Website Review: PBS News Hour

PBS NEWSHOUR is a television news program with educational materials for teachers.

The PBS NewsHour website contains full episodes of the television program, podcasts, and online articles. Resources are organizing by topic including politics, arts, nation, world, economy, science, health, and education.

The PBS NewsHour Extra provides student and teacher resources for grades 7-12. Materials are organized by subject areas and include both lesson plans and articles. The student voices section includes reporting by young adults. Students can submit their story idea, essay or poem to be included at the website.

Librarians will find this website to be useful for both students and teachers. Students will find useful information for their research, while teachers will find lots of ideas of integrating news into the curriculum.

To visit PBS NewsHour, go to https://www.pbs.org/newshour/.
To visit PBS NewsHour Extra, go to https://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/

Technology Review: Kids Learn Out Loud

KIDS LEARN OUT LOUD is a resource for audio and video learning on the web.

This audio and video learning portal contains thousands of educational audio books, podcasts, and videos designed for K-12 students. Content is organized by subject area.

While the website links to free content, the portal also contains fee-based resources. Use the Kids Free Stuff section for free podcasts and audio/video resources.

Librarians will find this website a valuable tool in locating audio resources for free and purchase. Of particular note is their audio sections on children’s literature and foreign language.

To visit the website, go to http://kids.learnoutloud.com/.

Technology Review: Find Sounds

FIND SOUNDS is an easy-to-use search engine for locating sound files.

From sound effects for use in podcasts to bird calls for science projects, Find Sounds is useful for locating a wide range of sound files. Users can locate audio files by file format, number of channels, resolution, and sample rate.

The website provides a useful page of example searches for topics such as animals, birds, holidays, household, insects, mayhem, musical instruments, nature, office, people, sports, tools, vehicles, and entertainment.

Librarians will find this tool to be useful when working on audio projects with students. Use the search engine to locate file types that can then be edited using software such as Audacity.

Keep in mind that the website doesn’t include an option for identifying copyright information so students should check out each individual sound to determine how they might be used and the process for providing credit for use.

To visit the website, go to http://www.findsounds.com.

Technology Review: Audiosear.ch

AUDIOSEAR.CH is a search tool that helps users locate podcasts and radio programs.

Whether seeking a professional development program or children’s radio broadcast, this search tool helps users find useful audio programming. Users can search phrases, shows, topics, networks, or people. The tool provides a full text search as well as recommendation API for podcasts and radio.

In addition to the search engine, users can also see what’s trending on Twitter and popular with their reviewers.

Librarians should keep in mind that this resource isn’t specifically designed for students. However, it’s a useful tool for youth seeking an alternative to text-based information and print literature. Also, consider using it in working with at-risk and special needs students who may benefit from using their auditory senses for learning. Consider signing up for their Pod-A-Day podcast that provides podcast recommendations.

To try a search, go to https://www.audiosear.ch/.

Technology Review: How Stuff Works

HOWSTUFFWORKS is both a website and app that shares information about how the world works.

Website users can either search the database of articles or go directly to topics of interest such as animals, culture, entertainment, or health. The short articles generally include a photograph along with content. Suggested readings are also provided. Unfortunately, the advertising may be distracting for students.

The app includes articles, videos, podcasts, quizzes and other elements found at the website in an easy-to-use format. With less advertising, students are less likely to get lost in unrelated content.

Librarians will find this resource to be a popular quick reference. The resource provides short overviews of topics that can be woven into the curriculum. Pair the website with books on related topics.

To visit the website, go to http://www.howstuffworks.com/.
To download the app, go tohttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/howstuffworks/id401986544

Technology Review: Science Friday

SCIENCE FRIDAY is a website and app featuring science audio programs on a wide range of topics.

The website features listen, explore, educate, and participate sections.

The Listen section features the latest podcasts as well as the audio archives. Each program includes the audio program along with visuals, text, additional information, and the opportunity to discuss the episode.

The Explore section provides access to news and entertaining stories about science. This section includes articles, audio, and videos. Educational materials are also available for some programs. Users can search, explore by type, or browse by topic.

The Educate section provides free STEM activities, lessons, and resources for parent and educators.

The Participate section provides ways that website users can get involved in various aspects of science.

The app allows users to browse podcasts along with other STEM content. Users can build custom playlists.

Librarians will find this website to be an easy way to promote STEM across the curriculum. Highlight episodes in the library or weave the podcasts into the science curriculum. Also, use the audios to promote listening skills and audio information literacy.

To visit the website, go to http://www.sciencefriday.com/.

To download the app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/science-friday/id474235924.

Website Review: Science Updates

SCIENCE UPDATES from ScienceNetLinks are student-friendly 60-second audio programs focusing on current science research.

Sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, each science topic contains a 60-second audio clip, transcript, and image. The page also explores ways to make sense of the scientific research. Each topic concludes with a list of questions, links to the original research, and related topics of interest. The resource also provides the grade level focus, theme, benchmarks and standards associated with the topic. An For Educators section contains links to lesson plans and activity ideas.

Librarians will find that these concise pages are an excellent way to address information literacy standards related to audio literacy and informational reading comprehension. With dozens of topics to explore, each student could investigate their own topic making this resource an excellent jumping off spot for inquiry-based learning projects.

To visit the website, go to http://sciencenetlinks.com/science-news/science-updates/.

Website Review: Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears

BEYOND PENGUINS AND POLAR BEARS is an online science resource for educators.

Produced by The Ohio State University, the resource focuses on preparing elementary educators to teach polar science concepts in an inquiry-based learning environment. Twenty thematic topics explore both the Arctic and Antarctica.

Each theme includes professional learning resources, science and literacy materials, stories from researchers and connections across the curriculum. These resources are aligned with the National Science Education Standards.

The Stories of Students section links to feature stories for specific grade levels including K-1, 2-3, and 4-5. These resources are excellent for informational reading activities.

A dozen podcasts tackle common misconceptions related to the poles. These would be excellent for listening activities.

Web seminars and print-on-demand resources are also available to extend the experience.

The Polar Pinterest social media site is used to share interesting visuals related to the polar regions including plants, animals, icebergs, and more.

Librarians will find a wealth of resources to connect children with information about the polar regions. Connect these informational and instructional resources with the science curriculum and extend the experience with your nonfiction collection. The website’s emphasis on inquiry-based learning fits well with the AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner.

Although it appears that the website is not being expanded, the resources are all functional. A companion website called Beyond Weather focuses on weather and the water cycle.

To visit the website, go to http://beyondpenguins.ehe.osu.edu/.
To visit the companion website, go to http://beyondweather.ehe.osu.edu/.