructions, and most also feature additional content. For example, the "Edible DNA" experiment links to information on related careers in biology and neurobiology, while the "Scribble Bots" experiment includes a couple of electricity-themed fun facts. A project of the Duquesne Light Co. Center for STEM Education and Career Development, Carnegie STEM Girls aims to prepare future scientists for the wide-ranging opportunities within the field. In addition to the resources highlighted, the site hosts other tools for students, parents, and teachers including She's Livin' It!, which profiles women in STEM careers, and Careers A-Z, which provides information on many STEM and STEM-adjacent career paths. [EMB] [HCL]

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