Website Review: Digital History

DIGITAL HISTORY is a website focusing on tools and technologies to enhance teaching.

This resource-rich website provides resources for use by students and teachers in history learning activities. The website is divided into sections including eras, topics, resources, and references. Uses can also use the interactive timelines to identify teaching materials, textbooks, documents, and media by date.

Librarians will find endless resources to weave into the social studies and history curriculum. This website also provides useful primary sources to teach information literacy concepts. Partner with teachers to share the educational resources.

To visit the website, go to http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/.

Website Review: NASA WAVELENGTH

NASA WAVELENGTH provides a full spectrum of resources for science education.

Sponsored by NASA, this website provides access to a digital collection of Earth and space science resources for all grade levels. Specifically, they focus on helping students develop an understanding of our planet Earth, our Sun and solar system, and the universe.

The Science Data and Images section is divided into introductory, intermediate, and advanced resources. The page shares key online collections and descriptions of these resources.

The Strandmaps page links to interactive concept maps on specific science and math topics in the areas of the physical setting, the nature of science, the living environment, the designed world, habits of mind, the nature of technology, and common themes. Each map introduces related concepts, how the concepts are aligned to benchmarks and standards, and links to resources.

The blog provides news, updated information, and resources of interest to educators in a wide range of topics such as astronomy, astrophysics, citizen science, data, and others.

A search tool can be used to find resources by key word and audience. Materials can also be explored by grade level. Finally, links are provided to key multimedia resources including apps, videos, and images.

Librarians will find these resources to be popular with science teachers. Work with teachers to align the materials with the curriculum.

To visit the website, go to http://nasawavelength.org/.

Website Review: Generation On

GENERATION ON is a website exploring youth service projects from around the world.

While to website features it’s own projects, the ideas can be applied to any local service learning organization. The website is divided into resources for kids, teens, and adults.

The Kid’s section begins by providing stories about young people doing good in their communities. Next, students can explore a wide range of service areas including animal welfare, bullying and tolerance, literacy, education, environment, citizenship and civic engagement, emergency preparation and response, homelessness and poverty, health and wellness, hunger, senior citizens, peace and kindness, as well as military and veterans. Within each area students can view dozens of project ideas and examples. The resources section provides specific guidelines and fact sheets to help youth better understand the activities involved in service learning. Links are provided to games and interactives that contain background information about many of the topics such as emergency preparedness and environmental issues. Finally, current opportunities are featured to help jumpstart service learning projects.

The Teen’s section contains similar sections to the kid’s area, but includes more depth and age-appropriate activities and project examples. This section also promotes the idea of service clubs and sharing.

Parent, Educator, and Organizations sections provide information about ways to involve youth in service learning projects and detail upcoming activities.

Librarians will find endless ideas for service learning projects at this constantly updated website. A blog and calendar provide easy access to news and information about upcoming opportunities.

To visit the website, go to http://www.generationon.org/.

Website Review: Data USA

DATA USA provides easy-to-access visualizations of critical issues facing the United States.

Describing itself as “the most comprehensive visualization of U.S. public data”, the website is a collaboration between corporations and MIT. The easy-to-use website puts public US Government data in the hands of citizens.

In the Profiles section, users can conduct a general search or narrow their focus by location, industry, occupation, or education. Within each of these four profile areas, users can focus in on specific aspects by scrolling down the page and viewing an engaging infographic.

The Stories section provides fascinating insights into the data in particular areas such as men and industry or obesity and diabetes. These short articles are written by experts and demonstrate the importance of data across disciplines.

The Map area allows users to zoom in on particular areas of the United States to explore the data.

The Data component details the data sources used in building the website.

Use the Glossary page in the About section to introduce youth to key terms related to data analysis.

Librarians will find this tool to be an excellent way to address data literacy topics. Youth can use the website to access information, conduct their own analysis, and create their own stories about America’s people, places, industries, and educational institutions. From basic comparisons of two places to complex analysis of issues such as rural vs urban locations, the website is a great way for youth to explore data and visualizations.

In addition to containing useful information, students will find the website to be visually stunning.

To visit the website, go to http://datausa.io/.

App Review: Space Station Research Explorer

The SPACE STATION RESEARCH EXPLORER app from NASA involves youth in exploring the array of scientific experiments being conducted on the International Space Station.

Designed for young adults and adults, the app discusses the results and benefits of research in microgravity. Focusing on recently completed and ongoing experiments, this engaging resource includes in-depth descriptions, photos, video, and interactive media to bring the science alive for users.

The app is divided into five sections:

The Experiments area includes the topics of biology and biotechnology, human research, earth and space science, physical science, educational activities and outreach, and technology development and demonstration. Within each major category, users can choose a subcategory. Users can filter their search for experiments by choosing a particular expedition or sponsor. A detailed technical report along with images are provided for each experiment.

The Facilities section shows a 360 view of the interior of the three station modules. Users can tap on racks to see descriptions of the items stored there.

The Benefits resources include the areas of human health, earth benefits, and global education. Each topic explains a specific example of how the experiments are positively impacting the world.

The Media materials provides podcasts, games, and videos to explore.

The Links area includes space station-related websites and links to useful resources.

Librarians will find this to be a useful resource for science classes. The app would be a great jumping off spot for student reports and investigations. The technical reports would also be an useful resource for informational reading in the sciences.

To download this free app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/…/space-station-resear…/id934070569.

Website Review: Mocomi

Mocomi is an educational website providing short, informational interactives and reading experiences.

The term “mocomi” stands for MOtion COMIcs. Originally designed for children in India, the website’s goal is to help educate young people around the world through animation and storytelling. Designed for children 12 and under, the website contains over 1500 modules across content areas. The colorful graphics and animation will appeal to elementary grade learners.

The website is divided into “fun” and “learn” sections.

The “fun” section provides interactives in the areas of arts & crafts, drawing, printables, games, stories, poems & rhymes and kid’s wallpaper.

The “learn” section includes resources related to science, math, geography, history, english, civics, culture, environment, the arts, and general knowledge. Keep in mind that these interactives weren’t designed for US schools, so not interactives apply to American education. The interactives vary in their quality and format. While some are mostly linear, informational reading experiences, others contain interactive aspects. Many take the form of infographics.

Although the website contains lots of advertising, it shouldn’t be too distracting for students.

The MocomiKids YouTube channel contains dozens of high-quality educational videos. Go to https://www.youtube.com/user/mocomikids.

Librarians will enjoy working their way through the interactives matching them to the curriculum.

To go to the website, go to http://mocomi.com/.

Website Review: Occupational Outlook Handbook

The OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK (OOH) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is an online reference resource containing career information about hundreds of occupations.

The entry page contains a list of occupations organized into groups such as healthcare and legal. Users can also select occupations by median pay, entry-level education, on-the-job training, number of new jobs projected, and growth rather projection. In addition, options are provided to browse the A-Z index and explore occupations by highest paying, fastest growing, and most new jobs. Finally, users can explore FAQs, the glossary, a teacher’s guide, and career outlook.

The “Occupation Finder” provides a master list of 580 entries with tools to narrow the search by education, training, projected new jobs, projected growth, and median pay. A key word search is also available.

Each career profile contains a summary, what they do, work environment, how to become one, pay, job outlook, similar occupations, and more information.

This easy-to-use website is a great resource for informational reading activities. It’s also a excellent way to jumpstart a career exploration project. A Teachers Guide provides ideas for how the website might be used. It also links to other websites with career information.

Most libraries have a print copy of the OOH in their reference section, however the website provides an effective resource for a whole-class experience.

To learn more, go to the website at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/.

Website Review: Artsedge

ARTSEDGE is an educational program providing lessons, activities, how-to’s, and resources related to the arts including dance, theatre, music, and visual arts.

Sponsored by The Kennedy Center and the U.S. Department of Education, the website contains sections for educators, families, and students.

The Collections area allows users to search by art genre, time period, place, and big idea such as STEM or global cultures. Or, enter a topic of interest.

The Multimedia Finder provides access to images, audio stories, music, video clips, and interactives. In addition to a text search, users can search by art genre or media type.

The Educators section users to search for lessons and how-to guides. It’s also possible to search based on the National Core Arts Standards. By registering at the website, teachers can store and organize their favorite resources for easy access.

The Arts Days app provides a full year of events connecting the arts to inventions, artists, and milestones.

To learn more, go to http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/

To download the free app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/arts-days/id622294390.

Website Review: SAS Pathways

SAS Curriculum Pathways is a free resource for educators and students. Containing hundreds of interactives in English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Spanish, and more, the online service is easy to use and search. The tutorials include text, images, audio, and video elements. In addition, most tutorials end with a quick quiz or self-check. In addition to the tutorials, the system also includes interactives and tools such as an Interactive Atlas that allows users to create their own maps. The Data Depot provides a long list of datasets that students can download on topics such as Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Population Trends.

Of particular interest to school librarians are tutorials in the English/Language Arts section related to topics such as “how to read nonfiction”.

In addition to the website, SAS Curriculum Pathways has an increasing number of Apps available through the iTunes App Store.

To learn more, go to the SAS: Curriculum Pathways website at https://www.sascurriculumpathways.com/