Research and Education
http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/col_algebra/index.htm
The introduction to this site remarks, "If you need help in college algebra, you have come to the right place." Their statement is accurate, as the staff members at the West Texas A&M University's Virtual Math Lab have done a fine job creating a series of online algebra tutorials for students and anyone else who might be returning to the world of algebra. First-time visitors should look at their online guide to the tutorials to learn how their tutorials are organized. After that, they should feel free to browse through any of the 59 tutorials offered here. Each tutorial contains information about learning objectives, full explanations, and numerous examples of how to correctly solve problems. [KMG]
http://content.cdlib.org/ucpress/
The California Digital Library has been working on bringing a wide array of primary and secondary materials online over the past few years, and this particular digital endeavor is one that will delight both academics and those who are just plain curious about everything from the influence of Elvis Presley on Mexican popular music to the ceremonial costumes of the Pueblo Indians. All told, the general public can access almost 2000 books from a variety of academic presses. Visitors to the site can perform a quick title search if they wish, or they can also look up available titles by author or subject. Additionally, there is a help feature for users who might encounter any difficulties during their time on the site. [KMG]
http://www.learner.org/interactives/periodic/index.html
It can be tricky to remember the position of lanthanides within the periodic table of elements, but this interactive feature from Annenberg Media's "Interactive" series will keep students in the know about those so-called "rare earth" elements. This particular feature begins with "Atomic Basics", which provides an overview of the atom and its various functions. After completing this section, visitors can test their knowledge with the "Name That Atom" game. The game is full of protons, neutrons, and electrons, but it should be no problem for students who've been paying attention to this lively exploration of the atom. Moving on through the site, visitors will learn about the periodic table's organization, isotopes, and the groups within the table, all the way from the alkali metals to the boron family. [KMG]
http://harrisschool.uchicago.edu/About/publications/working%2Dpapers/
A number of public policy schools across the world have a working papers series, and quite a few of them offer these documents online at no charge. The Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago has offered their working papers on this site for several years now, and visitors with a penchant for national and international policy issues will probably want to make several return visits to this site. Visitors can conduct a full document keyword search or also browse the series by author, date, or subject. Some recent papers of note include "Consumption and Income Poverty for those 65 and Over" and "Food Stamps, Unemployment Insurance, and the Safety Net". [KMG]
http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11896
What does privacy mean in a digital age? Is there any effective and proven way for governments, businesses, and individuals to safeguard their stores of information? These are important and timely questions, and they are but a few of those addressed in this recent release from The National Academies Press. This volume was edited by James Waldo, Herbert S. Lin, and Lynnette I. Millett, and it contains findings gleaned through the work of the Committee on Privacy in the Information Age, which was convened by the National Research Council. All told, the document is 452 pages long, and the chapter titles include "Health and Medical Privacy", "The Legal Landscape in the United States", and "Libraries and Privacy". Along with three substantial appendices, the report also includes an executive summary and a podcast. [KMG]
For instructors or students looking for material on many aspects of psychology, the AllPsych Online site may prove to be indispensable. The site was started in 1999, and it contains eight primary sections which cover everything from classic psychology studies to an extensive reference area. First-time visitors may wish to start by looking through the "Reference" area, which features an expanded timeline of psychology through the ages, a dictionary, and biographies of prominent persons in the field. People interested in entering the field of psychology will want to click on over to the "Careers and Education in Psychology" section for the materials on various academic programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology. For a bit of a diversion, the site also has a "Fun and Games" area where visitors can take a look at some optical illusions and crossword puzzles. [KMG]
Teachers looking for ways to incorporate dynamic visuals into their earth science courses need look no further than this fine site. Created by staff members at the department of earth science at the University of California, Santa Barbara, the site contains dozens of interactive animations and visualization tools that can be used in the classroom to demonstrate various processes. These resources are contained within the "Downloads" section, and visitors can peruse the table of contents for specific features. The table of contents includes global tectonics, regional plate tectonics, Ice Age earth, and four other chapters. Some of these animations include the deglaciation of North America, the South Atlantic spreading, and the Himalayan collision. [KMG]
http://www.bioedonline.org/workshops/workshop.cfm?cme_activityid=72&cmepage=cme_info#cmeinfo
BioEd Online continues in their fine tradition on online teaching resources with the release of the Food and Fitness professional development workshop for teachers and other interested parties. Created with funding from the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, the workshop provides "an opportunity to explore research that uncovers ways to reduce space-related health problems through diet, exercises or rehabilitation." The materials include seven classroom activities which are designed to help students examine techniques to make life-long healthy meal and activity choices. Additionally, users of the site can learn about the workshop's educational objectives, their peer review board, and also examine their disclaimers and disclosures. [KMG]
