Florida Springs: Protecting Nature's Gems [.pdf]
http://www.floridasprings.org/
This educational Web site from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection offers an in-depth exploration of Florida's freshwater springs and the aquifer that supports them. The site includes many informal (and highly visual) learning opportunities, such as an animated demonstration of the hydrologic cycle and classroom lesson plans based on Web site content. The four lessons plans (one each for grades 1-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12) emphasize ecosystem interconnectivity and how human activity impacts groundwater resources. [RS]
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BIO2010: Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research Biologists
http://bob.nap.edu/books/0309085357/html/
BIO2010: Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research is the product of the National Research Council's Committee on Undergraduate Biology Education to Prepare Research Scientists for the 21st Century. Offered by the National Academies Press as a free electronic report, BIO2010 details recommendations for "bringing undergraduate biology education up to the speed of today's research fast track." The report emphasizes a highly interdisciplinary approach to learning biology, with a stronger focus on the physical sciences and mathematics than is currently in place. Biology faculty and administrators at the undergraduate level may find BIO2010 a worthwhile read. [RS]
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The Science Behind the News: Cancer
http://press2.nci.nih.gov/sciencebehind/cancer/cancer01.htm
The National Cancer Institute's Science Behind the News Web site offers in-depth tutorials for cancer-related topics that make the headlines. Cancer -- one of the seven tutorials available -- provides a general introduction to cancer, demonstrates the link between cancer and genetics, explains what we know about the causes of the disease, and outlines cancer detection and diagnosis. While no formal lesson plans are provided, this straightforward tutorial offers a clear and well-illustrated guide to understanding cancer and related issues. Visitors may view tutorial pages in sequence or use the index to skip around to pages of interest. This Web site is also available in Spanish. [RS]
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AskERIC: Pass it On [.pdf]
http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Process_S kills/HPS0202.html
In this Educational Resources Information Center (AskERIC) lesson plan, 1st and 2nd graders are introduced to germ transmission and the human immune system. A fake sneeze and a dusting of confetti (i.e., germs) sets up this lesson plan submitted by Ronda Loetterle of Hastings College, Nebraska. The 30-40 minute activity includes a reading of "I Know How We Fight Germs" by Kate Rowan, followed by a classroom exercise that demonstrates how easily germs are spread. Sample assessment questions are also provided. [RS]
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Scientific American Frontiers: Deep Crisis [.pdf. RealPlayer, Windows Media]
http://www.sciam.com/sciam_frontiers.cfm
"Deep Crisis," a new documentary from PBS's Scientific American Frontiers set to air January 28, 2003, explores the "past, present and uncertain future of the ocean's long-distance travelers - salmon and tuna." This companion Web site includes two lesson plans designed for grades 5-8 (see Teaching Guide), as well as a quiz based on program content. Homing Salmon focuses on the odor cues that researchers believe help salmon find their home streams for spawning. Salmon Counting introduces students to population sampling techniques. Both lesson plans include printable versions and answers to activity questions. Deep Crisis may be viewed online with RealPlayer or Windows Media. [RS]
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MIT OpenCourseWare
http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html
With MIT OpenCourseWare, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology plans to make course materials for nearly all its undergraduate and graduate subjects available online, free of charge to anyone who cares to use them. An ambitious project created as part of the university's mission "to advance knowledge and education to best serve the nation and the world," MIT OpenCourseWare currently offers course materials for a wide range of subjects, including biology, with much more on the way. Users should bear in mind that MIT OpenCourseWare is an informal learning venue only, not a degree or certificate-granting program. [RS]
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ReproLearn: Care of Women with HIV in Limited-Resource Settings [RealPlayer, .ppt]
http://www.reproline.jhu.edu/video/hiv/tutorials/index.htm
Reproductive Health Online (ReproLine), an Internet resource associated with Johns Hopkins University, offers information and technical updates for reproductive healthcare providers, trainers, and faculty. ReproLine has developed eleven HIV/ AIDS tutorials as part of a series on the Care of Women with HIV in Limited-Resource Settings. These multimedia tutorials (each about 25-35 minutes long) include audio and/or video presentations from reproductive health experts, instructive photos and diagrams, links to related ReproLine articles, and a self-graded quiz. Users may also download tutorial transcripts and slides. [RS]
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Photosynthesis, Energy, and Life
http://www.ftexploring.com/photosyn/photosynth.html
With this recently updated Web site from the Flying Turtle Company (created by David Watson), learning about photosynthesis is almost fun -- definitely more engaging than what the standard biology textbook has to offer. Fantastic illustrations and light-hearted narrative make the complicated biochemical processes of photosynthesis much easier to absorb. In addition to providing comprehensive coverage of photosynthesis (along with interesting trivia bits), this Web site works to encourage a fascination for the often under-appreciated plant kingdom. [RS]
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